60th Annual Provincial Conference REGISTRATION NOW OPEN. The Early Bird deadline is March 31st, 2010.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

- Implementing Early Learning In Ontario: Lessons from Toronto First Duty
- Working with Public School Board Parents: What ECEs in the Early Learning Program can Expect
- Perspectives on Early Childhood Educators and their role in the Early Learning Program
- Best Start Child and Family Centres: From Vision to Reality
- A Mentoring Approach to Leadership in Changing Times

The eceLINK (Winter 2010) is now available on our member's only website*.

This publication includes:

* A thought provoking opinion piece entitled, Implementing Full Day Early Learning and Care: A Call for Coherence
* Our sequel article, Working in a Regulated Profession: What does it Mean to ECE Staff?
* Member motion and provincial board nomination forms for the AECEO's May 28, 2010, Annual General Meeting
* Branch reports from London, Peel, York, Ottawa, Niagara and Windsor

This ALERT is being sent jointly by the AECEO and the OCBCC.

It provides:
• Important information regarding proposed DNA changes
• Analysis of how these changes will compromise quality and accountability in early learning and child care programs
• A Call-to-Action for sector professionals, parents and advocates to inform Premier McGuinty’s government, before it is too late, that proposed DNA changes are not in the best interest of Ontario’s children.

The Toronto District School Board has an external job opportunity for Registered Early Childhood Educators in the new Early Learning Program that will be available on their public website between February 8 to 10, 2010 only.

To view the posting and apply, please click here.

Proposed regulatory changes to the Day Nurseries Act would have fewer staff caring for larger groups of children in early learning and care programs. The AECEO made clear its concerns regarding proposed changes, while attending this week's Ministry of Children and Youth Services consultation meeting. Children and families would be better served if legislative and regulatory changes were made after new programs were in place. This would be consistent with the early learning report commissioned by the government. It recommends legislative changes be made two to three years down the road.

Many parents, early learning providers and advocates have serious concerns that the Ontario Government's Early Learning Program announced last October, does not provide extended care services on non-school days.

After some pressure from parents and ECE programs, the Early Years Division recognizes that not offering summer programming is hugely problematic for children and families. However their directives to school boards have not been clear, and many school boards are unsure of their responsibilities.

On January 12th, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the list of nearly 600 schools that will be providing the early learning programs this September. Up to 35,000 four-and-five-year-olds will participate in the first year of implementation.

Click here for the Full-Day Early Learning Curriculum in both French and English.