Early Childhood Education in MinnesotaApril 7, 2013

2

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

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 assistanceSource: 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

145169

23$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, etcSource: 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 to1) Develop state infrastructure2) 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

15

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

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

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Didn't require special education

Graduated from high school on time

Age 14 achievement at 10th percentile+

Program group No-program group

Source: Schweinhart, et al. (2005)

Perry: Economic Effects at Age 40

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Have a savings account

Earn $25,000+

Own home

Program group No-program group

Source: Schweinhart, et al. (2005)

Perry: Arrested 5 or More Times Before Age 40

Source: Schweinhart, et al. (2005)

0% 20% 40% 60%

No-program group

Program group

Perry PreschoolCosts and Benefits Over 62 Years

-$20

,000

$20,

000

$60,

000

$100

,000

$140

,000

Welfare Payments

Crime Victims

Justice System

Higher Participants' Earnings

K-12 Ed

Program Cost

For Public For Participant

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 GoalTo 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 3400 - 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 CampaignCurrent 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

FY2014 FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019

13,640 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 IIncreasing 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 AgendaPhase IIAccess to quality care, home visiting and

mentoring for families of 0-2 year olds (infants and toddlers)

Phase IIIAdequate funding for quality K-3rd grade

education

Phase IVPermanent 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 familychild care

Preschool programs

Publicschool-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

FY2014 FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019

13,640 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

WWW.MINNEMINDS.ORG

Retu

rn o

n

Inve

stm

ent

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 AdvocateKey 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: www.thinksmall.org/community_engagement 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

www.change.org/petitions/speaker-thissen-and-majority-leader-bakk-increase-access-to-quality-pre-k

Thanks!Think SmallLeaders in Early Learning10 Yorkton CourtSaint Paul, MN 55117

www.thinksmall.orgFacebook.com/thinksmallearlylearning