Posted 5/13/13 - Start Tribune
A Capitol all-nighter over the right of 21,000 child-care providers and personal care attendants to unionize has emboldened the Legislature’s GOP minority and thrown a “firecracker” into the frenzied last days of the session.
The 2013 labor wish list at the state Capitol includes a measure to allow some home-care workers to bargain collectively with the state. Those who care for young and vulnerable Minnesotans deserve our respect. It's important work they do, but union representation isn't a good idea for the workers or for those they care for. We join the skeptics who doubt the proposal will bring us closer to what we all want: good care for those who need it, a good deal for taxpayers and stable costs.
Wrapped in a fuzzy blanket decorated with jungle animals, Morgan Mueller’s eyelids droop as she snuggles with day care provider Melissa Lawwell.
But when it’s time to lay the 9 1/2-month-old infant down for her afternoon nap, Lawwell takes away the blanket and lays her in the empty white-railed crib.
Beyond the legislative clamor of more high-profile issues on which the business community has an interest, there is a growing presence among executives regarding investments in the future workforce through market-based programs affecting 3- and 4-year-olds.
President Barack Obama says he's not sure whether he can get Congress to pass his plan to dramatically expand pre-kindergarten in the U.S.
State funding for pre-kindergarten programs had its largest drop ever last year and states are now spending less per child than they did a decade ago, according to a report released Monday, April 29.
Funding, policy changes and opportunity gaps were topics discussed with Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius.
Legislation to improve the safety of child care in Minnesota is expected to pass the state Senate this week, including broader training requirements for in-home providers and stricter rules to prevent deaths among sleeping infants.
Legislation to improve the safety of child care in Minnesota is expected to pass the state Senate this week, including broader training requirements for in-home providers and stricter rules to prevent deaths among sleeping infants.
In his State of the Union address in February, President Obama announced an ambitious agenda for early care and education. This early care and education initiative would greatly increase access to high-quality pre-K for four-year-olds with a new investment of $75 billion to support state-federal partnerships, expand the availability of high-quality options for infants and toddlers through partnerships between Early Head Start and child care, and expand voluntary home visiting programs with a new investment of $15 billion.
To connect to your local Child Care Aware agency: 888-291-9811
Minneapolis Area: 651-287-8580
St. Paul Area: 651-641-0305
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Child Care Aware of Minnesota
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