In the news

It was a busy week for Parent Aware and the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation. Stories appeared in both the StarTribune and the Pioneer Press about the progress Parent Aware is making in helping to connect low income families to quality child care. A great editorial was also published in the StarTribune. The MELF was also highlighted in an article describing the economic investment needed for early care and education.

Expanding Parent Aware, a quality rating system for child care providers, to be state wide is a key piece of Ready 4 K's agenda of helping kids start kindergarten ready for learning success. Stay tuned as we head into the election season for questions to ask candidates on how they plan to get kids ready.

photo by pragmagraphr

Age 3 to Grade 3 model gets attention

The StarTribune published an editorial this week highlighting Age 3 to Grade 3 as an early childhood education model. Age 3 to Grade 3 (sometimes called PreK-3) is comprised of at least three parts: high quality early care and education, all day kindergarten, and curriculum and standards alignment through third grade with parent involvement throughout. Ideally, this would take place in one location and the staff would have consistent contact with the children for all 6 years.

Research shows that the PreK-3 approach can close the student achievement gap, reduce the need for special education services and increase the likelihood of a future educated and competitive workforce. An article by Bill Graves, PK-3: What is it and How Do We Know it Works? gives more detail about the PreK-3 approach.

Ready 4 K has been promoting PreK-3 as an innovation in early education and for closing the achievement gap. In the 2007 legislative session Ready 4 K proposed piloting PreK-3 models as part of a larger package for improving linkages between early childhood and K-12 education. See a summary of the proposed bill. Funding for these pilots was eliminated in last minute budget negotiations at the end of legislative session. Ready 4 K will again raise PreK-3 as a positive step toward our goal of ensuring kids in Minnesota are ready for kindergarten and ready for life.

Show states the money

Looks like Minnesota isn’t alone in the struggle to put dollars behind statewide early childhood initiatives. According to the June 6 Education Week article, “States Press Ahead on Preschool Programs,” across the nation Governors and policymakers have good intentions, but when it comes down to deciding how much to spend, where the money will come from or how it will be distributed delays abound.