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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Minnesota Celebrates Week of the Young Child

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Monday, April 13, 2015   

ST. PAUL, Minn. - This is the Week of the Young Child in Minnesota, set aside to recognize the importance of quality early life experiences for all kids, which has has been a focus this year at the State Capitol.

Karen Fogolin, associate director with Child Care Aware of Minnesota, says making sure children are starting off with the best educational opportunities is critical for them and the state's future vitality.

"This is just a really great time to let people know that these early life experiences are super great window of opportunity for life-long learning and healthy well-being for children," says Fogolin.

Governor Mark Dayton has proposed a major expansion of the child-care tax credit, along with a plan to offer free all-day preschool for every four-year-old child in Minnesota.

The Governor's budget also includes funding to sustain Minnesota's Parent Aware program, which Fogolin explains is a voluntary rating system for child-care providers in the state.

"So we rate programs on a one-to-four star basis," she says. "Looking at physical health and well-being, teacher training and education, the assessment of child progress and teaching, and relationships."

Fogolin notes the impact of providers improving quality early childhood is widespread. This, as about 65 percent of Minnesota kids ages 12 and younger are in some type of care arrangement regularly, spending on average of about 22 hours a week in child care.


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