More supports for students and children this September

Students, children and families will benefit from more supports and services in September when more inclusive education support specialists enter the classroom and 130 new pre-primary classes open, the province says.

“This is a big year for children and students. We have made significant investments in supports, services and programs that will have a direct impact for students and for children accessing early learning,” said Zach Churchill, minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “Parents will see recommendations from Dr. Avis Glaze’s report and from the Commission on Inclusive Education’s report come to life this September.” In September, students will:

• be supported by 190 new inclusive education specialists including child and youth care practitioners, education assistants, and autism teacher specialists

• have increased access to math and literacy support specialist teachers

• benefit from an additional 57 high school teachers, designated to schools in rural communities, thanks to a $8.6-million investment by the Council to Improve Classroom Conditions.

More children and families will also have access to the Pre-pri- mary Program in September. The program will expand to another 130 classrooms, in 87 more school communities across the province. To date, about 2,300 children have registered for the program in September.

Parents of children eligible to take part in a Pre-primary Program are encouraged to register their child. More information is available at www.novascotia.ca/pre-primary. Pre-primary will expand to all Nova Scotia communities by 2020.

The department will provide another update in the fall on these and other education and early childhood development initiatives.