By Katie Strachan
The Oshawa Express

It seems four and five-year-olds will be spending a lot more time in class.
And this recent announcement by Premiere Dalton McGuinty is making the Durham District School Board (DDSB) happy they say.

The move to full-day learning for children in kindergarten classes will give young learners a great start, says the DDSB in a release.
The phase in from half-day schooling to full-day classes will begin to take place next fall says the Ontario government.

The province’s goal is to have the program implemented in all schools by 2015 or 2016. But by next year, Ontario could have 35,000 youngsters enrolled in all-day schooling.
“Giving young students an earlier start on their learning will improve their reading, writing and math skills, provide a smoother transition to Grade 1 and help increase their success in school and beyond,” says Kathleen Wynne, minister of education.
For students across Durham, the move could come as early as 2010, states the DDSB.
The school board is currently working to identify schools that could switch to the full-day program by school start next year.
So far, 45 classes have been identified across the region says the DDSB.
This process follows the guidelines of the Ministry of Education.
Based on the ministry’s timeline, the DDSB will submit the proposed sites by the end of the month for review.
The ministry has until early 2010, likely January, to approve the sites, says Roxanne Lambert, director of children’s services in Durham.
This will allow parents the opportunity to enroll their child in the new program.
Schools will be chosen based on available space, meaning no renovations or additions have to be made.

The ministry will also look at the impact on existing local childcare and the need for the program, particularly in low-income areas.
If the program is implemented, Ontario will be the only place in North America to offer full-day schooling to all children ages four and five.
Under the program, parents will have the option of extending hours for a fee, before and after school hours says the government.

Subsidies will be available, based on need, for families who need help with the cost of the extended day programming, assures the province.
“This initiative is great for kids, great for their families and responds to what the experts have been telling us about the early years being critical to a child's educational and social development,” says Laurel Broten, minister of children and youth services.
Regional Councillor Colleen Jordan, who is also the Child and Youth Advocate for the region, says she thinks the move to full-day learning it great.
“I think it’s wonderful news that we see the government moving in this direction,” she says.
“It seems like it will be a big change.”