Impact Story: Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative
April 2013
Since 2002, the Minnesota Initiative Foundations have collaborated on a statewide initiative to help Minnesota’s youngest children. The Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative is composed of 90 community and county coalitions based in more than 300 sites, each coordinating activities tailored to their specific region. In 2012, McKnight made a three-year grant of $900,000 to the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation for the Minnesota Early Childhood initiative (ECI). Building on the 10-year history of this collaborative effort, the new grant represents a refined strategic direction for the ECI, strengthening its alignment with McKnight’s early literacy goal of improving pre-kindergarten to grade 3 outcomes for children statewide.
Since 2007, the West Central Minnesota PreK-3rd Grade Alignment Program has made a strategic effort to connect national PreK-3rd efforts with local communities in west central Minnesota by sponsoring an annual forum. The forum brings together PreK-3rd alignment teams from school districts across the region to learn more about building PreK-3rd systems and expanding educational opportunities for all children.
The PreK-3rd alignment teams consist of school administrators, teachers, child care providers, civic leaders, parents, and other community members. The forums are led by a national speaker, include presentations on local success stories, and allow time for teams to integrate new information into their current plans.
Related Resources
West Central Minnesota PreK to 3rd Grade Alignment