Early Childhood Initiative
​Investing in early childhood care and learning pays big dividends for communities and businesses. Scientific research confirms that children's earliest experiences, starting even before birth, dramatically affect their ability to succeed. Unfortunately, every year about half of Minnesota's children enter kindergarten not fully prepared to succeed, according to studies by the Minnesota Department of Education.
Building on a 10-year collaborative history, the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations -- with ongoing support from the McKnight Foundation -- have made a sustained commitment to the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative. Composed of 90 coalitions based in more than 300 sites around the state, the Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) collectively coordinates activities tailored to design strategic action plans to improve outcomes for their youngest children in each specific region.
With the original focus of promoting high-quality early care and education for children from birth to age five throughout the state, today the ECI is working specifically to improve pre-K to 3rd grade outcomes for children statewide. This most recent iteration of the ECI receives cross-program support from two of McKnight's funding areas, Minnesota Initiative Foundations and Education & Learning.while supporting parents in their important work.
Building on a 10-year collaborative history, the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations -- with ongoing support from the McKnight Foundation -- have made a sustained commitment to the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative. Composed of 90 coalitions based in more than 300 sites around the state, the Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) collectively coordinates activities tailored to design strategic action plans to improve outcomes for their youngest children in each specific region.
With the original focus of promoting high-quality early care and education for children from birth to age five throughout the state, today the ECI is working specifically to improve pre-K to 3rd grade outcomes for children statewide. This most recent iteration of the ECI receives cross-program support from two of McKnight's funding areas, Minnesota Initiative Foundations and Education & Learning.while supporting parents in their important work.