A new Early Years Education Initiative, announced yesterday, will replace the Smaller Classes Initiative, including the funding that supported it.
The new initiative means that schools in Manitoba will no longer have to cap their K to 3 class sizes at 20.
Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart says the new initiative will give schools the power to follow what works for them.
The province felt that the Smaller Classes Initiative, which capped K to 3 classrooms at 20 students, didn't make any measurable improvements, and they're replacing it with their own plan beginning in the 2017/18 school year.
"Having the flexibility is really the key. Being able to make the decisions based on what's best for the students at that particular school environment as opposed to a capped number."
The new initiative comes with funding which will be shared among all of Manitoba's school divisions, with each division being given the power to determine how and where it's best used.
Canadian School Board Association president Floyd Martens says every school division is unique and having flexibility is important.
"We think it will give the flexibility of the school divisions to focus on the specific needs of the students. We have some really great and innovative programs at school divisions all across the province in terms of improving literacy and numeracy."
The new initiative includes an evaluation component to measure progress.
Tue, Apr 30, 5:00 PM
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