The Early Childhood Directors Group

now meets quarterly

Our next meeting will be Thursday, February 16^th

10:00 am – noon  -  Think Small offices

2021 Hennepin Ave. E., LL20,  Minneapolis  55413

 

Early Childhood Directors Group quarterly gatherings are free

and open to all directors and assistant directors

Questions? contact Nancy Johnson:  njohnson@thinksmall.org

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Don’t miss Think Small’s weekly UPDATES. You can sign up to receive Policy & Advocacy Updates in your email:  policy@thinksmall.org  or mhuey@thinksmall.org

Think Small 2017 Public Policy Priorities When it comes to addressing Minnesota’s severe opportunity gaps, we know starting early is effective. In fact, the single best investment the state can make is targeted early childhood investments in our most vulnerable children. With this in mind, Think Small has created our 2017 Public Policy Priorities. We will work to: ·      Increase the number of Parent Aware rated programs and allow programs to maintain or improve their Parent Aware ratings ·      Better align public funds to increase the number of children receiving high quality early care and education ·      Expand access for children, ages 1 to kindergarten entry, from families with low incomes to high-quality early care and education programs by advocating funding for flexible, parent-directed scholarships ·      Improve Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to assure more children from families with low incomes can access high quality care ·      Support the sustainable career pathways of early learning professionals For more information about our priorities, visit our blog. You can download a copy of the priorities here. Center Directors – Join Us for Policy Hour Are you interested in what might happen in the 2017 Legislative Session? The December 6th Policy Hour covered some of the possibilities. If you couldn’t make it, check out the recap on our blog.  Policy Hour is a FREE, monthly opportunity for early childhood professionals to connect with each other and learn about current policy issues in an informal setting. Policy Hour is held the first Tuesday of each month, October 2016-June 2017, from Noon-1:00 p.m. at Think Small (2021 East Hennepin Avenue | Suite LL20, Minneapolis, MN 55413). Please note that because of the New Year holiday, January’s Policy Hour will be held on Tuesday, January 10th. More information to come about the topic for January. November Budget Forecast The Minnesota Management and Budget Office recently released the November forecast. They reported a surplus of $1.4 billion for the FY 2018-2019. For more information about the forecast, view the Minnesota Management and Budget summary.   The Governor will use this number to craft his recommendations. The February forecast will provide additional information that legislators and the governor will use to make a final plan.   Pioneer Press Supports Early Learning Scholarships The Pioneer Press Editorial Board recently endorsed Early Learning Scholarships as an effective way to deliver high-quality early education to children who need it the most. Read the entire piece here. Social Media This Week Share the sample Facebook post to call attention to the importance of early learning. Or, simply click below to spread the message on Twitter. We can make a big difference if we start early w/high quality care and ed. See @ThinkSmallMN #mnleg plan for 2017. http://bit.ly/2gRO7JB   What might happen for early learning in 2017 #mnleg session? Here are some ideas: http://bit.ly/2hqD9fn  Facebook: We can help close opportunity gaps by starting with high quality care and education. Think Small has policy ideas to make a big difference in 2017. http://bit.ly/2gRO7JB  Connect with Us   Think Small 10 Yorkton Court        St. Paul, MN 55117 651.641.0305 policy@thinksmall.org Click here to unsubscribe

 

Join child care center colleagues

at the next

Early Childhood Directors Group

Thursday, January 14th^th – 10:00 am – noon

Think Small,  2021 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls 55413

• Opportunities for Child Care Centers to Serve Infants and Toddlers Through Early Head Start Partnerships
• Presentation by Jeanne Dickhausen, Minnesota Head Start Collaboration Director and Lori Fuller and Nicole Duncan, Anoka County Community Action Program’s Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership.
• President Obama’s Early Learning Initiative set aside $500 million for new Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships. These grants will allow Early Head Start grantees to partner with Child Care programs to provide full-day, full-year programming so that more low-income children in their community have the healthy and enriching early experiences they need to realize their full potential.
• Child Care Policy and Advocacy Update 
• Networking Time

Early Childhood Directors Group meetings are free and

open to all directors and assistant directors

No RSVP necessary. Questions? contact Nancy Johnson:  njohnson@thinksmall.org

For more info, visit our blog at: www.ecdirectorsgroup.blogspot.com

 

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Several directors requested that we post links to the studies and background reading for our discussion in November on staff compensation:

Worthy Work, STILL Unliveable Wages: The Early Childhood Workforce 25 Years after the National Child Care Staffing Study

         http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/cscce/2014/report-worthy-work-still-unlivable-wages/

by Marcy Whitebook, Deborah Phillips, and Carollee Howes

Full Report or Exec Summary

Why Childcare Workers Are So Poor, Even Though Childcare Costs So Much

         http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/11/childcare-workers-cant-afford-childcare/414496/

Aaron Loewenberg, writing for New America’s Early & Elementary Education Policy program, explores policy proposals that could increase the pay of child care teachers helping highly-qualified individuals stay in the field.

Childcare Teachers Underpaid and Underappreciated

         http://www.edcentral.org/child-care-workers/

 

Next Early Childhood Policy Hour, January 5th, 2016

Join us for Policy Hour on Tuesday, January 5 from Noon-1 p.m. at Think Small, 2021 Hennepin Ave. E, Suite 210, Minneapolis to hear about the DHS Child Care Development Block Grant plan. This plan describes how the state proposes to meet the new federal law governing child care assistance (CCAP in MN). The new law makes changes to protect the health and safety of children in child care, promote continuity of access to subsidy for low-income families, better inform parents and the general public about child care choices, and improve the overall quality of early care and education.

Policy Hour is held the first Tuesday of each month, noon-1:00 p.m. at Think Small, 2021 East Hennepin Avenue, Suite 250, Minneapolis, 55413.  Bring your lunch. Invite your friends. No RSVP necessary.

 

 

 

Here’s Your Opportunity

 

Let the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet

and the Departments of Education,

Human Services and Health Know What You Think!

* What early learning experiences are working for

young children and families in your community?

* Where are the gaps in your early childhood system?

* How can we support building the capacity of the early

childhood workforce in your community?

Early in November, staff of the Minnesota Departments of Education, Health, Human Services and the Minnesota Children's Cabinet held seven Early Learning Listening Sessions throughout the state. From Owatonna to Bemidji, over 650 people gathered to discuss the future of early learning in Minnesota. A wide range of ideas and opinions were shared, and this information is already being discussed among state agencies as well as the Governor's Office. 

Now, we are conducting a survey to ensure we have captured the thoughts of every stakeholder in Minnesota who wants to be heard on this important topic. You will find the link to the survey at the end of this email - the questions provided here are the same as the ones that were discussed at the listening sessions. The answer options were crafted based around what was heard throughout the state at the sessions.

Take the survey here. 

Note: This survey will close at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2015.

 

The survey is available in English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong and Vietnamese. We want to hear from you. If you attended a listening session, please complete the survey to reinforce your thoughts and share anything you may have thought of after you left. If you weren't able to attend a listening session, please complete the survey to share your thoughts. It should take about five to seven minutes to complete.

 

We also encourage you to share this survey with others whom you believe would like to be heard. Thank you so much for your participation and your engagement in this important discussion. Your advocacy on behalf of Minnesota's children is greatly appreciated!

 

If you have questions, please email mde.els@state.mn.us.

 

Thank you!

 

You are invited to Policy Hour, January 5^th, 2016

 

Join us for Policy Hour on Tuesday, January 5 from Noon-1 p.m. to hear from the Department of Human Services about the Child Care Development Block Grant plan. This plan describes how the state proposes to meet the new federal law governing child care assistance. The new law makes changes to protect the health and safety of children in child care, promote continuity of access to subsidy for low-income families, better inform parents and the general public about child care choices, and improve the overall quality of early care and education.

Bring your lunch. Invite your friends. No RSVP necessary.

Mark your calendars! Policy Hour is held the first Tuesday of each month, October 2015-June 2016, from Noon-1:00 p.m. at Think Small (2021 East Hennepin Avenue, Suite 250, Minneapolis, MN 55413).   



Policy Hour is a monthly opportunity for early childhood and school-age care professionals to connect with each other and learn about current policy issues in an informal setting. 

Here’s Your Opportunity

Join the Discussion!

Early Learning in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Education, in partnership with

the Minnesota Initiative Foundations and Minnesota’s Future,

 is holding regional community listening sessions to learn how we can

 be more effective in linking policies, programs and practices to ensure

 every child in Minnesota has a high-quality early education.

•What early learning experiences are working

for young children and families in your community?

 

•Where are the gaps in your early childhood system?

 

•How can we support building the capacity

 of the early childhood workforce in your community?

Information discussed and themes that arise will be documented and shared

 with the Minnesota Departments of Education, Health, Human Services and

 the Children’s Cabinet for consideration while planning effective

 prenatal through 3rd grade policies, programs and practices.

Join the discussion!

Twin Cities Metro Area: Monday, November 2, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Conference Center A, Minnesota Department of Education,

1500 Hwy 36 West, Roseville, MN 55113

 

To register   visit the Minnesota Department of Education website.

 

When registering, please provide your name, email address and optionally your role in your community (parent, provider, school staff, policy maker, etc). See you there!

 

 

You Are Invited to the Next

Early Childhood Directors Group  

Thursday, November 12^th  -  10:00 am – noon

Think Small - 2021 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls  55413

Discussion Topics:

• Finding and Rewarding Good Teachers – Update of the Child Care Staffing  Study
  • Current state of teacher compensation
  • Bring your interview questions for feedback from your colleagues
  • Discuss strategies to find the right “fit”
  • Peer discussion: salary scales, benefits, raises, & bonuses
• Ericca Maas, PASR director: What is Parent Aware for School Readiness and what do they do?   
• Directors Group Topics: What’s on your “To Do” list for 2015  

Early Childhood Directors Group meetings are free and open to all

RSVP to Nancy Johnson – njohnson@thinksmall.org

Visit our blog at: www.ecdirectorsgroup.blogspot.com

Welcome to the Early Childhood Directors Group blog


Our next meeting on Thursday, September 24thwill focus on your ideas and suggestions for staff compensation and benefits and supporting your teachers' growth as professionals and leaders.

Special Marketing Training Opportunity

for Center Directors

On October 7th, join trainer, author, and advocate Tom Copeland, JD, for:

The New Face of Marketing: What You Can Do

To Increase Your Child Care Enrollment

 

Wednesday, October 7th, 10 - Noon 

Think Small at 10 Yorkton Court, Saint Paul, 55117

2 in-service hours   -   Training fee is $22


Tom will discuss the tools that parents use to find quality child care and the many cost-effective ways child care programs can promote your programs online. Learn about marketing on Facebook, Craigslist, child care forums, Google+, Pinterest, and more.


This training will also cover privacy and confidentiality issues on the Internet and how providers can protect themselves from an online negative parent review. 


REGISTER TODAY!  PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.


Call the Think Small Registration Line:  651-641-3549

Policy Hour is back! 

You are invited to attend monthly Policy Hour meetings for early childhood and school-age care professionals to connect with each other and learn about current policy issues in an informal setting, hosted by Minnesota’s Future .
 

Join us on Tuesday, October 6 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Think Small at 2021 East Hennepin Avenue, Suite 250, Minneapolis, MN 55413.  We will hear several early childhood policy experts talk about how far we’ve come in the last decade and look to the future.

Policy Hour is open to all. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month, October 2015-June 2016, from Noon-1:00 p.m. and we meet at Think Small, 2021 East Hennepin Avenue, Suite 250, Mpls, 55413.    

Public Policy Update  

 

On Friday, June 12, the Minnesota legislature convened for a one-day special session to resolve budget differences between Gov. Dayton and Legislative leaders in the areas of education, jobs and energy, and environment and agriculture in order to avoid a partial government shut down.

Good news!

The bipartisan compromised education bill includes the largest increases for 3 and 4 year olds to access high quality pre-k in Minnesota's history and nearly doubles Minnesota's commitment to early learning.

Key numbers for early learning this session:

• $48 million for early learning scholarships
• $30.75 million for school readiness programs in school districts
• $10 million to reduce the Head Start waiting list
• $10 million for child care assistance
• $3.5 million to support Parent Aware quality ratings
• Additional funding for ECFE, the Northside Achievement Zone, the St. Paul Promise Neighborhood, targeted Home Visiting and the Parent Child Home Program

While there will be many things to watch in the coming weeks as the plans for the administration of the new budget are developed and there is more work to do to support our youngest and most vulnerable learners, we are pleased that our early learners continue to be a high priority for our elected officials.

Please take a moment to send a note of thanks to your legislators and Governor Dayton to thank them for their leadership and commitment.

 

If you have more specific questions about what's happening at the State Capitol, feel free to connect with Cisa Keller (ckeller@thinksmall.org) or Todd Otis (totis@thinksmall.org)

Child Care and Early Education Advocates

Could Be Celebrating Soon!

Last Friday, June 5, we learned that, when convened, the special legislative session will include a vote on:

• $90 million in new early learning funding for early learning scholarships and school readiness programs
• $2 million each for the Northside Achievement Zone and St. Paul Promise Neighborhood

 

Also, the legislature passed and the Governor signed a DHS Bill including:

• $10.02 million in additional funding to reduce the CCAP-Basic Sliding Fee waiting list
• New investments in home visiting and nurse-family partnership programs
• Implementing recommendations of the Child Protection Task Force
   

You Are Invited to a Discussion

 

Where Do We Go From Here?

Facilitated by Cisa Keller, Think Small’s director of early childhood

         quality development

 

At the next meeting of

the Early Childhood Directors Group

 

Thursday, June 18^th  -  10:00 am – noon

Think Small - 2021 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls  55413

 

Join other center directors to discuss the status of early childhood policy and funding issues and how to prepare for 2016 and beyond.

 

EC Directors Group meetings are open to all

 

No RSVP necessary. For more info, contact Nancy Johnson:  njohnson@thinksmall.org

Note: my phone has changed to: 651-523-7295

Visit our blog at: www.ecdirectorsgroup.blogspot.com

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MinneMinds Message of the Week

"Early learners and vulnerable families win this year -- tens of thousands of three- and four-year-olds who might have fallen behind will attend high quality early learning programs of all types next year because of bi-partisan investments made by the State Legislature and Governor Mark Dayton."



The following Session Update is from the MinneMinds Coalition:

Special Session Education Budget Revealed: major investments in early learning!!!

Last Friday afternoon (06.05.15) the full budget was released, as agreed to by Governor Dayton and legislative leaders.



The budget includes nearly $90 million in new early learning funding targeted for low-income families, in addition to $2 million each for the Northside Achievement Zone and St. Paul Promise Neighborhood, as well as new investments in the Child Care Assistance Program and Home Visiting from the Health and Human Services budget.



This includes more than $48 million in new funding for early learning scholarships, bringing the total early learning scholarship fund to $104 million. By our calculations, this will provide a scholarship for approximately 20,000 3- and 4-year-olds over the next two years!



While we can never be 100% assured that additional changes won't be made to the bill, this is likely to reflect the final budget. This would be a huge session for early learning, particularly for vulnerable Minnesotans -- coming close to doubling the amount of funding for early learning access for low-income families.



Please make sure to share this message with others as you talk about the end of session and the education budget in the coming days and weeks.



You can see the spreadsheet breakdown of the E12 bill here



Read Frank Forsberg's statement on the E12 budget here

We expect a special session to be called sometime in the upcoming days to actually pass legislation.

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Does Your Center Protect Children From Sun Damage?

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States.  Just a few sunburns can place someone at risk for skin cancer later in life.  During National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Month check out the CDC's website on protecting children from the sun.  Every child care program should have written policies and practices to promote sun safety

Resources:

The Surgeon Generals' Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer

Caring for Our Children Standard 3.1.3.2 Playing Outdoors

Caring for Our Children Standard 3.4.5.1 Sun Safety Including Sunscreen

Caring for Our Children Standard 6.1.0.7 Shading of Play Area