P.E.I. schools hire more support staff [Video]

More support staff will be available at Prince Edward Island schools in the upcoming school year.

Beginning this fall, more than 120 new hires will join the school systems, including 66 new instructional positions and 51 new educational assistant positions, according to a news release from the provincial government.

The province says 18 of the 66 new teaching positions will be for behaviour support teachers to help with the new Positive Behaviour Intervention and Supports pilot program. That program is launching in several public schools to help students better integrate into island classrooms.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

The program was designed to help promote a positive culture with dedicated behaviour support teachers and other supports to improve students’ social, emotional, behavioural, and academic outcomes.

“With a growing population and increasingly diverse classrooms, we have not shied away from investing in not just more resources but …