Blog, News & Events
Insights, Ideas, and Resources for Early Learning
Welcome to the Think Small Blog, your go-to destination for valuable insights, innovative ideas, and inspiring stories in the field of early learning. Dive into a treasure trove of articles crafted by our team of experts, dedicated to empowering child care providers, educators, and families.
5 Reasons to Be Hopeful about Early Care and Education Policy
By: Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Lately I?ve had been feeling extra-inspired by my state and national colleagues about where we?re at when it comes to early care and education policy. It feels ...
Have You Applied to Receive the Child Tax Credit?
As a parent, you are likely eligible to receive the Child Tax Credit.?If you are not yet receiving this credit, you may be missing an opportunity?to receive?up to $300 per child if you?qualify...
How Do 2018 Candidates Interact with Early Education?
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorEvery eligible Minnesota voter will have the opportunity to make their choice for statewide and federal offices this November. What authority do these ...
Think Small's Letter to the Department of Homeland Security
We ask the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to stop family separations at the border. Dear Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen, On behalf of Think Small, I ask you ...
Policy Hour: National Update
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator The Minnesota State Legislature was off for Easter/Passover Break this week, so Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour turned its focus to national issues. ...
Policy Hour: Federal Updates on Early Learning
Field Representative to Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota), Dan Solomon, joined Policy Hour in May to provide updates on federal funding and policies that affect the early learning field.Sen. Franken is ...
Policy Hour Highlights New Federal Rules in Head Start and Child Care
New federal policy changes will affect the Minnesota early learning field. November Policy Hour featured staff from the state departments of Education and Human Services sharing updates about the changes.
April Policy Hour Focuses on Compliance with Federal Requirements
The April edition of Minnesota?s Future Policy Hour featured leaders from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) discussing Minnesota?s response to the federal reauthorization of the Child Care and ...
Federal Education Policy Trends Examined at Policy Hour
Our March 1, 2016 Policy Hour featured Dan Solomon, Field Representative to Senator Al Franken. While congress has been rather unproductive as of late, Solomon shared some bright spots and ...
MN DHS Dives into New Federal Guidelines at Policy Hour
The first Minnesota?s Future Policy Hour of 2016 took place at Think Small?s Minneapolis office featuring leaders from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to discuss the re-authorization of ...
ESSA Signed into Law, Focuses on Early Learning
A new education law came out of Washington D.C. recently with strong bipartisan support. The new law, the Every Student Succeeds Act, eliminates No Child Left Behind and brings back ...