The Ministry of Education is expected to release the curriculum later this year-it has projected April as the release date. This curriculum will outline expectations from grades 1 to 8. The release of ministry curriculum has been anticipated-expected release dates were June, September and December 2000. The Peel board had delayed making its decision about changing the early French immersion program until the release of the ministry curriculum, but must now make a decision because of the need to begin teacher staffing for next September. Early literacy in English Two years of kindergarten will give students a solid early literacy base in English, before they begin to learn a second language.
Research shows that second language learning is strongly correlated to first language proficiency.
Retain more students in French immersion long-term Kindergarten teachers will have two years to assess children who fit the profile of a successful French immersion student. Parents of these students will be encouraged to consider French immersion as an option for their child. The average attrition rate by the end of the kindergarten year is about 12 per cent. The attrition rate tends to be higher after the kindergarten year than any other year of the program. The change in start date is intended to make sure children entering French immersion have a greater chance of being successful in the program.