It’s hard to disagree that it’s a good thing to have children ready to learn when they start kindergarten. The question is how to get all children ready, when economic factors, types of child care and early childhood learning opportunities vary so greatly.

The McKnight Foundation announced a grant award of $3 million during three years to expand the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative.

Instead of going to daycare, an estimated 70% of children under the age of 12 are cared for by a family member, friend or neighbor.

Child development experts say high quality child care can help children avoid problems later in life - from low achievement in school to arrest records. The problem is that the children who need this care the most can't get to it.

With kindergarten readiness rising to the forefront of nationwide educational priorities, Blue Earth and Nicollet counties will be part of a multi-million dollar program to address that issue among low-income families.

The number of women in the workforce is at an all-time high. Many of these women are mothers who need child care in order to work, which translates into an increased demand for child care providers. Unfortunately, the supply is not keeping up with this demand.