Kindergarten report goes to cabinet, Ghiz to comment next week

P.E.I. kindergarten commissioner Pat Mella briefed cabinet Tuesday on her report on integrating kindergarten students into Island schools, but Islanders will have to wait to hear more about it.

The Island has had publicly funded kindergarten since 2000, but the curriculum has been delivered by the private sector. Premier Robert Ghiz wants to integrate kindergarten into the schools by 2010. Mella was appointed last year to write the report on how to implement the change.

Ghiz is not yet ready to release any details on the report, which includes busing issues, whether schools have enough room for the extra students, and how early childhood educators get the extra education needed to teach in the school system.

"It is a lengthy report," said Ghiz, who received it at the end of June.

"Cabinet just received it today. We're going to take the opportunity to review it now and we'll have a further announcement next week on what our direction is going to be."

Mella held a series of public meetings across the Island and met with early childhood educators, parents and school officials while preparing her report.