Alberta invests $5.2 M in early childhood education training

Alberta is investing $5.2 million in early childhood educators to help improve their skills by providing early childhood brain science and development training.

The provincial government will provide funding to the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta (ARCQE) and the Alberta Resource Centre for Quality Enhancement (ARCQE) on top of reimbursing them for their training time.

“Skilled professionals are essential to supporting kids’ learning and development in their early years. Time is often a barrier for educators to access further training, which is why Alberta’s government is allocating this funding to help pay these educators while they enhance their skills and knowledge. This will ensure the next generation of kids is equipped with the tools they need to become tomorrow’s leaders,” said Matt Jones, Minister of Children’s Services.

The funding will be divided into two portions – one for an educational training course and the other for professional development for early childhood educators, according to a provincial release.

Around $3.6 million will be designated for the Brain Story Certification course which will be provided to around 3,000 educators and will be offered through the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative.

The course will give educators the chance to learn about both theory and practice and apply the knowledge from the course to daily activities.

And at least $1.6 million will be given for professional training purposes towards childhood development with the hopes of improving programming in early learning child-care settings specifically or assessing a child’s development and providing the proper support, according to the release.

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“Early childhood educators are essential to the delivery of high-quality learning and child care and they need to be well-educated, supported, and remunerated to undertake that work. We are excited to provide educators with an opportunity for continued professional learning on the scientific underpinnings of early brain development and the important role educators play in a child’s early years,” said Carol Sullivan, board chair, AECEA.

“Early child educators/caregivers who understand the science of brain development and the importance of nurturing relationships are better poised to have a positive impact on children in their care. By developing knowledge, skills, and abilities regarding this science, we can optimize outcomes for our children,” said Robin Gibb, professor and associate chair of curriculum, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge

The funding itself is part of the made-in-Alberta child care agreement which is going to be used to support the early childhood workforce.