Friday, March 30, 2007
Please complete this short survey:
The University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute Policy Fellows program has requested people to participate in a very short survey to find out what Minnesotans throughout the state think about civic life and their roles as individual community members. The survey will only take a few minutes of your time to share your thoughts about civic life. Your participation will help to identify some of the shared civic values that tie Minnesotans together. The information will be used to stimulate further public discussion and orient future efforts to energize civic life throughout the state.
Please follow this link to complete the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=169423374536
Also, please forward the link to your Minnesota family, friends, and colleagues. We want as many Minnesotans as possible to let us know what they think through this survey.
The University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute Policy Fellows program has requested people to participate in a very short survey to find out what Minnesotans throughout the state think about civic life and their roles as individual community members. The survey will only take a few minutes of your time to share your thoughts about civic life. Your participation will help to identify some of the shared civic values that tie Minnesotans together. The information will be used to stimulate further public discussion and orient future efforts to energize civic life throughout the state.
Please follow this link to complete the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=169423374536
Also, please forward the link to your Minnesota family, friends, and colleagues. We want as many Minnesotans as possible to let us know what they think through this survey.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
A Message from Ready 4 K...
Call your Minnesota Senator: Senate Education Proposal May Include More Funding for Early Childhood
Ready 4 K has learned that the Minnesota Senate is considering a proposal to add more funding for education, including early childhood education. As you know, the E-12 Education bill approved by the Senate earlier this week included only a small amount of funding for early childhood education. Now, we’re hearing that an additional $50 to $100 million could be added for early childhood.
This is good news. Our calls have clearly made a difference! We’re pleased to see some progress on early care and education.
Decisions about additional funding for education are likely to be made within the next few days and we need to make sure that Senators hear from their constituents TODAY that early childhood should be included as part of any new investment.
Background: The proposed legislation, now known as the Pre-Kindergarten Education Act (SF 3), creates a new funding stream that will offer assistance to parents of 3 and 4 year olds to pay for quality learning experiences for their children. Authored by Sen. Tarryl Clark, the legislation provides pre-kindergarten education allowances of up to $4,000, based on family income on a sliding scale. Parents can use the allowances to pay for any early learning program that meets quality standards, including Head Start and School Readiness programs, and center-based and family child care.
The funds focus on the lowest income children, but reach other children who may not be ready for kindergarten. The Act is also likely to include funds for capacity building to increase quality in child care.
At this point, it’s unknown whether the Pre-Kindergarten Education Act will proceed on its own or whether it will be part of a larger tax increase bill that includes other spending items, like an increase in the K-12 funding formula. We should know more later this week. But whatever happens in the future, Senators need to hear from you TODAY that early childhood education should be included.
Action Needed : Contact your Senator TODAY and tell them: Any new investment should include more resources for early care and education, so please make sure you fund the Pre-Kindergarten Education Act. With 50% of our children not yet ready to enter kindergarten, you have an historic opportunity to change that trend and close the achievement gap.
You can send an email to your Senator. It would be even better if you called your Senator directly. Decisions are being made quickly, so time is of the essence. Senators need your support to make this new investment. To find out who your Senator is and their phone number, visit the District Finder or call toll-free 1-888-234-1112.
Deadline for responding: Please take action TODAY.
Call your Minnesota Senator: Senate Education Proposal May Include More Funding for Early Childhood
Ready 4 K has learned that the Minnesota Senate is considering a proposal to add more funding for education, including early childhood education. As you know, the E-12 Education bill approved by the Senate earlier this week included only a small amount of funding for early childhood education. Now, we’re hearing that an additional $50 to $100 million could be added for early childhood.
This is good news. Our calls have clearly made a difference! We’re pleased to see some progress on early care and education.
Decisions about additional funding for education are likely to be made within the next few days and we need to make sure that Senators hear from their constituents TODAY that early childhood should be included as part of any new investment.
Background: The proposed legislation, now known as the Pre-Kindergarten Education Act (SF 3), creates a new funding stream that will offer assistance to parents of 3 and 4 year olds to pay for quality learning experiences for their children. Authored by Sen. Tarryl Clark, the legislation provides pre-kindergarten education allowances of up to $4,000, based on family income on a sliding scale. Parents can use the allowances to pay for any early learning program that meets quality standards, including Head Start and School Readiness programs, and center-based and family child care.
The funds focus on the lowest income children, but reach other children who may not be ready for kindergarten. The Act is also likely to include funds for capacity building to increase quality in child care.
Ready 4 K supports the Pre-K Education Act because:
- It makes a significant investment in high quality early care and education that is badly needed;
- It supports parents by providing choices of where they can send their children for quality early learning;
- It could provide new resources for quality programs – like Head Start and School Readiness – that are proven to get children ready for school; and
- It could provide funds to help build the capacity of child care providers to meet quality standards.
At this point, it’s unknown whether the Pre-Kindergarten Education Act will proceed on its own or whether it will be part of a larger tax increase bill that includes other spending items, like an increase in the K-12 funding formula. We should know more later this week. But whatever happens in the future, Senators need to hear from you TODAY that early childhood education should be included.
Action Needed : Contact your Senator TODAY and tell them: Any new investment should include more resources for early care and education, so please make sure you fund the Pre-Kindergarten Education Act. With 50% of our children not yet ready to enter kindergarten, you have an historic opportunity to change that trend and close the achievement gap.
You can send an email to your Senator. It would be even better if you called your Senator directly. Decisions are being made quickly, so time is of the essence. Senators need your support to make this new investment. To find out who your Senator is and their phone number, visit the District Finder or call toll-free 1-888-234-1112.
Deadline for responding: Please take action TODAY.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Voices for Children Advocacy Day...
Voices for Children Advocacy Day is Tomorrow! Join 1,000 supporters at the Minnesota State Capitol on March 29th.
Thursday, March 29, 2007 @ 10:00am Minnesota State Capitol
Voices for Children Advocacy Day is an opportunity for parents, teachers, early care and education professionals, and others from across the state to stand up and be counted as a voice for children. The Voices Day rally will include songs and stories from Jack Pearson (http://www.jackpearson.org/), starting at 10 AM in the Capitol Rotunda. There will also be a garden for children to place the paper flowers they've made and fun child-centered activities in the Family Room (#118), starting at 9:30. Come, have fun, and raise your voice for children.
This year's theme: Plant the Seeds - Help Children Bloom
There is still time to participate... Visit the website and see how you can participate. I especially like the cheer...
"I don't know, but I've been told,
Children learn before five years old.
Kids are learning every day,
Counting, colors, and lots of play.
Kids need families, yes they do,
They need child care and teachers too.
Legislators have a heart,
Kids deserve a better start.
It's the most important time.
To not invest, now that's a crime.
Kids are our priority.
One strong voice for you and me!"
Voices for Children Advocacy Day is Tomorrow! Join 1,000 supporters at the Minnesota State Capitol on March 29th.
Thursday, March 29, 2007 @ 10:00am Minnesota State Capitol
Voices for Children Advocacy Day is an opportunity for parents, teachers, early care and education professionals, and others from across the state to stand up and be counted as a voice for children. The Voices Day rally will include songs and stories from Jack Pearson (http://www.jackpearson.org/), starting at 10 AM in the Capitol Rotunda. There will also be a garden for children to place the paper flowers they've made and fun child-centered activities in the Family Room (#118), starting at 9:30. Come, have fun, and raise your voice for children. This year's theme: Plant the Seeds - Help Children Bloom
There is still time to participate... Visit the website and see how you can participate. I especially like the cheer...
"I don't know, but I've been told,
Children learn before five years old.
Kids are learning every day,
Counting, colors, and lots of play.
Kids need families, yes they do,
They need child care and teachers too.
Legislators have a heart,
Kids deserve a better start.
It's the most important time.
To not invest, now that's a crime.
Kids are our priority.
One strong voice for you and me!"
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Provider Appreciation Day...
Mark your calendars (and start giving subtle hints to your child care parents) for May 11, 2007 is National Providers Appreciation Day.
Provider Appreciation Day is a special day to recognize child care 
providers, teachers and educators of young children everywhere. Started in 1996 by a group of volunteers in New Jersey, Provider Appreciation Day is appropriately celebrated each year on the Friday before Mother's Day. The founding organizers saw the need to recognize the tireless efforts of providers who care for children of working parents. Since then, momentum and support for this event have grown each year and recognition presently includes individuals and government organizations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Recognition takes many forms including state and municipal government proclamations, local media coverage, business and community events, and private acknowledgement of providers by parents. A recent national study, The National Economic Impacts of the Child Care Sector sponsored by the National Child Care Association, shows that there are at least 2.8 million people who earn their money by teaching and caring for young children or by working in directly related jobs. Over the past decade, the demand for child care has increased. Who's minding the kids is crucial. Provider Appreciation Day is held so everyone can appreciate the number and importance of child care workers. The early childhood profession not only plays a critical role in supporting healthy families and children but is also a key part of our entire national economy.
providers, teachers and educators of young children everywhere. Started in 1996 by a group of volunteers in New Jersey, Provider Appreciation Day is appropriately celebrated each year on the Friday before Mother's Day. The founding organizers saw the need to recognize the tireless efforts of providers who care for children of working parents. Since then, momentum and support for this event have grown each year and recognition presently includes individuals and government organizations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Recognition takes many forms including state and municipal government proclamations, local media coverage, business and community events, and private acknowledgement of providers by parents. A recent national study, The National Economic Impacts of the Child Care Sector sponsored by the National Child Care Association, shows that there are at least 2.8 million people who earn their money by teaching and caring for young children or by working in directly related jobs. Over the past decade, the demand for child care has increased. Who's minding the kids is crucial. Provider Appreciation Day is held so everyone can appreciate the number and importance of child care workers. The early childhood profession not only plays a critical role in supporting healthy families and children but is also a key part of our entire national economy. Today's child care providers are the world's unsung heroes. The child care profession is one of the most underpaid occupations in the country; yet early childhood is the most critical developmental period for all children. Parents and community leaders are encouraged to show their appreciation for child care providers through a variety of means from individual recognition to public events and local media coverage. It takes a special person to work in this field and their contribution to the quality of family life frequently goes unnoticed - until now.
It takes a dedicated person to be successful in the demanding world of today's child care professional. Provider Appreciation Day offers a unique opportunity to recognize and commend the unselfish dedication, compassion and strong family values that child care providers demonstrate everyday. Provider Appreciation Day needs your support to continue to be successful. Individuals and groups can network with other child care groups today and begin to plan events, schedule media coverage and issue proclamations. Begin to notify parents, community groups, and government leaders so that they, too, can participate in this important recognition event throughout your community.
I will share more information with you about this important day as it nears.
Monday, March 26, 2007
They Did "Nothing" Today...
When your child comes home at the end of the day
The questions you ask as they run out to play
"Did you have Fun? What did you do today?"
And the answer they give makes you sigh with dismay
"Nothing. I did nothing today."
Perhaps nothing means that I played with some blocks,
Or counted to ten, or sorted some rocks.
Maybe I painted a picture with red and some blue,
Or read a story about a mouse that flew.
Maybe I watched gerbils eat today,
Or went outside on the swings to play.
Maybe today was the very first time
That my scissors followed a very straight line.
Maybe I led a song from beginning to end,
Or played with a special brand-new friend.
When you're in child care
And when your heart has wings
"Nothing" can mean so many things!
Author Unknown
When your child comes home at the end of the day
The questions you ask as they run out to play
"Did you have Fun? What did you do today?"
And the answer they give makes you sigh with dismay
"Nothing. I did nothing today."
Perhaps nothing means that I played with some blocks,
Or counted to ten, or sorted some rocks.
Maybe I painted a picture with red and some blue,
Or read a story about a mouse that flew.
Maybe I watched gerbils eat today,
Or went outside on the swings to play.
Maybe today was the very first time
That my scissors followed a very straight line.
Maybe I led a song from beginning to end,
Or played with a special brand-new friend.
When you're in child care
And when your heart has wings
"Nothing" can mean so many things!
Author Unknown
Friday, March 23, 2007
Another Craft Resource...
I would like to quickly share a great resource that I recently found... Kid's Craft Weekly. Kids Craft Weekly is a free newsletter full of inspiring craft ideas and fun activities for young kids.
In the words of the website...
Check it out and sign up for the free newsletter. I know you'll find some great ideas there.
I would like to quickly share a great resource that I recently found... Kid's Craft Weekly. Kids Craft Weekly is a free newsletter full of inspiring craft ideas and fun activities for young kids.
In the words of the website...
Each issue of Kids Craft Weekly outlines a selection of activities for young kids. The ideas in are intended to be cheap, educational and fun and can be used as suggested, or simply as a starting point from which you can develop your own plan of attack.
Every issue draws inspiration from a particular theme because I've found that my kids seem to love the focus and sense of continuity that it provides. Also, from a learning perspective it reinforces key ideas and helps little minds to put two and two together.
Check it out and sign up for the free newsletter. I know you'll find some great ideas there.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
The Unionization of Family Child Care...
An excellant article discussing the "trend" of unionizing family child care providers.
Read the entire article.
I, of course, have my own opinions about unions and family child care. I'm sure that you do as well. I just hope that everyone takes the time to find out all the facts and make informed decisions regarding this union activity. Read the official position statements from the National Association of Family Child Care and the Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association.
An excellant article discussing the "trend" of unionizing family child care providers.
Home-based child care providers unionizing
WASHINGTON -- A recent and growing trend to unionize home-based child care providers is proving to be a promising strategy for securing increased public investment in child care and improving working conditions for providers, according to Getting Organized: Unionizing Home-Based Child Care Providers, a report released recently by the National Women's Law Center.In just the last two years, there has been a flurry of union organizing among providers who care for children in the providers' homes. These providers are overwhelmingly women and have low earnings and few benefits, which makes them good candidates for union organizing campaigns. Getting Organized analyzes and provides detailed information about the progress of these campaigns in 11 states in which there has been the most activity.
"The findings in this report are preliminary, but confirm that there is strength in numbers," said Nancy Duff Campbell, co-president of the National Women's Law Center. "Unionization of home-based child care providers appears to be a strategy that can increase resources not only for these providers, but also for child care centers and for families needing child care assistance."
What makes this unionization movement unusual, the report explains, is that home-based child care providers are not in traditional employer-employee relationships. Most are self-employed and care for a small number of children in their own homes. This means that home-based providers are not covered by existing labor laws, and unions have had to advocate for new laws to organize these providers.
The common thread among home-based providers that have unionized or currently are pursuing authorization is that they receive a state subsidy to care for low-income children and/or are regulated by the state. It is this connection that allows the state to serve as an "employer of record" with whom a union representing providers can negotiate. This strategy is modeled after unions' successful campaigns to organize home health care workers.
Read the entire article.
I, of course, have my own opinions about unions and family child care. I'm sure that you do as well. I just hope that everyone takes the time to find out all the facts and make informed decisions regarding this union activity. Read the official position statements from the National Association of Family Child Care and the Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Urgent Information about Unions...
I received the following e-mail today. If you are concerned about what a child care provider union will do to your business, I encourage you to consider this...
I received the following e-mail today. If you are concerned about what a child care provider union will do to your business, I encourage you to consider this...
We may have a senator willing to get rid of that amendment to the education bill
giving the union a say in what kind of training we need to have. We need to show
that there are more than just a few of out there that don't want the union. We
need to present a short letter with names, addresses and phone numbers of
licensed providers who also want this amendment removed.We need to present this
information by tomorrow morning as they will be making a decision when the
committee meets next week. Please help. We need to show that we don't want them.
All you need to do is forward your name, address and phone number to me childcarevoice@hotmail.com . If you know of other providers who do not want the union, ask them for permission to use their name on this petition/request for removal letter.Our hope is to present over 100 names supporting the removal of the amendment added to the education bill giving the union a say in what kind of training providers need to have. Please send your name, address and phone number.We will post the final draft of the letter tomorrow on this chat group. Call as many providers as you can. Lets show them that we will not go down without a fight!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Urgent Action Requested by Ready 4K...
House & Senate Spending Bills for Early Care and EducationAre Woefully Inadequate
The House and Senate released their omnibus spending bills for early care and education this week – and the news is disappointing.
The House has allocated $41 million of new funding for early childhood education and child care programs and the Senate is proposing only $11 million for early childhood education (not including child care, which is handled by another committee in the Senate).
While the House bill lays out a good vision by investing in current programs like Head Start and School Readiness, restoring cuts to child care and ECFE, and funding needed infrastructure improvements like early childhood hubs, professional development, and parent allowances, the funding is not enough to significantly move the needle on school readiness. Spending in the Senate bill is even lower. While the Senate bill does restore funding for ECFE and initiates an early childhood parent allowance, it does nothing for Head Start or School Readiness programs or to build the capacity of the early childhood system in Minnesota.
Bottom line: The proposed funding is woefully inadequate to address the needs of the youngest Minnesotans and their families.
Ready 4 K had called for an additional $300 million over the next two years to significantly increase school readiness in Minnesota. Our proposal included funding for early childhood education allowances for parents, home visits for families with children at-risk of not being school ready, parent education programs, professional development opportunities for providers, greater access to child care assistance, and increased support for current early care and education programs.
As the Star Tribune stated on Monday: “It appears that early childhood education could be squeezed out.”
Let’s not let that happen...
We need to make our voices heard – loud and clear – that our children – and our state – deserve better!
We know that providing every Minnesota child with the strongest possible start in life is the single most important strategic action our state can take to maintain our quality of life and ensure a prosperous future. So far, neither the House and Senate nor the Governor have proposed enough resources to get the job done.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Call you State Senator and House Representative TODAY and tell them:
"The funding proposed by the House and Senate for early childhood is inadequate to address the needs of the youngest Minnesotans. I am disappointed to see that early care and education wasn’t made a higher priority. I want your commitment that you will talk with the leaders of the House and Senate to make early childhood a higher priority."
Our children are worth the investment – an investment that has been proven to bring the greatest return. The time to act is now. PLEASE CALL YOU SEN ATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE TODAY. Legislators have commented that they are hearing from constituents about K-12 education and health care – but not as much about early childhood issues. WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT IMPRESSION. Let them know that current budget proposals shortchange our youngest citizens and that you want them to invest in early care and education.
And let us know you made the calls and your legislators' response by replying to this email. To find out who your legislators are, visit the District Finder or call toll-free 1-888-234-1112.
Thank you for everything you do for the youngest Minnesotans.
House & Senate Spending Bills for Early Care and EducationAre Woefully Inadequate
The House and Senate released their omnibus spending bills for early care and education this week – and the news is disappointing.
The House has allocated $41 million of new funding for early childhood education and child care programs and the Senate is proposing only $11 million for early childhood education (not including child care, which is handled by another committee in the Senate).
While the House bill lays out a good vision by investing in current programs like Head Start and School Readiness, restoring cuts to child care and ECFE, and funding needed infrastructure improvements like early childhood hubs, professional development, and parent allowances, the funding is not enough to significantly move the needle on school readiness. Spending in the Senate bill is even lower. While the Senate bill does restore funding for ECFE and initiates an early childhood parent allowance, it does nothing for Head Start or School Readiness programs or to build the capacity of the early childhood system in Minnesota.
Bottom line: The proposed funding is woefully inadequate to address the needs of the youngest Minnesotans and their families.
Ready 4 K had called for an additional $300 million over the next two years to significantly increase school readiness in Minnesota. Our proposal included funding for early childhood education allowances for parents, home visits for families with children at-risk of not being school ready, parent education programs, professional development opportunities for providers, greater access to child care assistance, and increased support for current early care and education programs.
As the Star Tribune stated on Monday: “It appears that early childhood education could be squeezed out.”
Let’s not let that happen...
We need to make our voices heard – loud and clear – that our children – and our state – deserve better!
We know that providing every Minnesota child with the strongest possible start in life is the single most important strategic action our state can take to maintain our quality of life and ensure a prosperous future. So far, neither the House and Senate nor the Governor have proposed enough resources to get the job done.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Call you State Senator and House Representative TODAY and tell them:
"The funding proposed by the House and Senate for early childhood is inadequate to address the needs of the youngest Minnesotans. I am disappointed to see that early care and education wasn’t made a higher priority. I want your commitment that you will talk with the leaders of the House and Senate to make early childhood a higher priority."
Our children are worth the investment – an investment that has been proven to bring the greatest return. The time to act is now. PLEASE CALL YOU SEN ATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE TODAY. Legislators have commented that they are hearing from constituents about K-12 education and health care – but not as much about early childhood issues. WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT IMPRESSION. Let them know that current budget proposals shortchange our youngest citizens and that you want them to invest in early care and education.
And let us know you made the calls and your legislators' response by replying to this email. To find out who your legislators are, visit the District Finder or call toll-free 1-888-234-1112.
Thank you for everything you do for the youngest Minnesotans.
Monday, March 19, 2007
UPDATE ON THE LICENSE FEE REDUCTION BILL/BACKGROUND CHECK ELIMINATION SF0536 HF0659
Information about the proposed legislation about licensing fees that we recently discussed...
If one of these committee people is your Senator, please call or e-mail them to let them know you want money put toward SF 0536 and to support the bill for reduced license fees for family child care providers. The bill will be heard in this finance committee AT 8:30 A.M. ON Tuesday, March 20th.
Information about the proposed legislation about licensing fees that we recently discussed...
- Many changes to transfer the responsibility of the background checks from the county to the state.
- The bills have passed both the senate and house committees for language. The house had opposition from County Administrators that the county was going to lose a source of revenue for their county. In doing some research, here are facts. 57 counties will probably have no change to the license fee as they are at $50 for a one year license or $100 for a two year license now or are lower or have no fee. Several counties will have loss of revenue from background check fees BUT if the responsibility becomes part of the state as of January 1, 2008, the county will not have that expense. The next two years will roll all licensed providers into the state system with this bill.
- The hearings for Tuesday, March 20th (Senate & House) and March 22nd (House) are to put money in this bill into the state budget to roll the background check responsibility and processing from the county to the state. Jerry Kerber at DHS estimates $20 per background check to do this, ½ providers being done each of the next two years (corresponding to the 2 year license), and 3.5 background checks average per provider. This comes to a budget of about $680,000 for each year. In 2010 this budget number would drop to just the cost of processing new providers, substitutes and children 13 and up added to the system…maybe $100,000-$200,000 per year.
- If one of the senators or representatives is your representative, would you please call or e-mail them to support funding for the bill.
If one of these committee people is your Senator, please call or e-mail them to let them know you want money put toward SF 0536 and to support the bill for reduced license fees for family child care providers. The bill will be heard in this finance committee AT 8:30 A.M. ON Tuesday, March 20th.
Please make your calls tonight.
Linda Berglin Chair 651-296-4261 Use Mail Form on Legislative Web Site
Ann Lynch 651-296-4848 sen.ann.lynch@senate.mn
Michelle Fischbach 651-296-2084 sen.michelle.fischbach@senate.mn
Paul Koering 651-296-4875 sen.paul.koering@senate.mn
Tony Lourey 651-296-0293 sen.tony.lourey@senate.mn
Mary Olson 651-296-4913 sen.mary.olson@senate.mn
Yvonne Prettner Solon 651-296-4188 Use Mail Form on Legislative Web Site
Julie Rosen 651-296-5713 sen.julie.rosen@senate.mn
Kathy Sheran 651-296-6153 sen.kathy.sheran@senate.mn
In the House the bill number is HF 0659. This bill will be heard in finance committee between 4 and 5:30 P.M. on Tuesday, March 20th.
- Chair: Nora Slawik (DFL) 296-7807 rep.nora.slawik@house.mn
- Vice Chair: David Bly (DFL) 296-7065 rep.david.bly@house.mn
- Lead-GOP: Rob Eastlund (R) 296-5364 rep.rob.eastlund@house.mn
- Patti Fritz (DFL) 296-8237 rep.patti.fritz@house.mn
- Pat Garofalo (R) 296-1069 rep.pat.garofalo@house.mn
- Steve Gottwalt (R) 296-6316 rep.steve.gottwalt@house.mn
- Scott Kranz (DFL) 296-4226 rep.scott.kranz@house.mn
- Carolyn Laine (DFL) 296-4331 rep.carolyn.laine@house.mn
- Erin Murphy (DFL) 296-8799 rep.erin.murphy@house.mn
- Bud Nornes (R) 296-4946 rep.bud.nornes@house.mn
- Sandra Peterson (DFL) 296-4176 rep.sandra.peterson@house.mn
- John Ward (DFL) 296-4333 rep.john.ward@house.mn
- Lynn Wardlow (R) 296-4128 rep.lynn.wardlow@house.mn
- Ryan Winkler (DFL) 296-7026 rep.ryan.winkler@house.mn
- ex-officio Mary Murphy (DFL) 296-2676 rep.mary.murphy@house.mn
Information provided to you by the Scott County Licensed Family Child Care Association, Beth Mork, and Deloris Friske
Other bills Beth and Deloris are watching.
HF 1577 SF 1724 DHS’s bill…many language changes to look at
HF 1810 SF 1552 Demonstration project in Austin for
On-Site Child Care license changes to allow
Up to 25 children in shift transition times
HF0916 SF 0771 On site face to face license visits for centers and Family Child Care yearly.
HF0305 SF0238 Statewide Smoking Ban …There are two bills. One states that family child care providers would have to notify clients of smoking in the home after child care hours.
HF2033 SF1863 Hennepin & Ramsey Counties licensed family child care providers connections increased and money appropriated
We are watching several bills on funding full-day kindergarten.
The MFIP programs have 60 day, absent days provisions funded. This should help providers.
HF0920 SF0754 Minnesota Family investment program and sliding fee child care programs….
HF0605 SF0154 MFIP and Child Care Provisions
HF1056 SF0839 Early childhood Education provisions modified and money appropriated
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
The Importance of School Readiness...
What is true for Indiana is true most everywhere. From Eyewitness News in Indiana...
Read the report: Successby6Indy
What is true for Indiana is true most everywhere. From Eyewitness News in Indiana...
Report points to need for affordable preschool
Indianapolis - A report finds children as young as four and five aren't ready for school because they aren't getting the help they need at home. The United Way report finds
low income children starting kindergarten years behind their classmates.
It's lunch time at the St. Mary's Child Center, where low income youngsters learn reading, arithmetic and other school skills, even table manners.
Teachers say this is their best meal of the day and on some days, their only meal of the day. The United Way of Central Indiana insists the state needs additional affordable preschool and day care like this. Its School Readiness report argues that a child's family environment has an enormous impact on their learning
"Those who are economically disadvantaged often start school a year or two behind in language and other skills," said Ellen Annala, United Way president. Annala insists they may never catch up.
The report cites grim statistics: One in five of the state's preschoolers live in poverty. Forty percent of Marion County's preschoolers are raised by one parent or other adults and less than half of them receiving assistance to offset the cost of preschool.
"It is very odd to be reading all the facts and say that's my life. That's what I deal with every day," said Marty Constantine, kindergarten teacher.
Constantine is an IPS kindergarten teacher in a low-income, high-crime neighborhood. Assessment tests found three quarters of her students arrived without the basic skills most kids learn at home.
"Hold a pencil, write their first name, recognize colors, shapes, speak in complete sentences," she said.
None of them, she says, attended preschool.
The United Way hopes its report is a call to action, prompting a debate on how to meet the huge needs of Indiana's smallest students.
Read the report: Successby6Indy
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Rating the Regulation and Oversight of Child Care Centers...
A new nationwide survey of the fifty states shows many are "distressingly lax" in their regulation & oversight of child care centers. "We Can Do Better," published earlier this week by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, a network of more than 850 child care resource & referral centers located in every state and a most larger communities across the country, is the first of its kind ranking to be done.
Their website explains further...
The results are somewhat scary, but not very surprising. We have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to the care of children. Read the introduction then check out the scorecard. Minnesota did come in tied for 10th in the nation, but before you feel too much pride you should be aware that we only scored 82 out of a possible 150 points! Good thing we're grading on a curve... but what does that say about the state of child care in our nation? It is a truly sobering situation.
Check out to see how your state ranks. There is much more information about this report at the NACCRRA website. Please look it over. Next time someone says that there is no need to improve the current conditions of child care here is one more tool to prove them wrong.
A new nationwide survey of the fifty states shows many are "distressingly lax" in their regulation & oversight of child care centers. "We Can Do Better," published earlier this week by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, a network of more than 850 child care resource & referral centers located in every state and a most larger communities across the country, is the first of its kind ranking to be done.
Their website explains further...
In 2006, the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) and the National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (NCCIC) released the findings of their research on the child care center regulations for each of the 50 states. This information provides a rich review of the basic standards and oversight in place for child care centers.
NACCRRA reviewed the work of NARA and NCCIC and ranked the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) based on key benchmarks to see how the states measured up. The results are shown on scorecards ranking state child care center standards, state child care oversight, and a combined score ranking states on both standards and oversight.
We know there is much that can be done to improve the quality of child care. As we reviewed the possible criteria for the ranking and put the scores together, we were shocked to see in real detail how low the bar is set for the quality of care that 12 million children under age 5 are in each week.
Simple steps undertaken by Congress and the states can better align federal and state policies with what children need to ensure a healthy and safe environment, and what parents believe and want for their children’s safety and development.
The results are somewhat scary, but not very surprising. We have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to the care of children. Read the introduction then check out the scorecard. Minnesota did come in tied for 10th in the nation, but before you feel too much pride you should be aware that we only scored 82 out of a possible 150 points! Good thing we're grading on a curve... but what does that say about the state of child care in our nation? It is a truly sobering situation.
Check out to see how your state ranks. There is much more information about this report at the NACCRRA website. Please look it over. Next time someone says that there is no need to improve the current conditions of child care here is one more tool to prove them wrong.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Happy Birthday to the Cat...
Did you know that last Thursday The Cat In The Hat turned 50 years old?
It's a classic "home alone" story.
A brazen cat strolls uninvited into the home of a boy and girl whose mother is out. To the children's horror, he proceeds to trash the house — he calls it "lots of good fun that is funny!" Miraculously (with the help of Thing One and Thing Two), he manages to tidy up before Mom comes home.
He's the Cat in the Hat, and he turned 50 last Thursday on the 1st.
The Cat in the Hat was published jointly by Houghton Mifflin and Random House on March 1, 1957. It was the 13th children's book by Theodor Seuss Geisel, who came to be known as Dr. Seuss. It made him a household name and his trickster furball a pop-culture icon.
Random House (now the sole U.S. publisher) estimates it has sold 10.5 million copies. Millions more — no one knows how many — have been sold by mail-order book clubs.
The Cat in the Hat was a product of the postwar baby boom. In 1957, 29 million children were in kindergarten and elementary school. The "Dick and Jane" primers used to teach reading were considered dull and uninspiring.
Challenged by a Houghton Mifflin executive to write a story that "first-graders wouldn't be able to put down," Geisel created The Cat in the Hat. The rest is publishing history.
"Teaching children how to read with The Cat in the Hat was a real breath of fresh air," says Philip Nel, whose The Annotated Cat: Under the Hats of Seuss and His Cats (Random House, $30) was recently published. "The rhymes just propel the reader along."
Geisel was asked to use only 223 words from a list of 348 words for beginning readers. He ended up using 236. Even though it has been around for half a century, Cat is still popular with kids (and parents) and sells hundreds of thousands of copies a year.
It became a much-maligned movie starring Mike Myers as the cat in 2003.
"Reading it is like listening to a great song," says Nancy Karpyk, who teaches kindergarten in Weirton, W.Va. "When I read it to my students, the rhythm of it makes them feel good. They love the rhymes, and they love the way the cat struts in the illustrations."
But it's what the cat gets away with that may have clinched his legacy.
"He's a rebel, and Americans identify with rebels," Nel says. "He's a con artist who creates a sense of possibility like the Wizard of Oz or Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man."
Some Cat facts:
•Geisel thought he could write the book in a week, but it took him a year and a half.
•The cat's face is said to have been inspired by that of a Houghton Mifflin elevator operator who Geisel thought had "a secret smile" and who wore gloves.
Even though it might be past... It's never to late to celebrate this birthday party!
Did you know that last Thursday The Cat In The Hat turned 50 years old?
It's a classic "home alone" story.
A brazen cat strolls uninvited into the home of a boy and girl whose mother is out. To the children's horror, he proceeds to trash the house — he calls it "lots of good fun that is funny!" Miraculously (with the help of Thing One and Thing Two), he manages to tidy up before Mom comes home.
He's the Cat in the Hat, and he turned 50 last Thursday on the 1st.
The Cat in the Hat was published jointly by Houghton Mifflin and Random House on March 1, 1957. It was the 13th children's book by Theodor Seuss Geisel, who came to be known as Dr. Seuss. It made him a household name and his trickster furball a pop-culture icon.
Random House (now the sole U.S. publisher) estimates it has sold 10.5 million copies. Millions more — no one knows how many — have been sold by mail-order book clubs.
The Cat in the Hat was a product of the postwar baby boom. In 1957, 29 million children were in kindergarten and elementary school. The "Dick and Jane" primers used to teach reading were considered dull and uninspiring.
Challenged by a Houghton Mifflin executive to write a story that "first-graders wouldn't be able to put down," Geisel created The Cat in the Hat. The rest is publishing history.
"Teaching children how to read with The Cat in the Hat was a real breath of fresh air," says Philip Nel, whose The Annotated Cat: Under the Hats of Seuss and His Cats (Random House, $30) was recently published. "The rhymes just propel the reader along."
Geisel was asked to use only 223 words from a list of 348 words for beginning readers. He ended up using 236. Even though it has been around for half a century, Cat is still popular with kids (and parents) and sells hundreds of thousands of copies a year.
It became a much-maligned movie starring Mike Myers as the cat in 2003.
"Reading it is like listening to a great song," says Nancy Karpyk, who teaches kindergarten in Weirton, W.Va. "When I read it to my students, the rhythm of it makes them feel good. They love the rhymes, and they love the way the cat struts in the illustrations."
But it's what the cat gets away with that may have clinched his legacy.
"He's a rebel, and Americans identify with rebels," Nel says. "He's a con artist who creates a sense of possibility like the Wizard of Oz or Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man."
Some Cat facts:
•Geisel thought he could write the book in a week, but it took him a year and a half.
•The cat's face is said to have been inspired by that of a Houghton Mifflin elevator operator who Geisel thought had "a secret smile" and who wore gloves.
Even though it might be past... It's never to late to celebrate this birthday party!
Friday, March 02, 2007
Child Care Sector Makes Substantial Contributions to the National Economy
Report from the National Child Care Association (NCCA)Based on an examination of the existing literature, as well as use of the ImpactPlanning input-output model, the child care sector currently contributes to the national economic well-being in three critical ways, as follows:
Report from the National Child Care Association (NCCA)Based on an examination of the existing literature, as well as use of the ImpactPlanning input-output model, the child care sector currently contributes to the national economic well-being in three critical ways, as follows:
- In 2001 Americans spent approximately $38 billion a year on licensed child care programs, excluding care provided at unlicensed and informal facilities. Expenditures on licensed care will be even higher in 2002 — likely exceeding $41 billion. As a result, and again excluding unlicensed and informal care provided by family and friends, the sector creates enough income to support approximately 2.8 million direct, indirect, and induced jobs, of which about one-third are in the child care industry itself. In addition, the sector generates almost $9 billion in tax revenues.
- As indicated in Table Ex-One, the licensed child care industry directly employs more Americans than public secondary schools, and is directly responsible for twice as many jobs as the farming sector.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Children and Routines...
Children thrive on repetition and predictability. A routine might be doing the same thing at the same time, in the same order, or with the same song or words. So, if you can perform certain activities, such as mealtime and bedtime, in the same way every day, your child will feel a sense of comfort and security. With consistent routines, she will be able to perform at the top of her game as well as feel more confident, ready to learn, and willing to explore the world around her.
Building a Routine That Works
Just as workouts need to be tailored to fit the athlete, all children and their families function differently, and there is no single approach when it comes to routines. However, successful routines seem to share these characteristics:
Children thrive on repetition and predictability. A routine might be doing the same thing at the same time, in the same order, or with the same song or words. So, if you can perform certain activities, such as mealtime and bedtime, in the same way every day, your child will feel a sense of comfort and security. With consistent routines, she will be able to perform at the top of her game as well as feel more confident, ready to learn, and willing to explore the world around her.
Building a Routine That Works
Just as workouts need to be tailored to fit the athlete, all children and their families function differently, and there is no single approach when it comes to routines. However, successful routines seem to share these characteristics:
- Consistent. Doing the same things in the same way lets a child know what is coming next and makes the world seem safe.
- Focused on everyday activities. By providing guidance for how to act every day (during meals, baths, and bedtimes), routines can build confidence and lead to healthy independence.
- Transition-oriented. Moving from one place or activity to another can be disorienting for a child. Routines for arrival and departure, such as creating a special sign or phrase for saying goodbye at child care, can help your child move through transitions more easily and calmly.
- Adaptable. Although routines need to be consistent, they should also be somewhat flexible. Rather than being rigid, they need to evolve with the changing needs of the child and the family. As the child grows and changes, so should the routines. If you want to help your child find her own zone, be sure to build routines around your daily activities. Your child will benefit from the security and predictability, and when she is feeling calm and happy, you will be too.
- Learn more about daily routines at PBS.
- Visit Keep Kids Healthy to find out more about the importance of routines.
- The Center for Child Well-Being has great information on routines by age and stage.
- Find out why routines and rituals are important at Zero to Three.
- Helping your Child with Daily Routines From Cornell University Cooperative Extension Download Now
- Five Key IdeasFrom Born Learning Download Now
