Saturday, February 25, 2006
Minnesotans’ Attitudes Toward Early Education
Yesterday I posted an article that references a public opinion survey that was recently completed. In case you didn't go and read the survey results, Here is the official summary of this survey...
So what does this survey mean to you as a provider? As I have been saying here all along, the public awareness of the importance of early childhood education is rapidly growing in Minnesota and other states as well. Look around and you will find states talking about instituting preschool programs in the school system or better public assistance to help provide quality preschool programs to all children.
What's going to happen in Minnesota? I truly don't know. This rising public sentiment will either help or hurt your program depending on the level of quality you provide. How will all this come together? Not all the details are finalized by any means... I can tell you that Minnesota now has the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress, which are early learning standards to tell us what children need to be school ready. We also have the Core Competencies which tell us what skills are needed to provide the early learning standards and are working on implementing the Learning Continuum which will provide the means for early care professionals to gain the training needed to provide the Core Competencies. And work continues on the MN Quality Rating System to determine the level of care that is being provided.
So the QRS determines what you need to improve in the core competencies and you can get through the learning continuum which provides for the core competencies which will provide for the ECIP which will improve your level in the QRS. Confusing? It's not as bad as I just presented it... But, I recommend that you take the training, Not By Chance: Child Care That Supports School Readiness. It is being presented all over Minnesota. Contact your local CCR&R to find out about trainings near you.
Will these programs be mandatory? I doubt that will ever happen, but it will probably be in your financial best interest to participate. Quality parents (those that you like to have) are going to increasingly demand quality care and will be willing to pay more for higher levels of care for their children in addition to State rewards and compensation that may happen. Yes, this is important to the future of your profession and important that you be informed, and even more important to the children that you care for.
Yesterday I posted an article that references a public opinion survey that was recently completed. In case you didn't go and read the survey results, Here is the official summary of this survey...
Minnesota voters place early care and education as a top priority for the state on par withimproving public education, according to a poll conducted by Peter Hart Research Associates and Decision Resources. This survey is the first of its kind in Minnesota.
Paid for by Pre K Now, the poll surveyed a representative sample of 604 voters statewide on January 27 and 28, 2006. Across party lines, socioeconomic strata, and geographic regions, Minnesotans believe that making sure all children start kindergarten with the knowledge and skills they need to do their best is an extremely important public investment. They are willing to elect leaders who will help make this happen. The momentum on this issue has been building for some time, and voters are voicing their support. It is up to all of us to remain focused and relentless in our drive to assure our youngest citizens have access to the highest quality experiences possible in their first five years.
Voters understand that many children start kindergarten unprepared. 63 % believe that half of children or fewer begin kindergarten without the knowledge and skills they need to do their best.
Adequate education funding is more important to voters than tax concerns. 64% would rather the state make sure there is sufficient funding for needs such as education ascompared to 29% who prefer to hold the line on taxes.
Early education is of particular value and is an important priority for the government to address now. 71% believe that making sure all children in Minnesota startkindergarten with the knowledge and skills they need to do their best in school is extremelyimportant and should be a top priority for the state. 59% think that establishing voluntary pre-k programs for all is an important priority to address now, because getting children ready for school will help improve K-12 education.
Candidates for office can only benefit politically from advocating for increased investment in early education. 54% are more likely to vote for a candidate for state legislator or Governor who supports making voluntary high-quality early education programs available to all children.
Attending early learning programs helps children do better in K-12. 78% think that when it comes to doing well in school, children who have attended an early learning program do better in school.
So what does this survey mean to you as a provider? As I have been saying here all along, the public awareness of the importance of early childhood education is rapidly growing in Minnesota and other states as well. Look around and you will find states talking about instituting preschool programs in the school system or better public assistance to help provide quality preschool programs to all children.
What's going to happen in Minnesota? I truly don't know. This rising public sentiment will either help or hurt your program depending on the level of quality you provide. How will all this come together? Not all the details are finalized by any means... I can tell you that Minnesota now has the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress, which are early learning standards to tell us what children need to be school ready. We also have the Core Competencies which tell us what skills are needed to provide the early learning standards and are working on implementing the Learning Continuum which will provide the means for early care professionals to gain the training needed to provide the Core Competencies. And work continues on the MN Quality Rating System to determine the level of care that is being provided.
So the QRS determines what you need to improve in the core competencies and you can get through the learning continuum which provides for the core competencies which will provide for the ECIP which will improve your level in the QRS. Confusing? It's not as bad as I just presented it... But, I recommend that you take the training, Not By Chance: Child Care That Supports School Readiness. It is being presented all over Minnesota. Contact your local CCR&R to find out about trainings near you.
Will these programs be mandatory? I doubt that will ever happen, but it will probably be in your financial best interest to participate. Quality parents (those that you like to have) are going to increasingly demand quality care and will be willing to pay more for higher levels of care for their children in addition to State rewards and compensation that may happen. Yes, this is important to the future of your profession and important that you be informed, and even more important to the children that you care for.
// posted by Tammy Wachter @ 8:22 AM 
