Winona Daily News | February 27, 2014
It’s hard to get ahead if you have to catch up first.
Unfortunately, too many children have to play catch-up when they enter kindergarten, and that slow start may hamper their progress throughout their school years.
“Achievement disparities show up very early in a child’s life,” said Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius during a visit to the Community Kids Preschool in Goodview Wednesday morning. Cassellius regularly tours the state’s districts to learn more about them and highlight successful programming.
To give every child an even start has been the goal of the early-childhood education initiatives promoted by Gov. Mark Dayton, with the support of the Minnesota Legislature, Cassellius said. The 2013 session featured increased funding for early-childhood initiatives, as well as money for districts statewide to provide all-day kindergarten. [Read More]
Home Town Source | February 14, 2014
As many as 100,000 Minnesota State Grant recipients could see a modest increase in their grant award next fall, based on new projections released today (Friday, Feb. 14) by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE).
Revised college enrollment numbers, and recent increases in the federal Pell Grant program, have freed up additional State Grant dollars–meaning thousands of low- and middle-income college students could see a one-time increase of up to $200 in their State Grant award next fall. “This modest adjustment to the State Grant program builds on the work Governor Mark Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature began last session to have grant awards be more realistic in covering the actual cost of college, enabling many students to take on less debt.” [Read More]
|
February 27, 2014 | News Alerts
Mpls St Paul Business Journal | February 27, 2014
Garrison Keillor’s signoff from Lake Wobegon, Minn., promises as much, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Minneapolis-St. Paul region ranked 9th out of 102 metros in an analysis by American City Business Journals of education levels of residents in the area, based on 2012 U.S. Census Data. [Read More]
Office of the Governor & Lt. Governor | February 25, 2014
Military families make great sacrifices for our country, regularly moving to new states and often raising children alone during their loved ones’ deployments. To ensure recent veterans and military spouses are not forced to sacrifice their careers as well, Lt. Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon is joining forces with several state lawmakers this session to make it easier for military families to obtain the occupational licenses they need to qualify for certain jobs in Minnesota.
The “Joining Forces for Jobs” initiative, authored by Rep. Mary Murphy (DFL – Hermantown) and Sen. Tom Saxhaug (DFL – Grand Rapids) would simplify and speed up the process for military spouses and recent veterans who have earned an occupational license in another state, to qualify for licensure in Minnesota. This effort also squarely aligns with Governor Dayton’s focus on making state government faster, simpler, and more efficient during the 2014 “Unsession.” [Read More]
|
