STATE OF MINNESOTA NINTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING FINANCE COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Representative Nora Slawik, Chair, called the ninth meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 in Room 200 of the State Office Building. Quorum was present.
SLAWIK, Nora - Chair
BLY, David - Vice Chair MURPHY, Erin
LAINE, Carolyn NORNES, Bud
WARDLOW, Lynn WINKLER, Ryan
WARD, John FRITZ, Patti
PETERSON, Sandra GOTTWALT, Steve
KRANZ, Scott
GAROFALO, Pat
Representative Eastlund was excused.
Representative Kranz moved approval of the minutes for Thursday, February 8, 2007. THE MOTION PREVAILED and the minutes are approved.
HF5 Bly, Early childhood family education, school readiness, and Head Start program funding increased; and money appropriated
Representative Bly moved that HF 5 be considered for inclusion in the Omnibus bill
Representative Bly, introduction of bill and testifiers
Mike Thorsteinson, Executive Director, Three Rivers Community Action
Testified on impact of 2003 funding cuts and benefits of consistent education in low-income communities.
Carrie Duba, Early Childhood Screening Readiness Lead, Northfield Public Schools
Testified on importance of supporting parents and families with young children and how important early childhood learning is for low-income families.
Michele Weber, MN Department of Education.
Testified on the meaning of "entitlement" referenced in HF 5.
HF139 Kranz, Early childhood family education, school readiness, and Head Start programs funding increased; and money appropriated
Rep Kranz moved that HF 139 be considered for inclusion in the Omnibus bill
Representative Kranz, introduced bill and testifiers
Karen Schaub, Director of Community Services, Spring Lake Park Schools
Testified on need for funding cuts to be restored for early childhood programming.
Carla Hensley, Parent and Attorney, West Saint Paul
Testified on the positive effects of ECFE on her child and family.
HF178 Fritz, Early childhood family education funding increased, minimum population used to calculate revenue increased, and home visiting early childhood family education program revenue increased
Rep Fritz moved that HF 178 be considered for inclusion in the Omnibus bill.
Rep Patty Fritz, introduces bill and testifiers
Testified on the importance of funding this legislation.
Judy Covert, ECFE/SR Coordinator, Faribault
Testified on importance of home visiting effect on early childhood education.
Sarah Lockerby, Parent, Faribault
Testified on the positive effects of ECFE on her child and family.
HF327 Hortman, School readiness programs state aid increased, and money appropriated
Rep Erin Murphy moved that HF 327 be considered for inclusion in the Omnibus bill.
Representative Melissa Hortman, introduced the bill and testifiers
Steve Kerr, Director of Community Education, Anoka-Hennepin School District and President, MN Community Education Association
Testified on model used to try to bridge the achievement gap and how it has been affected by funding cuts.
Tracy Knighton, Parent, Anoka Hennepin School District
Testified on early childhood and parenting programs and the positive affect they had on her children's lives.
Dr. Karen Effrem, Policy Analyst and Board Member, EdWatch
Testified on possible issues with early childhood learning programs.
Tom Prichard, President, Minnesota Family Council
Testified on importance of family choice and empowering parents for early childhood programming.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
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Representative Nora Slawik, Chair
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Tricia Kiefer, Committee Legislative Assistant