Early Childhood Focus

Judge puts brakes on child care union vote, for now

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:15:16 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Pierce County Herald
By Don Davis
ST. PAUL -- A Minnesota day care provider vote to join unions is least temporarily on hold.

Minnesota child-care providers push back on union vote

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:56:19 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Star Tribune
By Jim Ragsdale
Eleven child-care providers are asking a Ramsey County District Court to block a statewide vote on whether some providers should be able to unionize.

House Hearing Gathers Input on Child Care Unions

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:35:29 PST

EXCERPT FROM: St. Cloud Times
By Mark Sommerhauser
WAITE PARK � A push to unionize in-home child care providers drew dueling testimonials by providers to state lawmakers in Waite Park on Monday night.

Dayton Still Considering Union Vote for Child Care Workers

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:55:29 PST

EXCERPT FROM: MPR News
By Tom Scheck
Gov. Dayton says he hasn't made a decision on whether he'll issue an executive order that would allow for in-home child care providers to vote on whether to join a union. Dayton says he hasn't been focused on the issue since he's been on his Trade Mission to Korea and attended the Democratic Governor's Association meetings in North Carolina. He said he'll talk with staff about the issue in the coming days.

Unionizing Child-care Workers Divides the Room at Capitol hearing

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:51:05 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Star Tribune
By Jim Ragsdale
A joint hearing at the Capitol heard from supporters and opponents of efforts to unionize 11,000 child care providers.

MN Among Least-Affordable States for Child Care

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:52:47 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
By Ed Stych
Minnesota ranks among the least-affordable states for child care, according to a report released Thursday.

Dayton Announces Plan to Expand Childcare Ratings System

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:07:22 PST

EXCERPT FROM: MPR News
By Tom Weber
St. Paul, Minn. � Gov. Mark Dayton said today that the state will expand a ratings system for daycare and early childhood education providers across Minnesota.

New Law Aimed At Childcare Safety Begins Monday

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:01:47 PST

EXCERPT FROM: KAALtv.com
By ABC 6 News Staff
(ABC 6 NEWS) - A new law begins in Minnesota that is aimed at protecting children at daycare centers.

Judge Orders Child Care Aid to Continue

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:16:39 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Minnesota Public Radio
By Paul Tosto
Parents and child care providers are expressing relief at a judge's ruling Wednesday to restore funding for child care assistance programs in Minnesota.

Shutdown Impacts MN Child Cares

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:42:18 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Keloland.com
By Perry Groten
LUVERNE, MN - A government shutdown is impacting even the youngest of Minnesotans.

Parents Await Ruling on Child Care Assistance Subsidy

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:01:03 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Minnesota Public Radio News
By Sasha Aslanian
St. Paul, Minn. � Child care assistance is one of many ongoing headaches in the state government shutdown, now in its seventh day.

Shutdown Cuts Off State-Funded Child Care: Families Suffer in Greater Minn

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:25:55 PST

EXCERPT FROM: KSAX-TV
By Emily Reppert
ALEXANDRIA, Minn. (KSAX) � Day five of the government shutdown and many people across the state of Minnesota were still suffering because of it, including families that rely on government-funded child care.

Duluth-area Parents Scramble for Child-care Solutions with State Shutdown Looming

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:07:32 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Duluth News Tribune
By Lisa Baumann
Amber Stewart of Duluth is aware of the potential Minnesota government shutdown.

Families, Child Care Services Lose Out in Judge's Ruling

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:39:26 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Minnesota Public Radio News
By Laura Yuen
St. Paul, Minn. � Today's ruling by a judge on essential services is a tough blow for families, and could have far-reaching effects across Minnesota.

Child Care Could Take a Hit in Government Shutdown

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:32:16 PST

EXCERPT FROM: MPR News
By Sasha Aslanian
St. Paul, Minn. � Some 26,000 Minnesota families received letters from the state earlier this month warning that their child care subsidies would be suspended in the event of a government shutdown.

Proposed Child Care Cuts a Difficult Break for Working Low-Income Families

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:53:52 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Public News Service
By Sharon Rolenc
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Late last week, the Minnesota House and Senate passed Health and Human Services bills that seek $1.6 billion in sweeping cuts to help address the state's $5 billion deficit. Advocates worry that one area of cuts will threaten low-income families' ability to stay in the workforce, including cuts to child care assistance, as well as reductions in child care reimbursements for sick days, non-traditional hours, and in-home or friends-and-family care.

New Video Resource Helps MN Families Choose Childcare

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:37:47 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Public News Service
By Staff
ST. PAUL, Minn. - In Minnesota, three-quarters of parents with children under age 12 use some form of outside child care. A recent Wilder Research report says that, while quality is a top concern for parents, nearly one in three say they have to take whatever they can get.

Why is Child Care So Costly in Minnesota?

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:24:48 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Star Tribune
By Jeremy Olson
Minnesota now ranks No. 3 nationally by one measure of child care expenses. Leaders on the issue hope to address the rising costs of center-based child care without sacrificing quality.

Childcare Help for MN Army Families

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:54:48 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Public News Service
By STAFF
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Families of deployed military personnel often face big challenges, particularly if there are small children saying good-bye to mom or dad for the first time. One unique Minnesota program is helping by providing respite child care for families of deployed Army National Guard and Army Reserve members.

Minnesota / Anti-crime Group Praises Value of Preschools

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:57:55 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Pioneer Press
By Emily Gurnon
Can coloring, playing with blocks and singing "Baby Beluga" cut crime?