Partnering for Early Education in Edina

Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Stephanie co-chair of Edina Partners for Early Education (EPFEE). State Senator Geoff Michel from Edina recently wrote a column for the StarTribune that highlighted the work that EPFEE is doing. I called Stephanie so that I could learn more.

EPFEE started as a result of a breakfast event in October of 2006. A group of community members including school district and business personnel coordinated the breakfast where over 150 people attended. Rob Grunewald from the Federal Reserve of Minneapolis and Mark Scally from Minnesota Business for Early Learning spoke at that October breakfast on the economic impact of investing in early education.

Now, almost a year and a half later, a group of committed community members are continuing to meet and promote early childhood in their community.

EPFEE has coordinated a Kindergarten Summit, bringing together all the kindergarten teachers in their district together to discern what they look for in kids readiness for success when they come to their classrooms. The information from the kindergarten teachers is being shared with preschool and early childhood teachers in the community so that they can work to help their kids be ready.

EPFEE is planning a second, follow up breakfast on February 28 to hear from the Edina community and take the next steps in promoting early care and education.

Talking with Stephanie got me thinking about all the other great work that's happening in communities around Minnesota and across the country. There are so many examples of community members coming together to raise awareness about the importance of the first five years.

What about you? What is happening in your community to bring more voices to the table and involve more people? What are you doing to ensure that the children in your community enter kindergarten fully prepared to learn?