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.
Guest Post: What is the READ Act?
In Minnesota and around the country, many children are not on track to read proficiently. The latest Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) results show just 48% of 3rd graders met or ...
2024 Minnesota Early Childhood Reports
If 2023 was the year of legislative activity for child care in Minnesota, 2024 is the year of reports! As projects from the 2023 session get underway and existing projects ...
Early Childhood Newsletters--Get Connected!
A great way to stay connected with early childhood policy is by making sure you?re signed up to newsletters from organizations and projects you care about. It can also keep ...
When is it Happening: Early Childhood Infrastructure, Policy Changes, and Reports
Many changes to early care and education policy passed this legislative session. In an attempt to organize and track the milestones ahead, we?ve created this blog post and accompanying ...
When Is It Happening: Early Learning Scholarships
Early Learning Scholarships will see significant changes in the months and years ahead. Early Learning Scholarships give low-income families financial support to help pay for quality early care and ...
What's in the Budget: Early Care and Education Workforce
It is no secret to those who work in or rely on child care that the field struggled even before the pandemic. The challenge of covering the actual costs ...
What’s in the Budget: Early Learning Scholarships
House File 2292, the early education omnibus bill, passed both the House and Senate and was signed into law by Governor Walz. This bill contains new investments and policy ...
Policy Hour: Mixed Delivery
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Mixed delivery is a hot topic in early care and education. Even with an extra half hour, December?s Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour ...
Policy Hour - Early Childhood Data
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorJanuary Policy Hour started with a special announcement: the event is now named the Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour. Ann served as the Executive ...
Families First: Connecting Southern MN Children with Early Learning Scholarships
The Policies in Play series takes a closer look at the recently passed state legislative policies that affect early care and education. We work with partners to find out what ...
Policy Hour: Early Education Policy and Funding Changes
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorRepresentatives from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) presented at the first Policy Hour of the season. June Reineke and Amanda Varley shared ...
Revised Standards Provide Guidance for Early Childhood Field
This month marks one year since the start of the Think Small blog. To celebrate, we?re using January to highlight information and initiatives from Think Small and our partners about ...
Policy Hour Provides Updates on New Early Learning Legislation
The first Minnesota?s Future Policy Hour of the season focused on legislation passed this spring. The presenters provided updates on implementation of projects.
New Evaluation Highlights Positive Impact of Early Learning Scholarships
The Minnesota Department of Education delivered an evaluation of Early Learning Scholarships to the Minnesota Legislature this week, which found that children who receive Early Learning Scholarships are making significant ...