Spring 2014  |  PA 5413 Section 001: Early Childhood and Public Policy (68284)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
Student Option
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
In Person Term Based
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
01/21/2014 - 05/09/2014
Thu 06:00PM - 08:45PM
UMTC, West Bank
Hubert H Humphrey Center 35
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
State/federal/int'l policies/legislation touching first 5 years of child's life. Family, community, institutional roles in promoting children's social/cognitive/emotional development. Health, mental health, poverty, special needs, economic/social justice. Part of Early Childhood Pol cert.
Class Notes:
Weekly guest speakers including legislators, lobbyists and researchers will explore and critique early childhood policies with a focus on innovative approaches in Minnesota. Nora Slawik is former state legislator and chair of the Early Education Finance committee. Graduate students interested in early childhood policy as well as community members with experience in the early childhood field are encouraged to enroll. See Course Guide for more details about the course. This course serves as the cornerstone for the Early Childhood Policy certificate at the U of M (http://www.hhh.umn.edu/degrees/certificate/EarlyChildhoodPolicy.html).
Class Description:
Early childhood investments are proven to give a significant return on the investment of the state government dollar. Learn about Minnesota's deep education achievement gap and strategic ideas for closing it in this class. Early Childhood and Public Policy is the cornerstone class for the Regent's approved Early Childhood Policy Certificate, which is intended to develop individuals' capacity to apply research-informed knowledge of early development to federal and state policies affecting children up to age 8. If you are interested in education policy or working with the legislature, this is a great course for you. Weekly guest speakers including legislators, lobbyists and economists -- will explore the policy gaps and innovative approaches in Minnesota, such as early education scholarships and the federal Race to the Top grant funding. For an excellent introduction to early education policy and how it can significantly impact the positive trajectory of a child's life, join this class taught by former legislator and Chair of the Early Education Finance Committee, Nora Slawik. Graduate students in the areas of early childhood and public policy as well as community members with experience in the early childhood field are the intended audience. The course must be taken on an A/F grading basis to apply towards the certificate. Nora Slawik works at the Director of Education for the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM). She manages monthly targeted workshops, innovative interest based social skills programs, and directs training for parents of the newly diagnosed and group-specific training for organizations such as Kids Hair and the Children's Theatre Company. Slawik began her term as Mayor of Maplewood in January of 2014 working in a leadership role implementing policies, budgets and community services. She is an appointed member of the of the Gateway Corridor Commission, the Rush Line Task Force and the Transportation Advisory Board. Slawik served seven terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives focusing on early childhood and human services issues. Prior to that she worked as a development professional with nine years of nonprofit experience.
Grading:
40% Reports/Papers
10% Special Projects
30% Written Homework
10% Attendance
10% Class Participation Other Grading Information: Class attendance also weighs into the final grade if the student misses more than two of the weekly classes.
Class Format:
20% Lecture
20% Discussion
20% Small Group Activities
10% Student Presentations
20% Guest Speakers Experts in the areas related to young children speak regularly on kindergarten readiness, statistical preschool studies, legislation, poverty,economics and workforce issues.
Workload:
30 Pages Reading Per Week
20 Pages Writing Per Term
2 Paper(s)
1 Presentation(s)
13 Homework Assignment(s)
Other Workload: Students act as Discussion Leader for one class; students opt into teams to research a policy memo and present it, assignments include defining problem statements for early childhood policy issues and writing outlines for a policy grid.
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/68284/1143
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
27 January 2014

ClassInfo Links - Spring 2014 Public Affairs Classes

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