Catholic School Trustees Applaud Flexibility in Extended Day Program Delivery

TORONTO, Dec. 16 /CNW/ - "The Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association welcomes the government's proposal to give school boards the flexibility to determine locally a method by which the JK/K Extended Day Program will be delivered.  Allowing boards to partner with third-party operators in providing before- and after-school care is a decision that responds to issues raised by Ontario's Catholic, public and French school boards," said Nancy Kirby, president of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association.

Many Catholic school boards across Ontario currently work in partnership with qualified and experienced organizations in the community to provide quality before- and after-school programs for students. Such services have met the needs of students and families for many years.

"From our position as a provincial body, we're able to assess the kind of response this program has generated province-wide in Catholic school communities. Overall, school boards must be able to offer the Extended Day Program in a way that addresses local circumstances and the needs and preferences of parents in that community," explains Kirby.

"We recommended that the government provide school boards the flexibility to address the local priorities of families and school boards while still advancing the goals of the Early Learning Program and the vision of a comprehensive full-day program for early learners. Catholic school boards are committed to ensuring that all segments of the Early Learning Program are responsive to the needs of our youngest learners," adds Kirby.

The Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association is the provincial voice for publicly funded Catholic education.  Founded in 1930, OCSTA represents the interests of Catholic school boards that collectively educate approximately 600,000 students in Ontario, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.

For further information:

Sharon McMillan, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations
Tel: [phone], ext. 232
E-mail: [email protected]