FIFTH MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTH 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, January 27, 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
Buesgens
Downey
Hamilton
Jackson
Laine
Mack
Mariani
Nornes
Peterson
Ward

House Members Excused:

Greiling

A quorum was present.

Representative Rosenthal moved that the minutes from Thursday, January 22, 2009 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Presentation by Art Rolnick, Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, discussed research in support of early care and education. Rolnick provided information on how the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation (MELF) is subscribing itself to the research.

Questions discussed particular details of the research presented and asked for further explanation on the efficacy of the MELF model.

Presentation by Arthur Reynolds, Professor of Child Development and Fellow of the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED), University of Minnesota, outlined the Child-Parent-Center Model and its efficacy in eliminating the achievement gap.

A question discussed the importance teacher compensation in the Child-Parent-Center Model.

Presentation by Richard Chase, Consulting Scientist, Wilder Research answered the question: What is the cost to society/government of not investing in early childhood?

Questions discussed the difficulties of transportation, importance of employer involvement, health and mental health influences and incarceration trends.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:03 pm.


Representative Nora Slawik, CHAIR



Matthew M. Collie
Committee Legislative Assistant