STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
EARLY CHILDHOOD FINANCE & POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Nora Slawik, Chair of the Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 4:34 pm on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
House Members Present:
Slawik (Chair)
Rosenthal (Vice-Chair)
Bly
Downey
Greiling
Hamilton
Jackson
Mack
Mariani
Nornes
Peterson
Ward
House Members Excused:
Buesgens
Laine
A quorum was present.
Representative Mariani moved that HF1046 (Mariani), Minnesota reading corps program established, and money appropriated, be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Testifying in favor of HF1046:
Audrey Suker, Executive Director, ServeMinnesota
Kate Horst, Pre-K Master Literacy Coach, Minnesota Reading Corps
Candee Melin, Director of Operations, Parents in Community Action (PICA) Head Start
Representative Mariani and Ms. Suker were asked how targeted the Minnesota reading corps program could be made to reduce the achievement gap; if the federal stimulus funds could be used for this program; and if the bill was in the Governor’s budget.
Representative Downey moved to incorporate an oral amendment to HF1046 as follows:
Page 2, Line 7, delete "$1,500,000" and insert "$1,000,000"
Page 2, Line 7, after "and", delete "$1,500,000" and insert "$1,000,000".
THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Mariani renewed the motion that HF1046 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Vice-Chair Rosenthal assumed the gavel at 4:59 pm.
Representative Hamilton moved that the minutes from Tuesday, February 26, 2009 be adopted as corrected: "House Members Excused: Hamilton". THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Slawik moved that HF223 (Slawik), Words Work grant provided for early childhood literacy, and money appropriated, be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division bill.
Testifying in favor of HF223:
Beth Menninga, Project Coordinator, Words Work
Norma Alonso, Community Action Partnership (CAP) Head Start Parent
Lisa Dawson, CAP Head Start Teacher
Stella SiWan Zimmerman, President and Principal Words Work Evaluation Investigator, ACET Inc.
Ms. Zimmerman was asked to more thoroughly go through the Words Work results and if this program could be extended to outstate and non-urban areas with similar results.
Representative Slawik laid over HF223 for future consideration.
Chair Slawik resumed the gavel at 5:20 pm.
Informational presentation on Project Early Kindergarten:
Ann Lovrien Director of Early Childhood, Saint Paul Public Schools, Project Early Kindergarten
Allison Breininger, Lead Child Care Coach, Resources for Child Caring
Ms. Lovrien was asked about the uniqueness of the project and if other districts were experimenting with similar projects.
Testimony pertaining to the quality rating system (QRS):
Jean Lang, Family Child Care Provider, Saint Paul
Rosa Wood, Family Child Care Provider, Saint Paul
Lin Gronholz, Director, Jesus Loves Me Center, North Mankato
Susan Larson, Student Resource Specialist, Parent Aware
Ms. Larson was asked if Parent Aware was a mandated program and if all of the testifiers regarding the quality rating system were licensed childcare providers
Joy Massard, Family Child Care Provider, Shakopee
Ann McCully, Executive Director of the Minnesota Childcare Resource and Referral Network was asked how many providers in the pilot areas have chosen to participate in Parent Aware.
Deb Swenson-Klatt, Manager of Early Childhood Development at the Minnesota Department of Human Services was asked how many providers in the pilot areas have chosen not to join.
Ms. Klatt, Ms. Massard and Ms. McCully were asked to assess if additional liability was necessary within the QRS system.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:04 pm.
Representative Nora Slawik, CHAIR
Matthew M. Collie
Committee Legislative Assistant