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Insights, Ideas, and Resources for Early Learning

Welcome to the Think Small Blog, your go-to destination for valuable insights, innovative ideas, and inspiring stories in the field of early learning. Dive into a treasure trove of articles crafted by our team of experts, dedicated to empowering child care providers, educators, and families.

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Guest Post: What is the READ Act?

In Minnesota and around the country, many children are not on track to read proficiently. The latest Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) results show just 48% of 3rd graders met or ...

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When Is It Happening: Early Learning Scholarships

  Early Learning Scholarships will see significant changes in the months and years ahead. Early Learning Scholarships give low-income families financial support to help pay for quality early care and ...

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What’s in the Budget: Early Learning Scholarships 

  House File 2292, the early education omnibus bill, passed both the House and Senate and was signed into law by Governor Walz. This bill contains new investments and policy ...

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Early Care and Education Efforts in Progress

  The 2023 State Legislative Session is officially underway. Legislators are meeting with constituents, bills are being drafted and introduced, and committees are holding hearings!? Legislative leaders and Governor Walz ...

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unrecognizable little girl playing with wooden blocks at table at home

How Mixed Delivery Builds Equity and Inclusion for Families

Image of building blocks symbolizing building equity in families through mixed delivery.

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Parents Detail Kindergarten Transition Experiences

By Kristie Thorson, Communications Specialist The first of its kind in Minnesota, a new study examines how families transition their children from an early childhood education provider to kindergarten. The ...

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Guest Post: Elders Provide Historical Context on Minnesota's Early Care and Education Landscape

Submitted by Jane Kretzmann, on behalf of Elders for Infants (Glenace Edwall, Dave Ellis, Sandy Heidemann, Jim Nicholie, Glen Palm, and Katie Williams).? Elders for Infants is comprised of professionals ...

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Child Care Assistance Makes a Difference: Aaron's Story

Minnesota’s?Child Care Assistance Program?(CCAP) helps make?child care?affordable for income-eligible families.? This can often be life-changing for children and parents, as it was for the Santamaria Mendez family.Four-year-old Aaron Santamaria Mendez ...

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Early Learning Scholarships Change Lives

“This opportunity wasn’t just good for her, and amazing for her, but it was also amazing for me. And if it’s amazing for me, it’s amazing for our little family.” ...

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Small Talks - Text Me: Turning Everyday Moments into Early Learning Experiences

Small Talks features leaders who share key insights on early childhood education and discuss innovative solutions to early learning issues in Minnesota. By Kristie Thorson, Communications SpecialistText Me: Turning Everyday ...

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Small Talks - Talk to Me: How Early Conversations Impact a Child's Life

Small Talks features leaders who will share key insights on early childhood education and discuss innovative solutions to early learning issues in Minnesota. By Kristie ThorsonTalk to Me: How Early ...

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Early Learning Scholarships Are Critical for Children in Child Protection

The Policies in Play series takes a closer look at the recently passed state legislative policies that affect early care and education. We work with partners to find out what ...

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Free Early Childhood Text Messaging Program Offered to Minnesota Parents

Child Care Providers Can Meet Parent Aware Requirement by Encouraging Families to Sign Up When Woodbury parent Amy Raleigh heads to the store with her 4-year old daughter Fiona, she ...

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Early Learning Investment - Turn Up the Volume!

By Todd OtisThe early childhood movement has come a long way in the past twenty years, and has a long way to go.The public now understands the importance of early ...

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Minnesota PreK-3 Design Team Releases Statewide Recommendations

A new group of early education experts released recommendations for how Minnesota can best improve the early care and education landscape across our state, a key area of focus to ...

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Closing Opportunity Gaps to Shrink Achievement Gaps

By: Maya Fanjul-DebnamThe opportunity gap is one of the biggest obstacles our education system faces today.As highlighted in a Minnpost op-ed written by Think Small President, Barbara Yates: “Our achievement ...

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Poverty's Immense Impact on Brain Development During Childhood Explored

By: Maya Fanjul-DebnamMore than 16 million children in the United States ? 22% of all children ? live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level, $23,550 a year ...

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Learning Starts at Birth: Implications for a Lifetime

By: Maya Fanjul-DebnamFrom the moment they are born, children are learning from their surroundings. Everything from brain growth to approaches to life are shaped by what does—or does not–happen in ...

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Modest Investment in Parent Aware Yields Big Benefits for Kids

By: Ericca Maas,?Executive Director of Parent Aware for School ReadinessWhen it comes to early learning, I?ve never met an early educator who didn?t want the best for the kids they ...

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Parent Aware is the Backbone of Early Learning in Minnesota

Minnesota is grappling with a tough question: How do we best improve the early learning landscape in our state?It?s important to note that this question presumes an acceptance of the ...

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Minnesota's $900 Million Surplus is Opportunity to Invest in Kids who Need Help the Most

Minnesota Management and Budget released Minnesota’s economic forecast this morning, and the state’s surplus has decreased slightly to $900 million for the next budget cycle.The November economic forecast expected a ...

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Quality of Early Childhood Programs Improving with Parent Aware

Children attending a Parent Aware rated program are making significant gains in the skills they need to succeed in kindergarten, according to a third party evaluation of the Minnesota programs.

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Early Learning Key Component to Closing Gaps in AAPI Community

Nationally, Minnesota ranks 46th for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) high school graduation and is home to one of the largest white-AAPI proficiency gaps for fourth-grade reading. A new ...

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Early Learning Scholarship Helps Prepare Child for Kindergarten

Meet Lisa Wilson. She is a single mother to a rambunctious 4 year-old. They try hard to make ends meet every month, but sometimes it just didn?t work out. Child ...

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Pheng's Story: Spreading the Impact of Parent Empowerment

This is the third in a series of?videos showing the impact high-quality early learning has on children, families and child care providers across Minnesota. Check back here for a new ...

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Early Learning Scholarship Changes Bobbi's Family Forever

This is the second in a series of?videos showing the impact high-quality early learning has on children, families and child care providers across Minnesota. Check back here for a new ...

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