Quad Cities Early Childhood Coalition » Public Comment on Office of Early Learning

Public Comment on Office of Early Learning

Thursday, December 2, 2010, 1:30 – 3:30 pm, Mesabi Range Community & Technical College, Room C156, 1001 West Chestnut Street, Virginia, MN

From Ready 4 K

In 2010, the state legislature charged the Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) with creating a task force to consider how to coordinate or collocate early childhood care and education programs from the Departments of Education, Health, and Human Services into a single administrative structure. To drive toward the legislature’s stated goal of “All children ready for school by 2020,” an improved governance structure would have these functional priorities:

Develop seamless delivery system with local points of entry for early care and education programs administered by local, state, and federal agencies.
Consolidate and coordinate resources in public funding, and ensure the accountability and coordinated development of all early care and education services from birth to kindergarten entrance.
Establish administrative framework for and promote the development of early care and education services so that these services, staffed by well-qualified professionals, are available in every community for all families that express a need for them.
Develop and manage an effective data collection system to support the necessary functions of a coordinated early care and education system, allowing for accurate evaluation of impact.

Public Comment Requested

As part of the recommendations that will be submitted to the legislature and the governor by January 15, public comment is requested. These meetings are open to all and any of the public and will include local leaders, Task Force members, and will be moderated by the Task Force consultant, Karen Cadigan. Please contact Dr. Cadigan to RSVP (though RSVP is not needed to attend), and with any questions about the meetings or about this project at cadigan@umn.edu or 952-451-2081.

Public Comment Meetings

Virginia, MN
Thursday, December 2, 2010, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Mesabi Range Community & Technical College, Room C156
1001 West Chestnut Street
Virginia, MN 55792

Fergus Falls, MN
Monday, December 6, 2010, 3-5 pm
Otter Tail County Government Center, Otter Tail Lake Room
500 W. Fir Avenue
Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Bloomington, MN
Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 1-3 pm
Oak Grove Middle School, Rooms 610/610A
1300 West 106th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55431

We hope you’ll be able to attend one of these meetings or to comment online (information forthcoming).

Karen Kingsley
Director of Policy & Civic Engagement
Ready4K
651-644-8138 x107
karen@ready4k.org