Policy committee update

The Ready 4 K policy committee met on January 7 to talk about ideas for improving the number of kids in Minnesota ready for school. The committee heard from two key people with big ideas for Minnesota's youngest citizens, Arthur Reynolds from the U of M and Art Rolnick from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve. These two experts both have very interesting proposals that differ in key ways.

Arthur Reynolds is with the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Reynolds' most well known research is with the Child-Parent Centers in Chicago, IL. This research project is studying the effects of intensive early childhood intervention. Dr. Reynolds had a few key points to share with the policy committee:

• The state of Minnesota puts up very little money for Pre-K programs, especially for 4 year olds. Currently, just 2% of 4 year olds attend state funded Pre-K (see related post here.)
• Investments in high quality programs in any of the first five years has a good return. However, the strongest return in terms of kids being ready to learn in school comes from an investment in 3 and 4 year olds, especially with 4s.
• Programs must be high quality to truly see a return on investment. High quality includes:
• Small classes with a ratio of 18:2 between children and staff
• Highly trained staff with opportunities for ongoing training
• Comprehensive family services
• A strong literacy focus
• Other states are making great investments in providing Pre-K to 3 and 4 year olds and Minnesota is falling dismally behind.

Following Dr. Reynolds, Art Rolnick from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve took time to share his ideas with the committee. Dr. Rolnick is best known for his research demonstrating the economic return on investment for early childhood programs. Dr. Reynolds' research with the Child-Parent Centers was a key piece of Dr. Rolnick's analysis. Dr. Rolnick has been promoting an idea of early childhood scholarships for children most at risk of not being ready for school. Dr. Rolnick's scholarship model is being piloted by the MELF in the Frogtown area of St Paul. Key points of the scholarship model include:

• Start working pre-natal with families who are at-risk ('at-risk' defined primarily by income)
  
• Provide mentors and home visits for children pre-natal to 3 years
• Provide scholarships up to $13,000 per year for high quality early learning opportunities for 3 and 4 year olds.

The pilot in St Paul is being funded by $30 million of private dollars over 5 years and aims to serve 1,200 families with an annual income below 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidline (about $38,000 for a family of four).

Dr. Rolnick argues that this model could easily be expanded statewide by establishing an early childhood endowment totaling $2 billion, with the program funding coming from the interest earned on the amount. The benefit of the endowment would be a permanent funding source that would not be susceptible to the typical state budget debates.

These experts have differing but valuable proposals. Dr. Reynolds is promoting a voluntary universal Pre-K program for 4 year olds (eventually expanding to 3 year olds) as many other states have done and Dr. Rolnick argues for a targeted program starting pre-natal. The Ready 4 K policy committee will continue to discuss these ideas.

What do you think? What do you see as the most important components for getting the most kids ready for school and the highest economic return?