Underfunding threatens 25 locations that serve 3,190 children
SURREY District 36 Parent Advisory Council (Surrey DPAC) on Thursday called on the Ministry of Education and Child Care and the Ministry of Children and Family Development to fully fund the Strong Start program to match the increase in Surrey’s growth and inflation of costs to run the program.
Strong Start is essential in providing equitable and community-based socialization for children entering the Surrey School District as well as support for families by providing community building, interaction with early childhood educators and opportunities for early childhood screening.
Strong Start is often a first point of contact for families with their community school which has become a social safety net for the most vulnerable learners. Due to high demand, Surrey families have already had reduced access to the Strong Start program with limits of two visits per week at many locations.
At the Surrey School District Board meeting on Wednesday night, the Board was faced with two options: closure of all 25 locations or partial closure of program locations due to funding shortfalls caused by provincial funding stagnation by the Ministry of Education and Childcare since 2008. The Board cited rises in costs to deliver the program due to inflation and the rapid growth of the Surrey School District, including early learners from 0-5 years, that this program serves.
The Ministry of Children and Family Development’s own position is that “current research underscores the importance of supporting children, and by extension their families, during the early years”.
“Surrey families are already struggling with unknowns about the future of our students due to underfunding, catchment closures and extended days,” said Surrey DPAC Acting President Anne Whitmore. “To now hear that our government has also been neglecting our youngest learners, where we know that they are developing the foundation for all future learning, behavior and health is unforgivable. This government is choosing to abandon our most vulnerable learners during a time when they need all the support they can get as they develop a foundation for their future.”
Surrey DPAC is calling on the provincial government to fully fund Surrey’s Early Childhood Education program that the Ministry of Education and Childcare created to serve families in the community.
Strong Start is a low barrier program provided at no cost to families in the community, offering a free alternative to preschool experience for children who may not otherwise have this opportunity. It is a way to increase equity in our community with an early learning program designed to prepare children under five for a successful transition into kindergarten by fostering learning, socialization with peers and introduction to the school environment.
