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 familychild care

Preschool programs

Publicschool-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

WWW.MINNEMINDS.ORG

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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 familychild care

Preschool programs

Publicschool-based programs

Head StartEligible programs: Parent Aware rated or on path to quality rating

WHY SCHOLARSHIPS THAT FOLLOW THE CHILD?

Licensed center-based child care

Licensed familychild care

Preschool programs

Publicschool-based programs

Head Start

Eligible programs: Parent Aware rated or on path to quality rating

Licensed center-based child care

Licensed familychild care

Preschool programs

Publicschool-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 ASKScholarships-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

FY2014 FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019

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 nothingfar 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