April 15, 1998

   To:Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee

 From:City Clerk

 Subject:Impact of Education Funding Changes on Programmes for Children

 Recommendations:

 The Children=s Action Committee on April 6, 1998, recommended to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee that:

 (1)the Provincial Government be advised of Council=s extreme concern that the Provincial Government=s new education funding model will jeopardize the services currently provided in Toronto to children and their families;

 (2)the Provincial Government be requested to review its education funding allocation and broaden its definition of classroom and student needs to include the whole education community to ensure that there are adequate resources available to address children=s needs such as: nutrition programmes; childcare; adult education; after four programmes; community use of schools; programmes and services for newly arrived students and their families; additional staff and programmes for inner City students; and other services that improve a student=s AReadiness to Learn@;

 (3)the Provincial Government be invited to appoint two MPPs from its caucus representing the Toronto Area to work with City and Toronto School Board officials to ensure that the programmes listed in Recommendation No. (2) are protected;

 (4)the Mayor and the Children=s Advocate, together with representatives from the Board of Health and the Toronto School Board be requested to meet with the Minister of Community and Social Services to seek a matching contribution of $1.2 million from the Province for the continuation of the children=s nutrition programme; and

 (5)the Toronto School Board be requested to continue its immigration settlement activities by creating a partnership approach which involves the Toronto School Boards, the City, and the Provincial and Federal governments.

    (6)funding be provided to fill the 2,000 licensed daycare spaces currently vacant; and, further that Council be advised that the Children=s Action Committee reiterated point No. 1 of its previous recommendation to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, viz:

 AThat the following principles be considered during the 1998 budget process:

 (1)that there be an expansion of child care subsidies to ensure that the 2,000 vacancies in the licensed child care system are filled; .....@

 The Children=s Action Committee reports, for the information of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, having:

 1.requested the Functional Lead for Children=s Services:

 (a)in consultation with the Toronto School Board, to monitor and report back to the Children=s Action Committee, as soon as possible, on the impact of education funding cuts to children=s programmes and the erosion of children=s services; and further, that these issues be included in the report card on children;

 (b)to submit a report to the May 8, or June 12, 1998 meeting of the Children=s Action Committee, on what exemptions are in place for parents in the Ontario Works Programme, such report to include comments on exemptions provided to families experiencing domestic violence or fragile family situations, in addition to the childcare component; and

 (c)to submit a report to the June 12, 1998 meeting of the Children=s Action Committee, on after-school programmes available for school-age children, such report to comment on opportunities and challenges faced by the City to prepare for childcare needs under the Ontario Works Programme, in particular with respect to recreation in an amalgamated City; and, further, requested that Ms. Margaret Marland, MPP, be invited to the meeting of the Committee at which the aforementioned report is considered.

 Background:

 The Children=s Action Committee had before it a communication dated March 27, 1998, from the City Clerk, addressed to the Budget Committee, forwarding the recommendations of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee from its meeting held on March 26 and 27, 1997 respecting the 1998 Operating and Capital Budgets, Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee.

 The Children=s Action Committee also had before it the following reports:

 -(March 11, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, addressed to the Community and Neighbourhoods Services Committee regarding Pressures Facing Child Care Programs;

 -(March 12, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, addressed to the Community and Neighbourhoods Services Committee regarding Child Care Demand Related to the Ontario Works Program;

 -(February 26, 1998) from the City Clerk (February 26, 1998) advising of the action taken by the Board of Health on February 23, 1998, regarding Current Gaps in Public Health Services for Children; and

 -(March 26, 1998) from the City Clerk (March 26, 1998) advising of the action taken by the Board of Health on March 24, 1998 regarding Investing in Public and Children=s Health, and Child Nutrition Programs.

 Mr. John Davies, Toronto District School Board, appeared before the Children=s Action Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

   City Clerk

  cc:Shirley Hoy, Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

Marna Ramsden, Interim Functional Lead for Children=s Services