NEARLY 50% OF OUR KIDS ENTER KINDERGARTEN ALREADY BEHIND COST: $860 MILLION MINNESOTA’S PROBLEM:

ONCE BEHIND, MOST DON’T CATCH UP More likely to drop out More likely to commit crime We all pay the cost

WAITING FOR KINDERGARTEN IS TOO LATE 90% OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OCCURS BY AGE 5

THE IMPACTS ARE REAL

A child’s trajectory for success in life is set during early childhood ENGAGING CHILDREN EARLY IS THE KEY

MANY FACTORS AFFECT SCHOOL READINESS “Whole Child” approach is best MinneMinds is strategically focused on helping parents put at-risk kids into quality early learning environments

THE MINNEMINDS PATHWAY TO SUCCESS: Parent-directed early learning scholarships that follow the child, directed toward quality learning environments

Licensed center-based child care Licensed family child care Preschool programs Public school-based programs Head Start EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS All children enter kindergarten fully prepared to succeed in school and life: Greater school achievement Better graduation rates Higher earning potential More productive workforce Return on Investment Eligible children: 3- and 4-year-old children living at or below 185% of poverty (plus younger siblings) Eligible programs: Parent Aware rated or on path to quality rating

WHY PARENT DIRECTED SCHOLARSHIPS? Licensed center- based child care Licensed family child care Preschool programs Public school-based programs Head Start Eligible programs: Parent Aware rated or on path to quality rating

WHY SCHOLARSHIPS THAT FOLLOW THE CHILD? Licensed center- based child care Licensed family child care Preschool programs Public school-based programs Head Start Eligible programs: Parent Aware rated or on path to quality rating

Licensed center-based child care Licensed family child care Preschool programs Public school-based programs Head Start How do we find quality? ENSURING QUALITY EMPOWERS PARENTS

PARENT AWARE RATING SYSTEM Helps Parents Find Quality Helps Providers Improve Quality Helps Kids Access Quality

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF A QUALITY SYSTEM Physical health and well-being Teaching and relationships Assessment of child progress Teacher training and education

THE COST OF QUALITY Itasca County, Licensed Family Child Care Provider COST: $4,080 PER YEAR White Earth Reservation, Full-time, 3-Star Child Care COST: $7,000 PER YEAR St. Paul Promise Neighborhood, Part-time, 4-Star, Public Pre-School COST: $4,010 PER YEAR St. Paul Promise Neighborhood, Full-time Head Start/Child Care Combo COST: $9,581 PER YEAR

THE MINNEMINDS ASK Scholarships-to-scale: $150 Million required annually to serve 3- and 4-Year-olds living at or below 185% of poverty Current Public Investment: $23 Million Remaining Need: $127 Million

Eligible programs: Parent Aware rated or on path to quality rating Funding levels based on anticipated maximum participation rate of 70% of 3- and 4-year-olds living at or below 185% of poverty FY2014FY2015FY2016FY2017FY2018FY2019 4,057 kids $23,000,000 4,057 kids $23,000,000 4,057 kids $23,000,000 20,240 kids $150,000,000 20,240 kids $150,000,000 4,057 kids $23,000,000 Funding Approved in 2013 for Pre-K Scholarships Funding Required to Meet the Need MINNEMINDS PROGRESS TO DATE

RETURN ON INVESTMENT The cost of doing nothing far outweighs the cost of solving the problem

WE NEED YOUR HELP! 2015 GOAL Fully fund early childhood scholarships— increase the investment to $150 million annually JOIN THE CAMPAIGN PRESENT MINNEMINDS TO OTHERS PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS