There will be an expansion of the Early Learning Intensive Support Program.

It is for three and four-year-old children with significant, enduring disabilities and development delays that require additional support.

About 250 children in 26 school divisions are benefitting from the program this year, with an additional 150 pre-school aged kids involved next year.

The total cost of the federal/provincial program is 4.9 million dollars with an increase of nearly two million dollars budgeted for next year.

It started as a pilot program in 2018—with 120 spaces in Saskatoon and Regina.

“The ELIS program has been an enormous help to my son and the first time he has been able to be included in a structured setting outside the home, where he is spending time with his peers,” said Kayla Haanen. “Without this program, I do not believe that my child would be at the level of functioning that he is currently at and do not believe that he would have successfully or smoothly entered into the early years of his schooling.”