Supporting Families During COVID-19
All Ontarians are facing an unprecedented set of challenges during the global COVID-19 outbreak. Families in particular face additional pressure due to the required closure of schools and most child care centres due to the potential for transmission of COVID-19. Our government recognizes this added strain on families and is committed to easing the burden for parents while ensuring that learning continues for children even when they’re out of the physical classroom.
As part of our Learn at Home initiative, we are reconnecting students with teachers and educational staff, and re-establishing teacher-led learning, including:
- Kindergarten-Grade 3: five hours of work per student/week (focus on literacy and math)
- Grades 4-6: five hours of work per student/week (focus on literacy, math, science and social studies)
- Grades 7-8: 10 hours of work per student/week (focus on math, literacy, science and social studies)
- Grades 9-12: three hours of work per course per week for semestered students; 1.5 hours of work per course per week for non-semestered students (focus on achieving credits/completion/graduation)
We remain committed to ensuring that no student loses their graduation because of COVID-19, and are ready to use any and all tools necessary to ensure our children continue to learn while at home, including working with school boards and schools to distribute laptops and/or other devices from schools.
For parents, we are providing a one-time payment of $200 per child aged 12 years and under, as well as $250 per child aged 12 and under with special needs. Parents who have already signed up for the Support for Parents initiative during previous education job-action are automatically signed up for this benefit. Parents looking to sign up for the first time can visit Ontario.ca/supportforparents.
Finally, as part of our Ontario Together initiative to leverage Ontario’s manufacturing sector and partnerships with the telecommunication sector, we are seeking innovative, low-cost and high-impact solutions to solve the challenges facing some students across Ontario, including challenges identified by families here in Dufferin-Caledon. The Ministry of Education has posted a new challenge that looks for learning solutions focused on:
- Free or low-cost learning resources and supports for students, parents and educators;
- Access to devices such as computers, tablets and portable Wi-Fi hotspots for families that need the supports; and
- Other ideas, goods or services, for example, to support mental health and students with special education needs.
Ontario public schools will remain closed to teachers until Friday, May 1, 2020, and to students until Monday, May 4, 2020, to keep Ontario’s students safe from COVID-19. Private schools, licensed child care centres and EarlyON programs will also remain closed, in accordance with Ontario’s Declaration of Emergency. Select centres designated to support frontline doctors, nurses, paramedics, firefighters, police, and correctional officers will remain open, including the YMCA Bolton Jr. Daycare Centre here in Dufferin-Caledon.
As a reminder, if you develop symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever, and breathing difficulties, call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 or contact your local public health unit. Be sure to mention your symptoms and travel history, including any countries you may have recently visited. If you need emergency medical attention, you should call 911 and mention any travel history and symptoms. My constituency office staff and I are available to answer any questions you may have by phone at 1-800-265-1603 or online at sylviajonesmpp.ca.