June 19, 2008
VICTORIA – An additional 99 StrongStart BC early learning centres will open during the 2008/09 school year, doubling the number of centres around the province, Education Minister Shirley Bond announced today.
“One in four children enters kindergarten without the skills they need to be successful, and StrongStart BC centres are a key resource for our youngest children and their families,” said Bond. “Already we have seen that StrongStart BC is making a difference, and this year’s expansion to 200 StrongStart BC centres will give even more of our youngest learners increased opportunities to prepare for school and for life.”
StrongStart BC is a free drop-in early learning program for preschool-aged children accompanied by a parent or caregiver. A qualified early childhood educator leads activities that include stories, music, and arts, to help children grow linguistically, physically, emotionally and socially, and become comfortable in a school-like setting.
All of B.C.’s 60 school districts have been offered the opportunity to participate in the StrongStart BC program. The Province has committed $38 million to fulfil a 2008 throne speech commitment to expand the StrongStart BC program to 400 centres by 2010. StrongStart BC centres also help fulfil government’s election platform and throne speech commitments to use underutilized school district space as centres to deliver early-learning services.
“StrongStart BC Centres offer an important program to help prepare children for kindergarten,” said Bond. “More than 80 centres have already opened and they are providing children and their caregivers with a wonderful opportunity to learn together.”
The school districts will receive $50,000 for each new StrongStart BC centre. This includes $20,000 to prepare the in-school space and purchase of new equipment and learning materials, and up to $30,000 to fund this year’s operating costs, including staff, professional development, supplies and healthy snacks. Continuing StrongStart BC centres will receive $30,000 each year in operating funds.
“Additional StrongStart BC centres are a worthwhile investment in our children's future which will pay nothing but dividends,” said Connie Denesiuk, president of the British Columbia School Trustees Association. “BCSTA is pleased to see the Ministry of Education working with boards of education to create this support for families.”
StrongStart BC centres are helping the Province reach its goal of making B.C. the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent. In addition, the Province has created the Early Childhood Learning Agency, which is currently conducting a feasibility study on offering all-day kindergarten for five-year-olds and optional all-day preschool for children three and four years old.
Since 2001, government has invested more than $137 million in new literacy initiatives, including pre-literacy and early learning programs such as $9.5 million to operate the kindergarten readiness program Ready, Set, Learn and $2.7 million for the ActNow Literacy Education Activity and Play (LEAP BC) program that encourages literacy, physical activity and healthy eating in preschool-aged children.
For a complete list of the new StrongStart centres, please visit: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/news/docs/new_strongstart_centres.pdf
Province Doubles StrongStart BC Early Learning Centres |
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