2011-07-20T09:14:06-05:00 2010-12-31 FOLEY KALSEIM & COMPANY LTD 1751 TOWER DRIVE W SUITE 200 STILLWATER MN 550827596 990 2010-01-01 710984782 MINNESOTA EARLY LEARNING FOUNDATION MINN 6512879005 2021 E HENNEPIN AVENUE ROOM/SUITE 250 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55413 DUANE BENSON 6512879005 2011-07-15 true MARTHA A KALMON CPA 6514303635 2011-07-20 2010 2016-03-07 17:11:31Z DUANE BENSON 2021 E HENNEPIN AVENUE 250 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55413 496633 false X MELF.US X 2005 MN THE MISSION OF THE MINNESOTA EARLY LEARNING FOUNDATION (MELF) IS TO RECOMMEND COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO PREPARE CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS IN KINDERGARTEN. FROM 2005-2009, MELF RESEARCHED, BUILT AND LAUNCHED PILOT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP ACHIEVE OUR MISSION. IN 2010, WE INCORPORATED WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED INTO SPECIFIC, ACTIONABLE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE VETTED WITH STAKEHOLDERS, DONORS, LAWMAKERS, AND OTHERS. THE MELF BOARD THEN MADE THE DECISION TO GO BEYOND REPORTING RECOMMENDATIONS, INSTEAD CHOOSING TO WORK TO IMPLEMENT THEM. IN ITS FINAL YEAR OF OPERATION, 2011, MELF WILL WORK TO REFORM MINNESOTA'S EXISTING EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM THROUGH EFFORTS AT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL. 15 15 3 0 5253353 488158 130419 0 27682 8475 0 5411454 496633 3413975 2192152 0 328050 241169 0 78632 1184937 1144848 4926962 3578169 484492 -3081536 6027376 2929338 298991 282489 5728385 2646849 X THE MISSION OF THE MINNESOTA EARLY LEARNING FOUNDATION (MELF) IS TO RECOMMEND COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO PREPARE CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS IN KINDERGARTEN. FROM 2005-2009, MELF RESEARCHED, BUILT AND LAUNCHED PILOT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP ACHIEVE OUR MISSION. IN 2010, WE INCORPORATED WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED INTO SPECIFIC, ACTIONABLE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE VETTED WITH STAKEHOLDERS, DONORS, LAWMAKERS, AND OTHERS. THE MELF BOARD THEN MADE THE DECISION TO GO BEYOND REPORTING RECOMMENDATIONS, INSTEAD CHOOSING TO WORK TO IMPLEMENT THEM. IN ITS FINAL YEAR OF OPERATION, 2011, MELF WILL WORK TO REFORM MINNESOTA'S EXISTING EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM THROUGH EFFORTS AT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL. false false 2192152 2192152 GRANTS AWARDED FOR PILOTS ARE YIELDING POSITIVE EVALUATION RESULTS: PARENT AWARE PARENT AWARE IS A PILOT QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM THAT USES STANDARDIZED, EVIDENCE-BASED MEASURES TO RATE THE QUALITY OF THE EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS. IN 2010 THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FUNDED OPERATION OF THE PILOT WHILE MELF PROVIDED FOR EVALUATION. THE PILOT BEGAN IN 2007 AND INCLUDES BLUE EARTH AND NICOLLET COUNTIES, THE WAYZATA SCHOOL DISTRICT, SAINT PAUL, AND MINNEAPOLIS. PROVIDERS RECEIVE THE RATING USING ONE TO FOUR STARS, WITH THE LARGER NUMBER OF STARS REFLECTING HIGHER QUALITY. - PARENT AWARE INFLUENCE IS STEADILY GROWING. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2010, 356 EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS HAD CURRENT RATINGS, TOGETHER THEY SERVE MORE THAN 22,000 OF MINNESOTA'S YOUNG CHILDREN. - CHILDREN ARE MAKING GAINS. CHILDREN IN RATED PROGRAMS SHOWED SIGNIFICANT GAINS FROM FALL TO SPRING ON IMPORTANT SCHOOL READINESS MEASURES. THESE GAINS WERE LARGER FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. - QUALITY IS IMPROVING. NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF PROGRAMS INCREASED THEIR RATING BY ONE STAR WHEN UNDERGOING THE REQUIRED RE-RATING PROCESS. - PROVIDERS LIKE IT. OVERALL, PROVIDERS HAVE POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS OF PARENT AWARE AND REPORT THAT THE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SUPPORTS THEY RECEIVE AS PART OF THEIR PARTICIPATION HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THEIR PROGRAMS. SAINT PAUL EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS A PILOT OF A MARKET-DRIVEN APPROACH TO SCHOOL READINESS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE A FLEXIBLE TOOL TO HELP LOW-INCOME CHILDREN ACCESS HIGH QUALITY CARE. BECAUSE SCHOLARSHIPS CAN ONLY BE USED WITH PROVIDERS WHO HAVE HIGH PARENT AWARE RATINGS, THEY ALSO SERVE AS A REWARD FOR PROVIDERS WHO VOLUNTEER TO GET RATED AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY. SINCE THE PILOT BEGAN, NEARLY 650 CHILDREN IN THREE SAINT PAUL NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE PARTICIPATED. - CHILDREN ARE MAKING GAINS. CHILDREN USING SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS SHOWED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN LANGUAGE AND MATH SKILLS ACROSS THE FIRST YEAR OF ENROLLMENT, MOVED CLOSER TO AGE-EXPECTED PERFORMANCE, AND SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCIAL SKILLS. - PARENTS ARE SEEKING QUALITY. THE PARENTS OF SCHOLARSHIP CHILDREN REPORT QUALITY AS THE MOST COMMON REASON FOR PROGRAM SELECTION. PARENTS STATED THAT THE QUALITY OF THE PROGRAM WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM THAN EITHER LOCATION OR COST. 1160570 RESOURCES SPENT IN-HOUSE FOR PROGRAM AND POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND THROUGH CONTRACTS TO EVALUATORS FOR EXTENSIVE DATA COLLECTION, ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION FOR PROGRAM PILOTS. 3352722 true true false true false false false false false false true false false false true false true false false false false false false false false false false true false true false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false true 9 0 3 true false false false false false false X 15 15 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false MN X DENISE GARCIA 6512879005 2021 E HENNEPIN AVE SUITE 250 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55413 BRAD ANDERSON 1.00 X X 0 0 0 DOUGLAS M BAKER JR 1.00 X 0 0 0 PATRICK J GERAGHTY 1.00 X 0 0 0 PEG BIRK 1.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERT H BRUININKS 1.00 X 0 0 0 MIKE CIRESI 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MICHAEL FITERMAN 1.00 X X 0 0 0 ROBBIN S JOHNSON 1.00 X 0 0 0 ART ROLNICK 1.00 X 0 0 0 WARREN STALEY 1.00 X 0 0 0 JEAN TAYLOR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 CHARLIE WEAVER 1.00 X 0 0 0 KENNETH A BURDICK 1.00 X 0 0 0 KENDALL POWELL 1.00 X 0 0 0 TED STARYK 1.00 X 0 0 0 DUANE BENSON 40.00 X 130000 0 21278 130000 21278 1 false true false CHILD TRENDS INC 4301 CONNECTICUT AVE NW 350 WASHINGTON DC 20008 EVALUATION 301184 SRI INTERNATIONAL PO BOX 2767 MENLO PARK CA 940252767 EVALUATION 293856 REGENTS OF U OF MN UNIV OF MN (CEED) 200 OAK STREET SE 450 MINNEAPOLIS MN 554552070 EVALUATION 112607 ADVANCE CONSULTING 5330 OLIVER AVENUE SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS MN 55419 108303 4 144 488014 488158 8475 8475 496633 8475 2192152 2192152 148668 41503 53273 53892 67458 36016 22673 8769 11389 6154 3749 1486 13654 5138 4769 3747 758 301 457 9449 9449 176860 176860 8646 1056 7590 35 35 12000 9000 1056 1944 1437 1437 2166 1076 1090 490 490 841 841 CONTRACTORS 929189 881004 39391 8794 COPIER 1367 1025 342 PROFESSIONAL FEES 925 925 MISCELLANEOUS 435 435 DUES 250 250 3578169 3352722 146815 78632 3713606 2738337 2262000 182000 6887 8081 4300 3380 1410 920 43473 6027376 2929338 278861 270304 20130 12185 298991 282489 X 4445928 2646849 1282457 5728385 2646849 6027376 2929338 -3081536 X false true true X X 683261 9165203 1704518 5253353 488158 17294493 683261 9165203 1704518 5253353 488158 17294493 10773640 6520853 87643 107952 58633 28708 8475 291411 115 360 130419 130894 17716798 0.36810 0.41170 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false false false false true false false false false true 600 false false 600 false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false 4300 3380 920 920 ACCRUED WAGES 5912 ACCRUED VACATION 3438 ACCRUED PAYROLL TAXES 2835 12185 496633 3578169 -3081536 -3081536 496633 496633 496633 3578169 3578169 3578169 true RESOURCES FOR CHILD CARING CITY OF ST PAUL 10 YORKTON COURT ST PAUL MN 55117 411260581 3 1991811 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM MN DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES PO BOX 64962 ST PAUL MN 55164 416007162 GOV 150341 PARENT AWARE MN BUSINESS FOR EARLY LEARNING 901 MARQUETTE AVENUE SUITE 2400 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402 262843456 3 50000 PARENT AWARE 3 PROCEDURES FOR MONITORING THE USE OF GRANT FUNDS INSIDE THE UNITED STATES SCHEDULE I, PAGE 1, PART I, LINE 2 A FORMAL AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED BETWEEN MINNESOTA EARLY LEARNING FOUNDATION AND THE GRANT RECIPIENT ENTITY. GRANTEES MUST SUBMIT SEMI-ANNUAL WRITTEN PROGRAM AND FINANCIAL REPORTS AND THEIR PROGRESS IS MONITORED THROUGH REGULAR MEETINGS AND/OR TELEPHONE AND EMAIL CONTACT. ADDITIONALLY, EACH GRANTEE HAS AN EXTENSIVE EVALUATION PLAN SPONSORED BY MINNESOTA EARLY LEARNING FOUNDATION THAT FACILITATES MAINTAINING PROGRESS AND COLLECTION OF DATA ABOUT PROGRAMMING OR OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE GRANT ACTIVITIES. X false false false false false false false false false DUANE BENSON 130000 21278 151278 5417 ROBERT BRUINICKS BD MBR OF ORG true ORGANIZATION'S MISSION FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION THE MISSION OF THE MINNESOTA EARLY LEARNING FOUNDATION (MELF) IS TO RECOMMEND COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO PREPARE CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS IN KINDERGARTEN. FROM 2005-2009, MELF RESEARCHED, BUILT AND LAUNCHED PILOT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP ACHIEVE OUR MISSION. IN 2010, WE INCORPORATED WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED INTO SPECIFIC, ACTIONABLE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE VETTED WITH STAKEHOLDERS, DONORS, LAWMAKERS, AND OTHERS. THE MELF BOARD THEN MADE THE DECISION TO GO BEYOND REPORTING RECOMMENDATIONS, INSTEAD CHOOSING TO WORK TO IMPLEMENT THEM. IN ITS FINAL YEAR OF OPERATION, 2011, MELF WILL WORK TO REFORM MINNESOTA'S EXISTING EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM THROUGH EFFORTS AT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL. FIRST ACHIEVEMENT DESCRIPTION FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A - PARENT AWARE INFLUENCE IS STEADILY GROWING. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2010, 356 EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS HAD CURRENT RATINGS, TOGETHER THEY SERVE MORE THAN 22,000 OF MINNESOTA'S YOUNG CHILDREN. - CHILDREN ARE MAKING GAINS. CHILDREN IN RATED PROGRAMS SHOWED SIGNIFICANT GAINS FROM FALL TO SPRING ON IMPORTANT SCHOOL READINESS MEASURES. THESE GAINS WERE LARGER FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. - QUALITY IS IMPROVING. NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF PROGRAMS INCREASED THEIR RATING BY ONE STAR WHEN UNDERGOING THE REQUIRED RE-RATING PROCESS. - PROVIDERS LIKE IT. OVERALL, PROVIDERS HAVE POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS OF PARENT AWARE AND REPORT THAT THE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SUPPORTS THEY RECEIVE AS PART OF THEIR PARTICIPATION HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THEIR PROGRAMS. SAINT PAUL EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS A PILOT OF A MARKET-DRIVEN APPROACH TO SCHOOL READINESS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE A FLEXIBLE TOOL TO HELP LOW-INCOME CHILDREN ACCESS HIGH QUALITY CARE. BECAUSE SCHOLARSHIPS CAN ONLY BE USED WITH PROVIDERS WHO HAVE HIGH PARENT AWARE RATINGS, THEY ALSO SERVE AS A REWARD FOR PROVIDERS WHO VOLUNTEER TO GET RATED AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY. SINCE THE PILOT BEGAN, NEARLY 650 CHILDREN IN THREE SAINT PAUL NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE PARTICIPATED. - CHILDREN ARE MAKING GAINS. CHILDREN USING SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS SHOWED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN LANGUAGE AND MATH SKILLS ACROSS THE FIRST YEAR OF ENROLLMENT, MOVED CLOSER TO AGE-EXPECTED PERFORMANCE, AND SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCIAL SKILLS. - PARENTS ARE SEEKING QUALITY. THE PARENTS OF SCHOLARSHIP CHILDREN REPORT QUALITY AS THE MOST COMMON REASON FOR PROGRAM SELECTION. PARENTS STATED THAT THE QUALITY OF THE PROGRAM WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM THAN EITHER LOCATION OR COST. ORGANIZATION'S PROCESS USED TO REVIEW FORM 990 FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE ANNUAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND 990 ARE CIRCULATED TO THE ENTIRE BOARD IN ADVANCE OF THE JULY BOARD MEETING ASKING FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. THE AUDITOR IS INVITED TO THE JULY BOARD MEETING TO BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT THE CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND 990 AND ANSWER QUESTIONS. THE BOARD VOTES TO APPROVE SUBMISSION OF THE 990 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AT THE JULY MEETING. ENFORCEMENT OF CONFLICTS POLICY FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C REGULAR ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE AWARD OF GRANTS, CONTRACTS AND BUSINESS DECISIONS TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. COMPENSATION PROCESS FOR TOP OFFICIAL FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A THE SALARY OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS SET BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND RECOMMENDED TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL. THE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE THE SALARY. ADDITIONALLY, THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION WILL REMAIN THE SAME UNTIL MELF SUNSETS IN EARLY 2012. COMPENSATION PROCESS FOR OFFICERS FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B NO OFFICERS ARE COMPENSATED AND THERE ARE NO OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES. GOVERNING DOCUMENTS DISCLOSURE EXPLANATION FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 THESE FORMS ARE AVAILABLE BY REQUEST. A NOTICE REGARDING AVAILABILITY IS POSTED ON THE WEB SITE.