Early Childhood

Join Footnotes, a texting club and community service through MPR News offering early childhood news, updates and information for children aged 0-5 and their caregivers. Engage with other parents/guardians and early childhood reporter Kyra Miles:
Head Start funding lags by nearly $1 billion this year, causing some preschool closures
Federal databases show Head Start centers across the U.S. have received nearly $1 billion less in federal funding compared with this time last year. This week, the lag in funding caused some preschool classrooms for 400 low-income children to close in central Washington state.
Minnesota child care centers struggling with rising costs, enrollment shifts
Enrollment is rising again at Minnesota child care operations but the counts remain below pre-pandemic levels, according to a new statewide survey that also found providers facing challenges with staffing and operating costs.
Report: Minnesota has the third highest average cost of infant child care in the country
Minnesota has the third highest average cost of infant child care in the U.S. according to the Economic Policy Institute. Its average cost in the state in $22,000 per year.
Measles remains a danger to health even years after an infection
The measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico is now close to 300 cases. Most are unvaccinated children. People usually recover, but doctors are stressing how dangerous and long-lasting it can be.
Some Minnesota child cares closed Monday to call for more state funding
Hundreds of providers, teachers and families were expected to take part in a “Day Without Childcare” to underscore the need for more funding, affordability and accessibility for kids and parents, as well as living wages for staff.
As the Texas outbreak grows, how contagious is measles, really?
Vaccination eliminated measles from the U.S. 25 years ago. But it can still spread in pockets where vaccination rates are low, like the west Texas county with a current outbreak. Here’s how fast.