How are Minnesota Children doing?

St. Paul based Wilder Research, an arm of the nonprofit Amherst H. Wilder Foundation has done extensive research on the status of young children in Minnesota. Two recent reports yield lots of info to share when advocating for early literacy programs like Project Read.

Early Childhood Minnesota
Indicators and strategies for Minnesota's early childhood system, a joint report of Minnesota Build and Minnesota Early Childhood comprehensive Systems
December 2008
Compiles the most recently available information for 22 indicators of child and family health and well-being and system indicators of quality and access. Indicators represent four larger, overlapping themes: early learning, family support, health/mental health, and special needs/early intervention. The report also identifies a set of key strategies for improving outcomes for young children.

The cost burden to Minnesota K-12 when children are unprepared for kindergarten
Prepared for the Bush Foundation
December 2008

This cost-benefit study focuses on the effects of early childhood care and education on K-12 school system as a whole. It computes the cost burden to the Minnesota K-12 system due to insufficient early learning and early intervention that result in children entering kindergarten not fully prepared. It also provides estimates of the dollars already in the K-12 system that could be used differently by the state and school districts to ensure more school readiness and, therefore, less spending at the K-12 level.