Item - 2010.CD34.4
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on July 6, 2010 with amendments.
- This item was considered by Community Development and Recreation Committee on June 24, 2010 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on July 6, 2010.
CD34.4 - Implementing Early Learning: Status Report
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on July 6, 7 and 8, 2010, adopted the following:
1. City Council request that at the newly established Toronto/Ontario table, discussions include the following objectives:
a. negotiating a transition agreement that ensures creation of a sustainable and integrated Early Learning Program in Toronto that reflects the size and complexity of the city's child care system;
b. exploring more flexible funding models, including base funding, to address the affordability of child care to all families;
c. developing new monitoring and reporting mechanisms that satisfy accountability and governance requirements, provide meaningful data to inform policy, and respect the City's role as consolidated municipal systems manager for children from pre-natal to 12 years of age; and
d. identifying strategies to address base funding pressures that increase by $8 million per annum and will total $35 million by 2012, resulting in service cuts of 3,500 subsidized spaces if not addressed.
2. City Council request that the Province provide an additional $27 million in base funding to address the affordability of child care for all families and $13.5 million in capital funding to mitigate renovation costs in child care centres located outside of schools, with the timing of the provision of these funds to be addressed in the transition agreement identified in recommendation 1.
3. City Council direct that when a provincial framework is available for the development of Child and Family Centres (CFC), Children's Services revise transitional and capital requirements, if needed, to ensure that CFC's in the community and in schools and their corresponding child care are sustainable, accessible and of high quality.
4. City Council request that the Province take the necessary steps to ensure continuity of services for all children by ensuring that for each new subsidy dedicated to ELP the Province provide a corresponding new subsidy for school age.
5. City Council approve an adjustment to the 2010 Approved Operating Budget for Children's Services to include an additional $7.954 million in Provincial revenues for child care to replace the reduction in Best Start funding, and these revenues be offset by an equivalent reduction in the 2010 budgeted withdrawal from the Child Care Expansion Reserve Fund (CCERF).
6. City Council approve an adjustment to the 2010 Operating Budget for Children's Services, the Child Care Expansion Reserve Fund, and the Child Care Capital Reserve Fund to reflect the receipt of an additional $0.971 million in provincial revenue to expedite the transition to early learning phase 1, as follows:
a. increase the provincial budgeted revenues by $0.787 million with a corresponding decrease in the 2010 budgeted draw from the Child Care Expansion Reserve Fund; and
b. contribute the $0.184 million received from the province in 2010 as a contribution to the Child Care Capital Reserve Fund to be used to assist child care operators to reconfigure their infrastructure in order to accommodate younger children, once sufficient resources are available.
7. City Council provide authority to increase the 2010 Operating Budget for Children's Services by $0.050 million gross $0 net with funding from the Province to expedite the necessary information technology changes related to ELP.
8. City Council approve an adjustment to the 2010 Approved Operating Budget for Children's Services to include an additional $424,900 in Provincial revenues for funding of new fee subsidies for the Early Learning Extended Day program.
9. City Council provide authority to Toronto Children's Services to apply both the Council approved budget guidelines and where necessary, the guidelines from the regulations under the Education Act, to establish per diems for the extended day program with school boards.
10. City Council request the General Manager, Children’s Services, to report to Council in February 2011 on actions outlined in the Recommendations in the report (June 11, 2010) from the General Manager, Children’s Services, with respect to the Early Learning Program and Child Family Centres.
11. City Council request the General Manager, Children’s Services, to report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee by July 2011 on the strategies that could be implemented, including reducing service levels, should base funding requirements not be addressed.
12. City Council forward this report to the Premier of Ontario and the Ministers of Children and Youth Services and Education to ensure that they are informed about the transitional and fiscal requirements of the City of Toronto with respect to ELP.
13. City Council request the Minister of Education to:
a. protect existing child care early learning spaces in schools and ensure sufficient funding to achieve this;
b. ensure that adequate supervision and hot lunches remain available in child care during the transition and be included and funded in Early Learning Programs when implemented; and
c. amend the regulations to eliminate the costs of special needs resources and school space from the school board fees for Early Learning Program extended day programs.
14. City Council adopt the following resolution:
"Whereas, the vision of the Early Learning Programs was a seamless day with integrated programming for Early Learning Day Care for children 0-12 years; and
Whereas, this program is being implemented in a fragmented way with insufficient resources and effective governance models; and
Whereas, local government and community representatives are concerned that this fragmented implementation will create service gaps and impact on the lives and well-being of children in the City of Toronto;
Therefore, be it resolved that City Council request that the school boards join them in public consultation to create a strategy and communication with the Provincial government after the municipal elections".
15. City Council forward the report (June 11, 2010) from the General Manager, Children's Services, titled "Implementing Early Learning: Status Report" to the Chairs of the Local Health Committees for their consideration.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-31459.pdf
CD34.4 - Implementing Early Learning: Status Report - Appendix A
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-31460.pdf
CD34.4 - Implementing Early Learning: Status Report - Staff Presentation
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-31774.pdf
Communications (Committee)
(June 24, 2010) Submission from Peter Frampton, Executive Director, The Learning Enrichment Foundation (CD.New.CD34.4.2)
(June 24, 2010) Submission from Kathy Johnson, CUPE Social Service Coordinator - Ontario (CD.New.CD34.4.3)
Motions (City Council)
That City Council add the following recommendation:
1. City Council approve an adjustment to the 2010 Approved Operating Budget for Children's Services to include an additional $424,900 in Provincial revenues for funding of new fee subsidies for the Early Learning Extended Day program.
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Jul-07-2010 2:22 PM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - CD34.4 - Adopt the Item, as amended |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 40 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brian Ashton, Maria Augimeri, Sandra Bussin (Chair), Shelley Carroll, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Mike Del Grande, Frank Di Giorgio, Mike Feldman, Paula Fletcher, Rob Ford, Adam Giambrone, Mark Grimes, Suzan Hall, A.A. Heaps, Doug Holyday, Cliff Jenkins, Norman Kelly, Chin Lee, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Giorgio Mammoliti, Pam McConnell, Joe Mihevc, David Miller, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata, Cesar Palacio, Joe Pantalone, John Parker, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Kyle Rae, Bill Saundercook, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson, Adam Vaughan, Michael Walker |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 5 | Members that were absent are Raymond Cho, John Filion, Peter Milczyn, Howard Moscoe, Case Ootes |
Declared Interests (City Council)
Councillor Howard Moscoe - as his daughter is a part-time employee with the Children’s Services Division.
4a - Implementing Early Learning: Status Report
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-31646.pdf
CD34.4 - Implementing Early Learning: Status Report
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request that at the newly established Toronto/Ontario table, discussions include the following objectives:
a. negotiating a transition agreement that ensures creation of a sustainable and integrated Early Learning Program in Toronto that reflects the size and complexity of the city's child care system;
b. exploring more flexible funding models, including base funding, to address the affordability of child care to all families;
c. developing new monitoring and reporting mechanisms that satisfy accountability and governance requirements, provide meaningful data to inform policy, and respect the City's role as consolidated municipal systems manager for children from pre-natal to 12 years of age; and
d. identifying strategies to address base funding pressures that increase by $8 million per annum and will total $35 million by 2012, resulting in service cuts of 3,500 subsidized spaces if not addressed.
2. City Council request that the Province provide an additional $27 million in base funding to address the affordability of child care for all families and $13.5 million in capital funding to mitigate renovation costs in child care centres located outside of schools, with the timing of the provision of these funds to be addressed in the transition agreement identified in recommendation 1.
3. City Council direct that when a provincial framework is available for the development of Child and Family Centres (CFC), Children's Services revise transitional and capital requirements, if needed, to ensure that CFC's in the community and in schools and their corresponding child care are sustainable, accessible and of high quality.
4. City Council request that the Province take the necessary steps to ensure continuity of services for all children by ensuring that for each new subsidy dedicated to ELP the Province provide a corresponding new subsidy for school age.
5. City Council approve an adjustment to the 2010 Approved Operating Budget for Children's Services to include an additional $7.954 million in Provincial revenues for child care to replace the reduction in Best Start funding, and these revenues be offset by an equivalent reduction in the 2010 budgeted withdrawal from the Child Care Expansion Reserve Fund (CCERF).
6. City Council approve an adjustment to the 2010 Operating Budget for Children's Services, the Child Care Expansion Reserve Fund, and the Child Care Capital Reserve Fund to reflect the receipt of an additional $0.971 million in provincial revenue to expedite the transition to early learning phase 1, as follows:
a. increase the provincial budgeted revenues by $0.787 million with a corresponding decrease in the 2010 budgeted draw from the Child Care Expansion Reserve Fund; and
b. contribute the $0.184 million received from the province in 2010 as a contribution to the Child Care Capital Reserve Fund to be used to assist child care operators to reconfigure their infrastructure in order to accommodate younger children, once sufficient resources are available.
7. City Council provide authority to increase the 2010 Operating Budget for Children's Services by $0.050 million gross $0 net with funding from the Province to expedite the necessary information technology changes related to ELP.
8. City Council provide authority to Toronto Children's Services to apply both the Council approved budget guidelines and where necessary, the guidelines from the regulations under the Education Act, to establish per diems for the extended day program with school boards.
9. City Council request the General Manager, Children’s Services, to report to Council in February 2011 on actions outlined in the Recommendations in the report (June 11, 2010) from the General Manager, Children’s Services, with respect to the Early Learning Program and Child Family Centres.
10. City Council request the General Manager, Children’s Services, to report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee by July 2011 on the strategies that could be implemented, including reducing service levels, should base funding requirements not be addressed.
11. City Council forward this report to the Premier of Ontario and the Ministers of Children and Youth Services and Education to ensure that they are informed about the transitional and fiscal requirements of the City of Toronto with respect to ELP.
12. City Council request the Minister of Education to:
a. protect existing child care early learning spaces in schools and ensure sufficient funding to achieve this;
b. ensure that adequate supervision and hot lunches remain available in child care during the transition and be included and funded in Early Learning Programs when implemented; and
c. amend the regulations to eliminate the costs of special needs resources and school space from the school board fees for Early Learning Program extended day programs.
13. City Council adopt the following resolution:
"Whereas, the vision of the Early Learning Programs was a seamless day with integrated programming for Early Learning Day Care for children 0-12 years; and
Whereas, this program is being implemented in a fragmented way with insufficient resources and effective governance models; and
Whereas, local government and community representatives are concerned that this fragmented implementation will create service gaps and impact on the lives and well-being of children in the City of Toronto;
Therefore, be it resolved that City Council request that the school boards join them in public consultation to create a strategy and communication with the Provincial government after the municipal elections".
14. City Council forward the report (June 11, 2010) from the General Manager, Children's Services, titled "Implementing Early Learning: Status Report" to the Chairs of the Local Health Committees for their consideration.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The General Manager, Children’s Services, gave a presentation to the Community Development and Recreation Committee entitled “Implementing Early Learning: Status Report”.
Origin
Summary
This report summarizes the implementation status of the Province's Early Learning Program (ELP) for 4-and 5-year-olds, outlines the impact of this program on Toronto Children's Services and the child care sector and clarifies those actions and resources needed to mitigate these impacts. The report updates Council on the ongoing funding pressures impacting Children's Services in Toronto and seeks Council approval of changes to the Children's Services 2010 Operating Budget to reflect new funds received from the Province of Ontario.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-31459.pdf
CD34.4 - Implementing Early Learning: Status Report - Appendix A
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-31460.pdf
CD34.4 - Implementing Early Learning: Status Report - Staff Presentation
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-31774.pdf
Communications
(June 24, 2010) Submission from Peter Frampton, Executive Director, The Learning Enrichment Foundation (CD.New.CD34.4.2)
(June 24, 2010) Submission from Kathy Johnson, CUPE Social Service Coordinator - Ontario (CD.New.CD34.4.3)
Speakers
Peter Frampton, Executive Director, The Learning Enrichment Foundation (Submission Filed)
Ann Dembinski, President, CUPE Local 79 (Submission Filed)
Kathy Johnson, CUPE Social Service Coordinator - Ontario (Submission Filed)
Christina Gilligan, President, CUPE Local 2289 and CUPE Provincial Social Service Committee
Cindy McCarthy, Chair, Child Care Advisory Committee
Petr Varmuza
Motions
That Recommendation 9. in the report (June 11, 2010) from the General Manager, Children’s Services, be amended to read as follows:
“9. City Council request the General Manager, Children’s Services, to report to Council in February 2011 on actions outlined in the Recommendations in the report (June 11, 2010) from the General Manager, Children’s Services, with respect to the Early Learning Program and Child Family Centres.”
That the report (June 11, 2010) from the General Manager, Children's Services, be amended by adding a new Recommendation 10 and renumbering the remaining recommendation accordingly:
"10. City Council request the General Manager, Children’s Services, to report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee by July 2011 on the strategies that could be implemented, including reducing service levels, should base funding requirements not be addressed."
That the Community Development and Recreation Committee recommend to City Council that:
1. City Council forward this report to the Premier of Ontario and the Ministers of Children and Youth Services and Education to ensure that they are informed about the transitional and fiscal requirements of the City of Toronto with respect to ELP.
2. City Council request the Minister of Education to:
a. protect existing child care early learning spaces in schools and ensure sufficient funding to achieve this;
b. ensure that adequate supervision and hot lunches remain available in child care during the transition and be included and funded in Early Learning Programs when implemented; and
c. amend the regulations to eliminate the costs of special needs resources and school space from the school board fees for Early Learning Program extended day programs.
3. City Council adopt the following resolution:
"Whereas, the vision of the Early Learning Programs was a seamless day with integrated programming for Early Learning Day Care for children 0-12 years; and
Whereas, this program is being implemented in a fragmented way with insufficient resources and effective governance models; and
Whereas, local government and community representatives are concerned that this fragmented implementation will create service gaps and impact on the lives and well-being of children in the City of Toronto;
Therefore, be it resolved that City Council request that the school boards join them in public consultation to create a strategy and communication with the Provincial government after the municipal elections”.
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Jun-24-2010
Result: Carried | Majority Required |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 6 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Janet Davis (Chair), Cliff Jenkins, Joe Mihevc, John Parker |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 0 | Members that were absent are |
4a - Implementing Early Learning: Status Report
Origin
Summary
The Children’s Services Advisory Committee on June 18, 2010, heard a presentation by the General Manager, Children Services, respecting the report (June 11, 2010) from the General Manager, Children's Services, titled "Implementing Early Learning: Status Report", and forwarded its recommendations to the Community Development and Recreation Committee.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-31646.pdf