CBC News Ottawa

“Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustees say many children from low-income families are being shut out of before-school and after-school care, and they're asking the province to make changes.”

With the implementation of full-day kindergarten three years ago, extended care was introduced, a program that accepts children up to 12 years old for $20/day per a child.

52 schools offer extended care, with more affluent neighborhoods with an enrollment of 25- children. However, in several high-needs schools, the numbers are lower which means the program cannot be offered because there are not enough people signed up.

Even with a $200,000 surplus for the OCDSB’s extended day program, it cannot be used to address the problem

“Trustees have written a letter to education minister Liz Sandals and education critics at Queen's Park, asking for more flexibility in the Education Act to allow local boards to come up with "creative solutions."”

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