March 17, 2011 - Governor Dayton Signs Executive Order Establishing Early Learning Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of the Governor
Contact: Katharine Tinucci
651.201.3441 office
651-368-0086 cell
katharine.tinucci@state.mn.us
Advisory Council Builds on Governor’s Vision for Education Reform, Will Work to Ensure That All Children are School-Ready by 2020
(Saint Paul) - Today, Governor Mark Dayton reaffirmed his commitment to make quality early childhood education a priority by signing an executive order to reauthorize the state’s Early Learning Council. The Governor’s action highlights his vision that all Minnesota children enter school well-prepared to learn.
“Investing in quality early care and education is essential to building a better future for our children and our state,” Governor Dayton said. “Quality early education prepares children to learn once they enter school, provides significant long-term cost savings to Minnesotans, and helps produce the excellent workforce that has been the hallmark of our state’s economic success. It’s a critical step in helping Minnesota win the future.”
The federal Improving Head Start Act of 2007 called for the establishment of State Early Childhood Advisory Councils to improve the quality, availability, and coordination of programs and services for children ages birth to five. State councils are charged with developing recommendations for increasing access to high quality state and federal early childhood care and education programs for all children - including those who are part of underrepresented and special populations – and conducting a periodic state needs assessment of the quality and availability of programs.
Under Governor Dayton’s new executive order, the Council, established in 2008 by Governor’s Executive Order 08-14, will be renamed the Early Learning Council and will have an expanded membership that will be named through the open appointments process. The primary goal of the Early Learning Council is to ensure that all children are school-ready by 2020. Council members will make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, including a legislative proposal that will effectively create a high-quality early childhood system in Minnesota that will help improve educational outcomes for all children.
“There are few things that predict a child’s future success like the quality of the education he or she receives in the early years,” said Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. “The Early Learning Council will give focus to the Governor’s vision for our schools, and help ensure improved literacy, safety, and social development for all of Minnesota’s youngest learners.”
Governor Dayton’s Executive Order and “Better Schools for a Better Minnesota” vision for education reform are attached.
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http://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/pressreleasedetail.jsp?id=10229
Dealing with Bullying Behavior in Young Children
Monday, March 28, 2011
5 to 5:30 pm or 7 to 7:30 pm
Parkview Learning Center Library, Virginia, MN
Join us for one of our two presentations. What is bullying behavior, and what can be done to stop it? Our speaker from the Range Mental Health Center will address this important topic. Free! All adults are welcome. Call 742-3805 for information.
Food for Thought
As a parent educator in the early childhood family education program in the Virginia school district, I lead discussions about every parenting dilemma imaginable. However, a lot of them have to do with children and food. “How do I get my child to try new foods?” “How do I get my child to eat what I put on the table?” “How do I get my child to eat foods that are good for him?” All of these questions are valid and understandable. We’ve all been there, right? The topic of children and food gives all of us who live and work with young children “food for thought.”
One of the most important things to keep in mind when it comes to children and food is that parents cannot (and should not) force a child to eat. Offer a wide variety of nutritious foods; but if it is not eaten, simply take the food away and present it again at a different time. Do not get into the habit of making a separate meal to please the child. This can lead to the development of a “picky eater.”
When encouraging children to try new foods, remember that a taste is just a taste. Let the child decide the amount to try. Keep offering new foods. Recent research has found that many young children must be offered a food eight to ten times before they will try it.
There is alot to be said for parents as role models when it comes to eating a variety of foods. This is where imitation is a powerful force for learning! For example, if you want your child to drink milk, make sure he sees you drinking milk as well. Open up your own mind to trying new and nutritious foods. If your family has always had white rice, branch out to brown mixed with white in a favorite dish. If your family has always had white bread, branch out to 100% whole wheat. There are many brands that are soft and light and very similar to the texture and taste of white bread.
Some other tips for developing good eating habits in children include: serving an unfamiliar food with a familiar one, involving children in the choice of foods at the store and helping with the preparation of meals, inviting children’s friends for meals (encouraging your child to eat while watching another child eating), and involving children in the growing of a vegetable garden.
A parent’s job is to decide what food is offered, when the food is offered, and where it will be eaten. A child’s job is to decide if she will eat or not, what she will eat from the food offered, and how much she will eat. Remembering this can give parents peace of mind and will allow children the freedom and independence they crave to grow and learn.
Jill Phillips
ECFE Parent Educator
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