Key Principles:
MinneMinds’ policy agenda is informed by key values and child-centered approaches:
- Equity: racial, economic and geographic
- Prenatal to age 5
- Whole Child
- Multigenerational
- High Quality
- Parent Directed
- Mixed Delivery
- Research Based
Policy Agenda MinneMinds will lead:
Quality
Parent Aware
- Fully fund Parent Aware to continue the expansion of high-quality early learning programs throughout Minnesota. Support existing rated providers and grow from 3,000 programs to 4,400.
- Ongoing support for rated providers and implementation of improvement strategies, with a priority on stronger recognition and incorporation of cultural competency.
Access
Scholarships
- Increase funding and access of State Early Learning Scholarships for in need children birth-to-five to attend high quality early childhood development programs (Prioritize children with highest needs, including those facing homelessness and in foster care.)
- Complete efforts to fully-fund scholarships for low-income 3- and 4-year-olds. Serve 7,000 new, at risk preschoolers.
- Add funding for high priority groups for 0 to 2-year-olds (siblings, homeless, foster care, child protection). Serves 3,400 new, at risk babies and toddlers.
Home visiting
- Increase access and funding for targeted home visiting programs to include 7,000 children in high poverty.
- Provide community-led solutions to high-risk families to help stabilize them and give them a strong start.
Policy Agenda MinneMinds supports:
Access
Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP)
- Support family and provider-friendly provisions of federal reauthorization.
- Serve more CCAP eligible families.
Economic Development
Provider pipeline and workforce growth
- Provide new and/or expanded tax credits for families to afford child care, for professionals to stay in the field, and for businesses to invest in high-quality child care and education.
- Increase investments in programs like TEACH and RETAIN to grow and retain the number of early childhood and afterschool professionals.