TWENTY-EIGHTH MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-EIGHTH 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 Thursday, February 11, 2010, in Room 200 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

House Members Present:

Slawik (Chair)
Rosenthal (Vice-Chair)
Bly
Buesgens
Downey
Greiling
Hamilton
Jackson
Laine
Mack
Mariani
Nornes
Peterson
Ward

A quorum was not present.

Presentation of the Parent Aware Year 2 Evaluation

Kathryn Tout, Senior Program Area Director and Senior Research Scientist, Child Trends

A quorum was present at 4:36 pm.

Ms. Tout was asked a series of questions: When will the final report be released? Are there any plans for a longitudinal study? Do any states have higher funding for children who have additional needs? Is the intent of the pilot to determine if QRS will actually produce the outcomes we want and is a good value? Is the pilot the first phase of a statewide implementation?

The committee watched the video "Parent Aware: A Rating Tool for Selecting High Quality Child Care and Early Education"

Testimony from providers in the pilot quality rating system:

Nicole Joy Frethem, Assistant Director and Curriculum Coordinator, Lexington Kids Christian Childcare

Representative Mariani moved that the minutes from Tuesday, February 9, 2010 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Continued testimony from providers in the pilot quality rating system:

Shelly Thunborg, Director, East St. Paul location, New Horizon Academy

Ms. Frethem and Ms. Thunborg were then asked a series of questions: How are you assessing the improvement of the children in your programs? Is the benefit of receiving a Parent Aware Rating for parents so they know the quality and know where to go? How does it affect your business if your program does not get scholarships or allowances? Where did the children go when the scholarships/allowances ran out? Did you fill the empty slots with CCAP eligible children?


The meeting was adjourned at 5:57 pm.





Representative Nora Slawik, CHAIR




Matthew M. Collie
Committee Legislative Assistant