Families living in rural areas of the Sunshine Coast will have access to a new StrongStart BC early learning outreach program starting this September.

The Sunshine Coast school district will open the StrongStart BC outreach program in the fall to service the north, south and central areas of the Sunshine Coast and aim to reach out to isolated families living in remote communities.

One area where the outreach program will provide service is Sechelt, with a special program for teen parents called "Learning as Parents". The new StrongStart BC Outreach program will work hand-in-hand with "Learning as Parents" to provide students with early learning services and supports for their children, while the teen parent program allows students to continue their secondary education.

The school district will receive $52,000 for the new outreach program. This includes $20,000 to purchase transportation for the mobile program, new equipment and learning materials, and $32,000 to fund this year's operating costs, including staff, professional development, supplies and healthy snacks.

Quotes:

Minister of Education, George Abbott:

"Over the last five years, we have seen the StrongStart BC program grow from 12 pilot projects to 316 programs across the province, with another 10 opening this September. We are committed to the expansion of this valuable program and are focused on communities with the greatest need for support of children and their families."

Sunshine Coast board of education chair, Silas White:

"We are thrilled to be able to provide families with the opportunity to attend this valuable early learning program. The outreach will allow us to service a broad group of families who have not previously had access to the program in other areas of the Sunshine Coast."

Quick Facts:

* Parents can take their children to StrongStart BC programs to learn through play while interacting with each other and a licensed early learning educator.

* The first StrongStart BC centre opened at Mountain View Elementary school in Revelstoke in 2006 and, as of September 2011, there will be 326 operating across B.C.

* The centres also provide valuable referrals to community resources for parents, grandparents and caregivers.

* In 2009-2010, there were nearly half a million visits to StrongStart BC programs across the province (476,000) with more than 24,000 children participating.

* Since 2001, the Province has invested $1.4 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives, such as StrongStart BC early learning programs.

Learn More:

Learn more about StrongStart BC programs: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/early_learning/strongstart_bc/

Learn more about full-day kindergarten programs: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/early_learning/fdk/

Resources for parents: www.learnnowbc.ca/LearningResources.aspx

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement

Ministry of Education

250 356-5963

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect