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Early Childhood Learning Finance Division

TWENTY-SECOND MEETING

2007-2008 Regular Session - Tuesday, November 13, 2007

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-SECOND MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION

JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMITTEE

MINUTES


Senator Terri Bonoff, Chair of Early Childhood and Learning Readiness, and Representative Nora Slawik, Chair of the Early Childhood Learning Finance Division, called the meeting to order at 10:06 AM, on November 13, 2007, at the Winnetka Learning Center, 7940 55th Avenue North, New Hope, Minnesota.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

House Members Present:

Slawik (Chair)
Bly (Vice-Chair)
Eastlund
Fritz
Garofalo
S. Peterson
Wardlow
Winkler

House Members Excused:

Gottwalt
Kranz
Laine
E. Murphy
Nornes
Ward

Senate Members Present:

Bonoff (Chair)
Michel (Vice-Chair)
G. Olson
Robling
Saltzman
Torres Ray

Senate Members Excused:

Wiger

A quorum was not present.

The "Family Literacy Singers," preschool classes at the Winnetka Learning Center, sang songs for the committee.

Introduction of members.

Chair Bonoff invited testimony as follows:

Kerry Froehlich, Program Director ECFE, Robbinsdale Family Literacy Program; and Joyce Beaird, Program Director, Robbinsdale Even Start Family Literacy Program provided an informational overview of the Family Literacy Program. Miriam Lopez, parent and student in the Robbinsdale Family Literacy Program provided testimony of her personal experience with the Family Literacy Program.

A quorum was present at 10:39am.

Sally Ginn, Coordinator, Robbinsdale School Readiness Program provided an informational overview of the Robbinsdale School Readiness Program.

Bob Whittman, Executive Director of Community Education and Community Relations, Robbinsdale Area Schools; and David Lenzen of Liberty Diversified Industries provided information on Mr. Lenzen's work on starting an early childhood class within his company and what Robbinsdale has done to aid in the development of curriculum.

Mari Forbush, Family Services Division Director, Parent-Child Home Program, Jewish Family & Children's Service; and Cheri Brady, Supervisor, Parent-Child Home Program, Jewish Family & Children’s Service provided an informational overview of the parent-child home visiting program.

Barb Yates, Director of Programs and Operations, Minnesota Early Learning Foundation (MELF) provided an update on MELF activities pertaining to the Parent Aware Program.

Fred Hegele, retired General Mills Executive and Co-Chair of the Caring for Kids Initiative MELF pilot site: "Caring for Kids Child Care Initiative" provided an informational overview of the Caring for Kids Initiative.

Chad Dunkley, President, Minnesota Child Care Association provided testimony on how childcare affects early education.


The meeting adjourned at 12:08 PM


Representative Nora Slawik, CHAIR


Matthew M. Collie
Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..

Presentation and discussion of early education programs for 3-4 year olds