In a letter to TCDSB parents late last week, Director of Education Ann Perron listed the 10 new schools added to the slate of now 38 TCDSB elementary schools to offer the program. They are:

Nativity of Our Lord and St. Teresa Catholic schools in Etobicoke; St. Charles Garnier, St. Norbert, and St. Wilfrid Catholic schools in North York; Holy Rosary Catholic School in York; St. Dominic Savio and St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic schools in Scarborough; and Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Rita Catholic schools in Toronto.

By the 2015-2016 school year, all schools in the TCDSB and across the entire province will offer the full day Early Learning Kindergarten Program, Perron noted.

"This program establishes a strong foundation in the early years and will give four- and five year-olds in Toronto Catholic schools a stronger start on their learning," she wrote. "It will help improve their reading, writing and math skills, provide a smoother transition to Grade 1 and help increase their success in school and beyond."

Classes will be led by a teacher and a registered early childhood educator. Before- and after-school programs may also be offered for a fee where numbers make the program viable. The fee for the before and after-school programs has been set at $31.51 per day (based on a five-hour model) in participating TCDSB schools.

Go to www.tcdsb.org for more information and updates.