Full-Day Kindergarten to be Announced

Premier Dalton McGuinty will announce today which Ontario schools will offer full-day kindergarten to four- and five-year-olds this fall.

A government source says 600 schools will be able to offer the new program in September, including North Star Community School in Atikokan.

At least one school from each board will have the program, which will be rolled out across the province over five years.

McGuinty, who's making the announcement in a Chatham school today, is moving ahead with the costly initiative despite an unprecedented $25-billion deficit.

The Conservatives say the program, which will cost about $1.5 billion a year, should be put off until the province is in better financial shape.

The New Democrats say some kids won't be getting equal access to the program this fall because their schools don't have extra space or adequate facilities.