Early Childhood Education in Minnesota April 7, 2013

Introductions Barbara Yates, Executive Director, Think Small Rob Grunewald, Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Think Small board Kat Kempe, Senior Policy Advocate, Think Small 2

Think Small: What we do Professional Development, Consultation and Coaching: 6,000 providers each year Referral Services and Parent Education: 18,000 families each year Publishing: over 200,000 products, 167 print titles in 18 languages Library: 4,000 items Financial Supports: grants, scholarships Advocacy, Policy, Civic Engagement

Minnesota’s Reality Nearly 50 percent of kids aren’t ready for kindergarten: Kids that start behind often never catch up. Some of the worst achievement gaps in the nation: Achievement gaps begin early, long before kindergarten. Minnesota’s achievement gap between white students and Black and Hispanic students is the highest in the US Brain Development. Most brain development occurs prior to age 5 Unprecedented, unnecessary costs: Each unprepared child costs the state of Minnesota $56,000 over their lifetime. Today, that equates to a total of $860 million costs for each entering kindergarten class.

ECD Spending in Minnesota has been Cited as being as High as $3 Billion; This Number Requires Interpretation *Assumes same as in SFY 2002; includes parent fees for private childcare and preschool, co-payments for Child Care Assistance Program, and Early Childhood Family Education fees **Includes local school district levies for ECFE and county contributions to childcare assistance Source:Bush Foundation report; Feb 2005 State Budget Forecast; MDE; DHS Total ECD spend per biennium ~$3.0B Private spend ~$1.2B Local** (7%) State (43%) Federal (50%) Annualized Annualized spend $337M Total government spend ~$1.5B

6 Head Start Early Childhood Family Education School Readiness Early Development Screening Early Childhood Special Education Part C/Interagency Early Intervention Prepare children for kindergarten Programs Objective Department of EducationState agency Spend $164 million (49% of government spend) Early education focus Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) Child-Care Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Allow parents to work or enroll in training programs Department of Human Services $173 million* (51% of government spend) Child-care focus Early childhood development ECD Government Spending Aggregates 2 Distinct Types of Programs – Child-Care and Early Education *Does not include $10 million for child care quality programs, which include Child Care Resource and Referral, Quality Improvement Grants, training programs, etc Source:MDE, DHS

The Opportunity New State governance structure MELF’s pilot of Parent Aware Quality Rating System Pilot and Scholarships Supportive Governor

High Quality, Accountable Programs Supply Side Quality Rating System (Parent Aware) Voluntary QRIS open to licensed child care centers, licensed family child care, Head Start and school- based pre-kindergarten programs

High Quality, Accountable Programs Demand Side Early childhood scholarships Provided to families for use in high quality programs Can be used in any 3-4 star rated program.

Race to the Top Grant Race to the Top grant means –$45 million to 1)Develop state infrastructure 2)Target 4 communities/neighborhoods

Four Communities Targeted Communities for RTT-ELC –Northside Achievement Zone –St. Paul Promise Neighborhood –White Earth Reservation –Itasca County

We know what works We know what quality early learning is and the impact on all children when every child starts school prepared to learn. We know that an early investment in ensuring quality has exponential long-term benefits for children’s academic and social success. We know that Parent Aware can successfully assess quality and drive continuous improvement. We know that financial support incentivizes providers to improve quality and increased family demand for quality programs.

Minnesota is Ready for the Next Step LEADERSHIP: The state has created the necessary leadership and infrastructure to advance policy efforts focused on our youngest residents: –Governor’s leadership –Children’s Cabinet –Early Learning Council –Office of Early Learning QUALITY: Race to the Top funding and statewide expansion of the Parent Aware quality rating and improvement system ACCESS: It is time to address the most critical issue preventing Minnesota kids from being adequately prepared for school : access to quality early care and education programs.

When Minnesota’s kids have the best possible start we’re all better off Quality early care and education helps: All of Minnesota’s kids and families: reducing the burden on taxpayers by ensuring classrooms are filled with kids prepared to learn Our K-12 education system: reducing the need for expensive remedial education, disruptive discipline and special education programs. Getting children ready is the first step for improving K-12 education The future of Minnesota: when kids start school ready, they are more likely to fill high-demand jobs and contribute to Minnesota’s economic prosperity

The Data on Early Care and Education Rob Grunewald, Economist Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis 15

High/Scope Study of Perry Preschool In early 1960s, 123 children from low-income families in Ypsilanti, Mich. Children randomly selected to attend Perry or control group. High-quality program with well-trained teachers, daily classroom sessions and weekly home visits. Tracked participants and control group through age 40.

Perry: Educational Effects Source: Schweinhart, et al. (2005)

Perry: Economic Effects at Age 40 Source: Schweinhart, et al. (2005)

Perry: Arrested 5 or More Times Before Age 40 Source: Schweinhart, et al. (2005)

Perry Preschool Costs and Benefits Over 62 Years Source: Schweinhart, et al. (2005)

Perry Preschool — Estimated Return on Investment Benefit-Cost Ratio = $16 to $1 Annual Rate of Return = 18% Public Rate of Return = 16% Heckman Reanalysis = 10% Sources: Schweinhart, et al. (2005); Author’s calculations; Heckman, Moon, Pinto, Savelyez, & Yavitz (2010)

Benefit-Cost Ratios for Other Longitudinal Studies Abecedarian Educational Child Care – $4 to $1 Chicago-Child Parent –$10 to $1 Elmira Prenatal/Early Infancy Project – $5 to $1 Sources: Masse & Barnett (2002); Reynolds, Temple, White, Ou, & Robertson (2011); Karoly, et al (1998)

MinneMinds Policy Goal To address Minnesota’s critical need for increased access to high quality early care and education opportunities to ensure all children are prepared to succeed in school and life.

A Chance to Grow African American Leadership Forum Child Care Providers Together Local AFSCME Caring for Kids Initiative Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis Child Care Aware Children's Defense Fund City of St. Paul Committee on the Achievement Gap Creative Kids Academy FamilyWise First Children's Finance Growth and Justice Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Minnesota Mayflower Early Childhood Center MinnCAN Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board Minnesota Association for Family and Early Education Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children Minnesota Business for Early Learning Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Minnesota Child Care Association Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network Minnesota Coalition for Targeted Home Visiting Minnesota Community Education Association Minnesota Elementary Principals Association Minnesota Head Start Association, Inc. Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association Minnesota Parent Teacher Association Minnesota School-Age Care Alliance Minnesota State Alliance of YMCA’s Minnesota Working Family Resource Center Parents As Teachers Parent Aware for School Readiness Parents United for Public Schools Phyllis Wheatley Community Center Pillsbury United Communities Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota Start Early Funders Coalition The Family Partnership Think Small 360 Communities United Ways of Minnesota Way to Grow White Earth Tribal Council YWCA of Minneapolis MinneMinds: A Statewide Campaign Current Campaign supporters include: The campaign is grounded in years of research by early learning experts at the state and national levels, including Wilder Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota.

MinneMinds Policy Agenda FY2014FY2015FY2016FY2017FY2018FY ,640 kids $78,370,000 16,810 kids $106,875,000 19,200 kids $130,580,000 20,240 kids $149,500,000 20,240 kids $150,000,000 20,240 kids $150,000,000 Phase I Increasing access to quality programs for 3-4 year-old children and their younger siblings living at or below 185% poverty through additional resources

MinneMinds Policy Agenda Phase II Access to quality care, home visiting and mentoring for families of 0-2 year olds (infants and toddlers) Phase III Adequate funding for quality K-3rd grade education Phase IV Permanent endowed funding to ensure all Minnesota kids have access to quality early care and education

Eligible children: 3- and 4-year-old children living at or below 185% of poverty (plus younger siblings) Licensed center-based child care Licensed family child care Preschool programs Public school-based programs Head Start Early Learning Scholarships: Prepare Kids for School & Lifelong Success All children enter kindergarten fully prepared to succeed in school and life FY2014FY2015FY2016FY2017FY2018FY ,640 kids $78,370,000 16,810 kids $106,875,000 19,200 kids $130,580,000 20,240 kids $149,500,000 20,240 kids $150,000,000 20,240 kids $150,000,000 Return on Investme nt Eligible programs: Parent Aware rated or on path to quality rating Policy Proposal & Impact of the Investment Funding levels based on anticipated maximum participation rate of 70% of 3- and 4-year-olds living at or below 185% of poverty.

Senate File 481, House File 1058 Flexibility: Inclusive of all types of licensed providers – rated (one to four stars) or pursuing a rating (demonstrated commitment to achieve rating) – Head Start – School readiness programs – Pre-kindergarten school district child-based programs – Licensed center-based child care program – Licensed family child care program Timing: Scholarships awarded by April 1 for participation in programs starting in August or September with payments made quarterly in advance of the services or Introducing Legislation

Goals: 1.Mobilize constituents to continue to communicate their support for the MinneMinds policy agenda to elected officials 2.Demonstrate to elected officials and the administration strong grassroots support for investing in early care and education 3.Expand the number of advocated speaking to elected officials on behalf of early care and education Constituent Civic Engagement and Legislator Education

Be an Advocate Key Points: Develop your message. Stick to one issue per contact. Begin with your personal experience, then broaden the scope. Share no more than three or four key points to express your views. Be Concise!

33 Take Action 1.Send a message directly to your legislators. Visit: and click “Take Action” 2.Call your Senator and Representative to ask them to fully fund increased access to quality early learning before kindergarten 3.Sign our online petition to Sen. Bakk and Speaker Thissen and-majority-leader-bakk-increase-access-to-quality- pre-k

Thanks! Think Small Leaders in Early Learning 10 Yorkton Court Saint Paul, MN Facebook.com/thinksmallearlylearning