Every child deserves the best possible start. Expanding public education to include 4-year-olds through universal junior kindergarten is not just an investment in early learning, it’s an investment in equity, families, and our collective future. By ensuring access for all, we can close gaps before they widen, strengthen communities, and give every child the foundation they need to thrive.
EXPANDING PUBLIC EDUCATION
Beginning School at Age 4
Media
The Importance of Junior Kindergarten
L'importance de la maternelle 4 ans
Chaque enfant mérite le meilleur départ possible. Étendre l'enseignement public aux enfants de 4 ans grâce à la mise en place d'une maternelle universelle n'est pas seulement un investissement dans l'apprentissage précoce, c'est aussi un investissement dans l'équité, les familles et notre avenir collectif. En garantissant l'accès à tous, nous pouvons combler les écarts avant qu'ils ne se creusent, renforcer les communautés et donner à chaque enfant les bases dont il a besoin pour s'épanouir.
The Role of Junior Kindergarten in Improving Child Mental Health Outcomes
Discussions about improving mental health outcomes for children often overlook a critical factor: the mental health and well-being of their educators. Research has long highlighted the importance of healthy, supportive environments for early childhood development, yet the working conditions of early childhood educators remain a blind spot.
Government investing $200 million in child-care sector
Government of New Brunswick, March 11, 2025 Excerpt: The provincial government is investing $200 million over five years to extend three child-care agreements with the federal government.One of them, the Canada-New Brunswick Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, has been extended to March 31, 2031.
JK Delivering Striking Results in the NWT
When early learning programs are universal, participation soars. This broad reach delivers undeniable benefits, particularly for vulnerable children who stand to gain the most.
The experience of jurisdictions with universal pre-kindergarten shows that 4-year-olds benefit from the expertise of school staff and services, especially marginalized students.