Extended days coming for youngest students in Ontario

Premier Dalton McGuinty says Ontario will start to phase in full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds starting in 2010.

McGuinty says studies show four-year-olds in full-time learning programs consistently score higher in math and language skills than other students.

He has appointed Dr. Charles Pascal, chair of the Education Quality and Accountability Office, to recommend the best ways to implement full-day junior and senior kindergarten.

Pascal says he hopes to create a seamless system where young children are exposed to a mix of kindergarten teachers and other early childhood educators.

The province will spend $200 million in 2010 and $300 million the next year to phase in full-time learning for the youngest students.

But McGuinty admits he would be surprised if that was enough money to pay for a fully phased-in program for all Ontario four- and five-year-olds, estimated to be about 250,000 children.