This page is dedicated to teachers; there are several facts that the general public should understand. Providing the correct solution will show that we respect their time in the classroom. It will allow them to spend their time teaching children and less time solving the basic needs of some children. All too often the teacher needs to intervein when a child basic needs are not met, for example lack of clothing or food. Teachers are: • My hero’s (personal I…
Legislators and Candidates Our children need to be your priority, if you fail the children you have failed! • This is not a Democratic or Republican issue or particular interest group issue. • Support a one item bill in the legislator Public, our children need your help Please make calls and send emails. Call your state representatives and ask what they support on this issue and how they have voted on it in the past. Follow up with an email….
Why is this important? The current push is for UPK potentially costing $500 Million and a waste of money. Summary Based on research provided on this website, UPK is not the solution to solving the Achievement Gap. Solving Minnesota’s Achievement Gap Step 1 “Coordinating Early Education Funding Streams” Close Gaps by 5 Currently, Minnesota uses a confusing array of at least seven different funding streams to pay for early education program access for children under age 5, including: • Childcare…
Minnesota is not providing useful information on kindergarten readiness stats. However there are other ways to determine the results of UPK. Universal Pre-Kindergarten has been implemented by other states for a period of time. If it in fact improves a child’s results, those results will show up in standardized testing that take place in several grades. Third grade, eight grade and graduation scores should be higher in states that have had UPK for a period of time. Those scores should…
Based on an article from WCCO, ‘During a visit to a Newport Elementary classroom,’ The administration estimates the proposal would affect 47,300 students in its first year, eventually growing to roughly 57,000’ children would be enrolled in UPK.’ (http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/03/20/gov-dayton-proposes-free-preschool-for-4-year-olds/) Average number of births in Minnesota is approximately 69,000, and the average number of students in each grade in school is approximately 68,000. However 57,000 seems to be a reasonable number based on other states that are pushing UPK. Minnesota Cost…
Breaking down this document to see where it lines up with Research. • Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten: Helping more Families Afford Early Learning. Discusses closing the achievement gap and moving the state closer to Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten. Research shows that this will have little impact on the Achievement Gap because age 4 is just too late for impoverished children and those not in poverty gain little from this. • Tackling the Achievement Gap Poverty is the cause of the Achievement…
The Early Catastrophe The 30 Million Word Gap by Age 3 From, American Federation of Teacher Spring 2003 The Importance of Early Years Experiences We learned from the longitudinal data that the problem of skill differences among children at the time of school entry is bigger, more intractable, and more important than we had thought. So much is happening to children during the first three years at home, at a time they are especially malleable and uniquely dependent on the…
Why is this important? Applying best practices in teaching children, as determined by major research universities will provide the most effective and cost-effective results in decreasing the achievement gap. Teaching core life skills are essential for children to function in school and life. Summary • Children learn effectively from the ‘give and take’ or ‘serve and return’ interaction with caregivers. • Reading to a child from birth forward is beneficial however it is only one of the tools children need…
What Segment of Society Does AG Exist? Why is this important?Narrowing the segment of the population where the problem of achievement gap resides allows resources to be directed at that segment. SummaryThe education gap exists in the impoverished families. High school students graduating on time by income Minnesota, 2012-2019 Higher-income students 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Graduation rate 89.5% 91.0% 91.9% 92.5% 92.6% 93.1% 93.2% 93.4% Number of graduates 36,528 35,863 35,076 35,143 34,714 35,075 35,484…
Research Why is this important? These skills are crucial for learning and development. They also enable positive behavior and allow us to make healthy choices for ourselves and our families. Summary Children aren’t born with these skills—they are born with the potential to develop them. These skills start to show by age 3 when in a positive environment These skills are the mental processes that enable us to: o Plan o Focus attention o Remember instruction o Juggle multiple tasks…