Children's Forum Debate. | Making Innovation & Business Solutions

Video Caption:

Girl: This is my first birthday. That?s
my Grandma. My cousin Tanya, and boyfriend Kevin. We all live together. It?s cold and
crowded. I hope we move soon. I don?t like Kevin. He?s always yelling.
Boy: This is my second birthday. We?re all in daycare. Strapped in watching TV again.
I wish I could just run around. Girl: This is my third birthday. My brother
William?s taking care of me while my Mom sleeps. She works the night shift. So we can?t
turn up the TV. But we get to go to bed whenever we want.
Girl: This is my fourth birthday. We?re sleeping at my aunt?s this month. I don?t
know when my Dad?s coming home. But I?m hungry, And I miss him.
Boy: This is my fifth birthday. This is my first year of kindergarten. I?m tired. I?m
hungry. I?m unprepared. Because I didn?t get the right start.
A different child says each line: I?m twice as likely to be in special education. Thirty
percent more likely to never go to college. Seventy percent more likely to be arrested
for a violent crime. Become a teen parent. Drop out of school. Never hold a job. Spend
the rest of my life in poverty. Or?if we invest in programs that promote
learning beginning at birth?the statistics will change?our stories will change?our
future will change. Girl: My mom plays with me all the time. She
smiles a lot now. And she knows she?s not alone anymore.
Girl: Grandma, Tanya and Kevin read me a story every night before I go to bed.
Boy: I go to my school every day. Or I get to run and play. And see all my new friends.
Girl: Will and I go to preschool together. Today we learned about dinosaurs. And played
a counting game! Girl: Every morning, my Dad and I brush our
teeth and eat breakfast together. We have our own place now. And I know we?ll always
be together. Boy: This is my first day of kindergarten.
I?m rested, I?m eager, I?m confident, I?m curious, I?m prepared. I?m ready.
I am your future. Change the first five years and you change everything. Anyone interested
in investing? Good evening. I?m Professor Andy Overman
from Macalester College and I?m also fortunate enough to serve on the Ready 4 K Board. I
want to welcome you to our campus, and welcome you to what is a very special, I think, and
important evening. Because in this election season I don?t think there?s any more
crucial issue for us and for our vote and there?s no more future issue for the future
of our state than early education. So before us tonight is a weighty matter. I?m so glad
that you came to join us, and you?re able to join in as the evening progresses and questions
and give and take. Thank you to the candidates for coming, and I look forward to the dialogue
and discussion that ensues. Let me introduce and invite to come forward now the President
of Ready 4 K, and a leader and champion of the early education issue in our state, Todd
Otis. Todd. (applause) Todd Otis: Thank you Andy, and thank you Macalester,
for letting us have this wonderful space. We really appreciate it and it is a momentous
event. This is a really important election year. And as you all feel, I?m sure, this
is a really important issue. I think the video reminds us why we?re all here. The two paths
that kids can take, one way or the other. Many of you are involved in helping
the kids get on the right path. But we still have a long way to go. So. I so appreciate
the fact that we have two of the major candidates here today to talk about this issue. They
go through so much as candidates and as you know this has been an extremely tough campaign.
But they have been speaking out in ways that are new to campaigns for governor in the state.
And it?s highly significant. And highly hopeful. As you know, the format tonight?s
going to be a little different from how the candidates have been during the course of
the election. There?s never been this many debates in, I don?t think, Minnesota history.
And we?ve formatted the evening tonight more like a conversation, more like let?s
hear what you have to say and how you believe in what you think about this issue, and then
let?s have some questions for you and the audience about it. So we?re not here to
make anybody look bad or confront. We?re here to try to understand and reason together.
And we have a wonderful, I think, couple of candidates to do that with. I?d like to just make a couple of comments
about public policy because the governor, our next governor will be the leader in our
state for determining public policy that?s going to have an impact on these little kids.
And so it is important, but it?s not the only thing. And there?s nothing more important
than the parents. But public policy can help give kids what they need. In ways that many
of you are already living in your work lives. So what we?ve done in the last year and
a half is try to put together a common policy agenda with eight organizations to lobby at
the legislature. And so what we have called this agenda is Minnesota?s Future. And i?d
just like to read to you the groups that have been involved in formulating these ideas.
Because it?s significant and important that for the first time, everybody has come together
to identify the common ground that we share on policy. Here are the groups that participated:
Childcare Works, The Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children, Minnesota
School-Age Care Alliance, Minnesota Association for Family and Early Education, Minnesota
Child Care Association, Minnesota Child Care Resources and Referral Network, Minnesota
Coalition for Targeted Home Visiting, Minnesota Community Education Association, Minnesota
Head Start Association, and Ready 4 K. This group has met and worked together to forge
a common policy agenda that?s made up of five parts. I?m just going to tell you very
briefly what they are. The first deals with parent empowerment. Parent education and home
visiting for parents that are in need of that kind of support in their home. Parents are
central to all of this and they need the support we need to give them. We also want to double
the access to quality early learning for low-income kids in our state, so that more and more kids
have access to the kind of quality that happens in high-quality child care or Head Start or
preschool programs. We need to double how many kids have that kind of exposure. We need
a quality rating system, and this is being worked on by a number of people. But right
now The Minnesota Early Learning Foundation, The Department of Human Services, and other
groups are formulating the core idea for that. We need community partnerships as we?ve seen
in northern Minnesota and all over the state. So much energy can happen when people work
together. The program up in Grand Rapids, Invest Early, is a classic example of that.
And then finally the Minnesota?s Future alliance is recommending the creation of a
Cabinet-level position reporting directly to the Governor, so that there is that strict
and strong line of accountability. And it?s elevated as a really important public issue. The issue is growing in momentum. And it?s
so important who we elect. The foundations in this state have been working on this for,
in some cases, decades. But now we have multiple foundations: the Initiative Foundations, the
Early Learning Foundation, the traditional foundations that have created the early childhood,
early childhood partnership as well as the school readiness group of foundations. The
business community is getting more involved. The Early Learning Foundation, Minnesota Business
for Learning, individual Chambers of Commerce, have gotten more and more involved, like TwinWest
in the western suburbs. And the Legislature?s created an Early Childhood Caucus, which is
now numbering over 140 people. There?s momentum for this issue, and so many pieces are falling
together. And what is needed now is a Governor. There?s no state in which this motion, this
issue hasn?t moved without the leadership of a Governor. So who our Governor is, and
how that person really feels about the issue, is critically important. So tonight we?re lucky to have Denise Johnson
moderating our conversations with Tom Horner and Mark Dayton. Denise has been a reporter
with the Miami Herald and the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and is now a very well-respected editorial
writer for the Star Tribune. And so our format will be to have Denise and Tom come up, and
talk about early childhood. Thank you so much, Tom, for coming, and Denise for moderating
this. (applause) Denise Johnson: Thank you Todd. What I?d
like to do is, first of all thank you for inviting me to to address this very important
issue. I?ve been writing and reporting about early childhood education for a number of
years, including back when Minneapolis was one of the early, the first schools to do
preschool screening, and now of course the state is doing that and we know a whole lot
more about where our kids really are before they show up for kindergarten. I?d like
to go over sort of, give you an overview of the ground rules, how we?re going to proceed
this evening. We have given all the questions in advance to the candidates so they know,
they?ve had a chance to think about them, and have kind of prepared remarks. We?ll,
we?ll devote about 10 minutes to asking 3 questions, which means you?ll have about
3 minutes per question. Tom Horner: Right. Denise Johnson: And then the last 10 minutes
with each candidate, we?d like to open it up for questions. So as they are talking,
if you haven?t already, written questions on the cards that are provided, please do
so as the candidates are are responding to these questions and we?ll get some of them
in at the end of their remarks. All right. Let me introduce the candidate,
our first candidate. Tom Horner. Was born and raised in Minneapolis, he?s a graduate
of the University of St. Thomas, worked as a reporter and editor for the Suburban Sun
Newspapers following some time spent in New York. In 1978 Tom joined Dave Durenberger?s
staff as Press Secretary, during the Senator?s first campaign for the U.S. Senate. Then joined
the newly elected Senator in Washington. Tom served as Press Secretary and Chief of Staff
to Durenberger until 1985. After returning to Minnesota, Tom and former
state Legislator John Himle launched the public affairs firm of Himle and Horner Inc. In 1980,
in 1989, where he?s worked until recently. So thank you for being here and welcome. Tom Horner: Thank you. Denise Johnson: And I will start by asking
the first question, and that is children learn and grow most effectively in the context of
strong families. As Governor, how will you support parents to be their children?s first
and best teachers? Tom Horner: Well, thank you for that, and
first of all, thank you for the opportunity to to talk about these important issues. I
also need to comment and make sure everybody understands that when Todd talked about the
number of debates that we?ve had this year, being the highest number ever, you understand
he was talking cumulatively in Minnesota?s 152-year history, that we?ve topped that.
(audience laughs) And we still have another 15 to go. Denise Johnson. Oh. Tom Horner: Although, it seems as if the crowds
on the dais are getting smaller with each debate. Denise Johnson: Laughs Tom Horner: So, to strong families. I think
there are a number of things we can do. And one of the things that I think we need to
be particularly mindful of is that when we?re in a crisis, the priorities that are most
important to us are the ones that do surface. The ones that do elevate. And so I think it
really is important to look at the budget proposals of each of the candidates, to see
where each of us has allocated new money, where we have set priorities. And in my budget,
a couple of things that I think are very important to Minnesota?s future, to our growth, to
our health as a state, and specifically to this issue. Are that strong families start
with healthy families. And so we do need to make sure that families have access to health
care. I?ve set aside money to do the early opt-in to Medicaid. I think that?s important,
that we expand access to health care, that we make sure that families to have the opportunity
to to stay healthy. I think we also need to make sure that families have the opportunity
to have a good economic livelihood. And it?s not enough simply to say that we?re going
to cut taxes and and everything will be wonderful and will grow. We understand, in this kind
of an economy, in this kind of an environment, that we do have to invest in skill development
and training, in job skill enhancement, and those are the kinds of programs that I think
that are very very important. We need to make a commitment to lifelong learning, and so
programs are our two year schools in particular, I think become very very important to make
sure that that we have healthy families. We also need to acknowledge that we are in economic
upheaval. And I think we?re going to see more and more families in crisis before we hit
the bottom and and turn around. And so I do have again new money in in my program for
families in crisis, families in transition, particularly families that might be spiraling
into homelessness. Where we do have to put an investment in in supportive services. The
shelters certainly are important, but we also need to make sure that we have money for supportive
services to help those families. And then on some of the programs specifically for families
with children, I think that ECFE, ECFE is an incredibly important program. My wife,
who is ? there?s Libby, back there ? I have to tell you that, as you mentioned,
I started my political career with Dave Durenberger. Went out to Washington, Dave was elected in
the special election. Two days after the election, he and I flew out to Washington. The very
first person I met in Washington was Libby, who had been a staff person for Senator Muriel
Humphrey, and before that for Senator Hubert Humphrey. So as we tell people we were bipartisan
way before bipartisan was cool. (audience laughs) Denise Johnson: A long time ago. Well let
me move on for a second ? Tom Horner: ? but that was an important, just
quickly, that was an important program for us and even more important for others who
maybe don?t have the resources we did. And then lastly, I do think the home visits program
starting in in pre-natal are very very important to strong families. Tom Horner: Sorry, I got all my stories out
of the way. Denise Johnson. That?s all right. Second
question. Second question. Research shows that children from at -risk families benefit
most from high-quality early childhood programs. They include well-trained teachers, evidence-based
curriculum, low ratios, and parental involvement. As Governor, how would you increase the quality
of early care and educational programs? Tom Horner: Well, and I think that starts
first and foremost with the governor himself to hold the administration, the programs accountable
for quality, to make them transparent, to have very clear measurements, very clear outcomes
that we want to achieve, and then it?s up to the Governor to hold those programs accountable.
But I think we also are blessed in the state to have organizations like the Minnesota Early
Learning Foundation and the organizations it?s working with to really do a rigorous
study of what it takes to have a quality program. What are the elements of a quality program.
As Governor, it is my commitment not only to follow the recommendations of what comes
out of that effort and other efforts that are evaluating equality, but also to put some
teeth into to those standards, into upholding those standards. I think it is important that
we start with programs to incent the use of of high quality providers, but I think then
we have to transition to having some restrictions, particularly in public funds, so that we we
don?t put money into programs that aren?t showing value. So it?s got to be both the
carrot and the stick. Denise Johnson: And question number three.
The high cost of early childhood education makes it difficult for many families, especially
those with low incomes, to afford quality care that can help children get ready for
school. As Governor, what will you do to make high-quality learning experiences more affordable
for families? Tom Horner: Well, so let me cite three areas.
And y?know, first and foremost and I think everybody in this audience certainly would
acknowledge it, we need to put more money into the programs. And so I do, even in a
six billion dollar shortfall budget, I do have new money that I?m proposing for early
childhood learning, for these kinds of programs that do pay such high dividends. So that?s
the first step. The second step, though, is that we do have to be innovators. We have
to look at the kinds of programs that are leveraging dollars, that are taking advantage
of dollars. Todd mentioned what?s going on in Itasca. Everything from the coordination,
the one-application process, that simplifies things. I was talking to some folks who are
in the back row there, from the Osseo district. A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to
visit Fair Oaks Elementary School, age three to grade three school, I think that?s the
kind of innovation that we need, to engage kids early, make them part of the school curriculum
early on. I know there are similar programs like that in St. Paul and elsewhere around
the state. I think those are important programs. I?m proud of the role I played on my service
with Serve Minnesota, the AmeriCorps Board in Minnesota, to help create Minnesota
Reading Corps. A public-private partnership that is engaging mentors to help students,
reach grade level in reading by third grade. I think that?s an important kind of program.
And there are a number of others. So it?s innovation. And then thirdly, we need a Governor
who?s going to be an advocate, to better integrate all of these programs and particularly
to make sure that we can integrate state funding with federal funding, we can break down some
of the programs ? some of the barriers that don?t allow us to easily leverage dollars
in one program. To help fund similar achievement, similar outcomes in other programs. So I think
it?s really those three areas that are most important going forward. Denise Johnson: All right. Well, with that
we?ll entertain some questions from the audience. Let?s look through here. Here?s
one. ?Given the state?s challenges to funding K-twelve and MnSCU and the U of M,
where specifically are you going to find the essential funding we need to invest in our
youngest learners? Tom Horner: Well I think that?s the the critical
question. And so where I?ve found the funding,because I think part of the answer to that is it?s
not just finding the funding, it is making sure that we have a budget stability. One
of the areas where I do disagree with Senator Dayton is his reliance on the income tax.
Because I think that what we?ve seen in Minnesota is that the income tax is a highly volatile
source of revenue. It does contribute to the high peaks and valleys that we?ve had in Minnesota,
and does cause us to go through these wild swings: we can fund this year and we can?t
fund it next year. And so I?m pleased that somebody, some of you may have heard of, Art
Rolnick has looked at the three budget plans from the candidates and has said that mine?s
the best, in part because it does bring stability to to our ability to fund. And so where I
find the money, we are going to have to drive new revenue, new tax revenue. I think though
that it has to be in the form of tax reform, and that?s why I think we need to go to more
of a consumption-based tax, lower the rate on the sales tax so that people buying big
ticket items will pay less, and then expand it to include clothing and some personal services.
I?d still exempt groceries, medical services, prescription drugs, those kinds of essential
services. We can do some protection for low-income on clothing, maybe it?s exempting children?s
clothing or items a hundred dollars and less, but it?s a stable
source of revenue. It is a source of revenue that is going to allow us to make long-term
commitments to these kinds of important programs: early childhood education all the way through,
including post-secondary opportunities. Denise Johnson: I think you said about 360
million you want to put into a combination of those things: early childhood, Tom Horner: Yes. Denise Johnson: education, how much of that
360 million specifically would go to early ed and where would that come from? That would
come from that same pool? Tom Horner: Right. Denise Johnson: Funds? Tom Horner: Right. And, and, you know, we
are going to have to do some spending cuts and I?ve been very up front on that. I think
that we need to cut some of those programs that aren?t providing value. Some of the subsidy
programs like ethanol and JOBZ. I think there are better ways to create jobs, to spur economic
development in Minnesota, than those subsidies. So some of the money is going to come from
new tax revenue. Some of the money is going to come from spending cuts. Some of the money
is going to come from doing things better. Denise Johnson: Next question. Minnesota?s
rural communities have unique challenges delivering early learning services. How will you insure
rural communities? needs are addressed? Tom Horner: Well again, I think we do that
in part by making sure as it has been suggested and I certainly endorse, going to a Cabinet
level council on children. That we make sure that that it has the Governor?s ear, that
the Governor becomes the leading advocate for statewide delivery of these services.
We can?t have a strong state without strong, healthy rural communities. And so we do need
to make sure that these services are available throughout Minnesota. That means that we are
going to have to address the pay issue, so that providers are able to operate in ruralMinnesota,
they?re attracted to rural Minnesota. It means we?re going to have to make sure that we have
strong education programs, a strong ECFE- and other delivery programs throughout Minnesota.
I think it?s an area where programs like I?ve been involved in, Minnesota Reading Corp,
have particular application to rural Minnesota. So it?s all of these things. But I?ll
also say that to make sure that we have strong programs and early childhood learning in child
care, in all of these areas, we do need a rural Minnesota that has a strong, healthy
economy. And so part of that is going to come in investments that we make in the infrastructure
for rural Minnesota, in making sure that we?re not abandoning our rural health care providers
that ? look what?s happening right now. With General Assistance Medical Care, the
disastrous decisions that were made there by Democrats and Republicans, then the fallout
that that?s going to have on the the vitality of rural Minnesota communities. These are
all pieces of the whole. And if we allow one piece to collapse, then we?re going to see
the whole collapse. And so we do need a strong economy, a strong health infrastructure, a
strong physical infrastructure, a strong education system in rural Minnesota. All of
these things are part of it. Denise Johnson: Studies show that return on
investment is higher with early childhood than all-day kindergarten. Where will you
put your investment with limited resources between the two of those. Tom Horner: Well and I?ve been very clear.
I think the first dollar has to go into early learning and that?s where I put my money,
that?s where I put the priorities. I think that is where we?re going to get the best
return. And again, part of it is, and for political purposes, I bless Art Rolnick for
coming up with a formula. I mean, it is very very important, but we also need to look at
it in terms of where are we going to help the citizens of our state, the residents of
our state, to be the most successful. And I think it is, in in early learning, particularly
with some of the creative programs that are coming on line now. Denise Johnson: All right. Attention to early
childhood issues is often focused on ages three to five. Yet the science indicates that
a quarter ? a quarter? a GREATER return on investments targeted to prenatal to three.
How would you work to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources toward very early
development? Tom Horner; Yeah, and I?ll be honest with
you, well, I think the prenatal to three is a high priority, it ought to be funded, I
think the home visits are incredibly important. When you talk about a more equitable distribution
of resources, that?s where I?m going to need the expertise of of people like those
in the room and others. That?s where we have the value of a Governor?s-level Children?s
Cabinet position to help guide me, to help make sure that as I take advantage of the
bully pulpit, as I use the resources of the governor?s office, to be an advocate for all
of these programs. I also want to be a smart advocate. So I need people who are smarter
than I am on some of these specific issues. Denise Johnson: Okay. Would you support a
loan forgiveness program for degreed early childhood teachers? Tom Horner: Um, maybe. I mean I think it?s
certainly worthwhile looking at. We have to see what the cost is, we have to see how it
fits into the other priorities, we have to see where it fits into a six billion dollar
shortfall. I think those are exactly the kinds of innovative programs though that we need
to look at to make sure that we are getting the highest quality people into the service.
I think when you look at what we?ve been able to do, for example, in health care with some
of the loan forgiveness programs, particularly to get health care providers into rural Minnesota.
Y?know the University of Minnesota-Duluth Medical School is, I believe, the nation?s
leader in providing physicians into rural Minnesota. Because of some of these creative
programs. Is it important at the same level that we
have not only healthy bodies but healthy minds? Minds that are able to get a good start in
life through these kinds of programs? Absolutely. So we ought to look at it. We ought to be
creative. We ought to look at the long term. You know one of the things that I keep raising
to every group is that we need to more and more, to ask the question of ?What for??
not just ?How much?? What are the outcomes that we need to achieve? What is it that?s
going to make Minnesota a successful state? An economically prosperous state for all Minnesotans?
That?s not, that?s not a question that gets answered if all we?re asking is ?How
much are we going to spend?? We need to ask ?What for?? and then how do we use
our dollars most efficiently against very clear outcomes? Denise Johnson: Does early childhood education
have a claim to funding that is equal to the K-12 claims? Tom Horner: Oh, equal to, sure. I mean, I
think that, and I?ve said this to all groups. I think we need to more and more look at education
as a seamless lifetime process. I think that we can?t any longer sort out and say ?This
piece of education is more important than that piece.? When we see that the data are
compelling. That if we don?t have healthy children by age three, if we don?t have
children prepared for success by the time they come into kindergarten, if we don?t have
kids reading at age level by grade three, you just move right up the ladder. And so
to pull out any one piece of it and say ?This is more important than that? or ?This
is less important? destroys the whole. We can?t afford to do that anymore. So we do
have to look at it as a seamless process. And again, I think that?s what you get to
get to when you start setting outcomes. What is it that we need to have an economically
prosperous state? And I think in Dane Smith, in his op-ed this morning, addressed one of
those outcomes. We need more Minnesotans who have some post-secondary certification: degrees,
training, some kind of connection to post-secondary education. I think that?s one very important
outcome. But I think a second important outcome that we need as a state is that we ought to
make available, affordable, accessible, to all Minnesotans, lifelong learning. Skills
development, job training. We?re in an economy, in an age, where we can never stop thinking
about education. And if you start with those two outcomes, lifelong access, and more degreed
Minnesotans, more certified Minnesotans, then you just back up and follow the process. And
each piece is important because you don?t accomplish the next step if you haven?t
done the preceding step. Denise Johnson: Too often, early childhood
issues have fallen to the bottom of the list in previous Legislatures and I?m wondering
how you?ll change that. Tom Horner: By being a different kind of Governor
than what we?ve had. (Denise Johnson, audience laugh) Tom Horner: I mean, again, budgets are strategic
blueprints. And one of the things that I believe all three of the candidates for governor this
year have done well for the voters of Minnesota is that not only the 12,000 debates that we?ve
done or whatever number we?re up to (moderator and audience laugh), but that we?ve also put
out very specific proposals. Y?know, do some of them have some gaps here, some gaps
there? Absolutely. But are they pretty clear strategic blueprints of the principles, priorities
of each of the gubernatorial candidates? I think so. And so you can look at mine, at
Horner2010.com, and what you?ll see is new funding for exactly the kinds of the programs
that we are talking about. There are other programs that I think also are important that
I don?t have new funding for. I?d love to be able to say that we?re going to go through
and we?re going to rebuild every road and we?re going to do a billion-dollar bonding
bill. I don?t think we can afford a billion-dollar bonding bill and still do this. I don?t think
that we can say, as some have said ?What a tragedy,? and I think it is, that that
per pupil funding has been effectively reduced by some 1300 dollars per student over the
last couple of years. It is. I agree with it. Can we afford to do that? Not in a six
billion dollar shortfall. Not with these other priorities. And so you can?t promise everything
to everybody. And you can?t promise to do nothing for anybody. You have to take a budget
and say ?Here are my priorities.? And I think people will look at my budget, and
what you?ll see is exactly what I?ve talked about: new money for the early opt-in to Medicaid,
new money for early childhood education, new money for families in crisis. All of the things
that I?ve discussed here, I have in my budget proposal very specifically, and with those
priorities, I?m also very clear in telling other constituencies, as much as I love them,
that there?s not money for their priorities right now. Doesn?t mean we can?t get to
it until ? at some point in the future, but right now we do have to set priorities.
And when everything?s a priority, nothing?s a priority. And I think what?s going to
be most important is a Governor who understands that Republicans, Democrats, Independence
Party, if that next Governor doesn?t have the ability, the commitment to engage the
60, 70% of Minnesotans who have been pushed to the sidelines exactly on issues like this,
we?re never going to accomplish anything in the next four years. If we wait for the legislature
to forge consensus of these difficult issues with a six billion dollar shortfall, we?re
going to be waiting a long time. It is going to take a Governor who has the ability, the
commitment, the passion, to reach out, forge consensus in the public?s mind on these
critical issues, and then bring that consensus that legislature. That?s what I?ve done in
my 40 years of community service, of public service, of professional service That?s
what I offer as the next Governor of Minnesota. Denise Johnson: How would you help poor, I?m
sorry the working poor people, making $20,000 to $40,000 a year afford quality early care
and education? Tom Horner: Well again, I mean I think one
of the things that we have to do is look at it holistically. And so we do have to make
sure that the working poor, for example, have access to health care. We can?t, they can?t
afford to spiral down even further. So health care becomes a an important component of it.
I think secondly we do need to make sure that they have the opportunity for training, to
get the skills to get into good jobs. You look at our great two-year schools around
the state, and there are terrific programs that are providing skills for jobs that exist,
jobs that are good, well-paying jobs in Minnesota. So we need to make sure they have access to
those kinds of programs. But then thirdly as I said, you know the bottom line is affordability
for many Minnesotans on some of these quality programs comes down to our ability, our willingness,
our commitment to fund the program. That?s why I have new money in there. Now I also
have new money, and one of the things I?m most proud of in the budget, a budget that
does balance by the way, is I have money in my budget for what I?m calling innovation
funds. Three funds in academic success, health care, and community vitality. In which we
can fund innovation. We can take great ideas, and we can say ?Here are the resources to
pay for it.? Because we can?t be a state that?s always looking in the rear-view mirror,
figuring out what worked ten years ago, and let?s just replicate that. It?s a different
economy, it?s a different population, it?s a different everything. We need to be looking
ten years to the future, and I think one of the things that that these innovation funds
do is really spur boldness among Minnesotans. Because we?re not a state that suffers from
a lack of creativity, a lack of great ideas. We?re a state that right now suffers from
a lack of leadership, and a lack of political will. And so as we move more and more to what
I think are important priorities in how we budget, in how we govern, to start to manage
our priorities around very specific outcomes, I think these innovation funds give us the
opportunity to really be creative and take on some of these issues an entirely new ways. Denise Johnson: How will you support the development
of children?s creativity, given that lifetime accomplishment is correlated with creativity
when people are young? Tom Horner: Yeah, well let me just give you
one example, and I?m sure there are many others. I think we as a state are going to
have to have a very very honest conversation about No Child Left Behind. I think one of
the things NCLB has done that we wouldn?t have today is that it has highlighted the
disparities in education. It has highlighted the achievement gap. But look. We have schools
right now that that don?t suffer from a lack of creative teachers, don?t suffer from a
lack of expert teachers, great principals, engaged parents. We have schools that suffer
from the rigidity that has been imposed upon them by things like No Child Left Behind.
And as a consequence, we have thousands of Minnesota kids that aren?t even showing
up at school! I mean, it?s not a matter of ?How would we make them more creative??,
it?s a matter of ?How do you get their butts in the seats?? (audience laughs) And you
know, and and that?s the reality of It. We have thousands more kids who are completely
unmotivated, who have just tuned out. And again, that?s not the fault of teachers.
We have great teachers! But when teachers are said, ?Here is a very rigid procedure
that you have to follow, a very rigid curriculum,? their hands are tied. And so, one answer,
I believe, is we?ve got to have an honest conversation about whether or not No Child
Left Behind is working for us, whether or not the teaching to the test is the right
answer, and I think we?re losing a lot of opportunity to engage kids creatively, to
engage them in project learning. And in doing so, to motivate the students. I mean, we keep
thinking about education productivity, the issues by only looking at one half of the
labor equation: the teacher. The other half of the labor equation are the workers, the
students. And we?d better engage them. Physically by getting them back into schools, emotionally
and mentally by making schools engaging, motivating, creative. We have the teachers who can do
that. Now we need to give them the authority, the economy, to let teachers teach. Denise Johnson: Here?s a question for you.
As a third-party candidate, how will you bring all the established players to the table?
To pass early childhood initiatives, when without the same kind of party base that other
Governors have had in the past? Tom Horner: Well, I suppose the obvious question
back to the audience would be, ?How well has it been working the last several years??
(moderator, audience laugh) The more thoughtful answer would be, I think it?s only an Independent
who can do that. Because again I think on these kinds of issues, in this kind of an
environment, with a six billion dollar shortfall, with a lot of competition for very few resources,
it is not going to be the legislature. It is not going to be the interest groups,as
talented as committed as passionate as you are. It?s going to be engaging parents,
engaging businesses, engaging the other stakeholders in figuring out what?s best for our state.
And when we take an honest look, a scientifically rigorous look at what?s best for the state,
these issues pop up right to the top. That?s what a Governor can do. That?s particularly
what an Independent Governor can do. We?ve got to engage the 60 to 70 percent of Minnesotans
who have been pushed to the sidelines. Gridlock, y?know is not just Tom Emmer and Mark Dayton,
the Democratic caucus, the Republican caucus. It is everything behind them. And the only
way that we?re going to break through that is if we have a Governor to engage you, and
to engage the five million people of Minnesota behind you, make them part of the solution,
engage them. And then secondly, a Governor who says ?Now I have a consensus in the
public, I have the public support.? Now that we need is a Governor who says, ?Look,
I would never go into this office promising to be a one-tern Governor. You can?t be
a lame duck from day one. But I?ve always said this. I will go in with the commitment
that I?ll be the political lightning rod. I?ll bring, with the support of the public,
Democrats, Republicans, Independents, to the table, and if they?re willing to take the
tough votes, if they?re willing to do the right thing, I?ll give them the political
cover. And we?ll get minnesota moving in the right direction. And if the consequences of
that are that I?m not re-elected for a second term, Libby?s really good with that. (audience
laughs) Denise Johnson: So be it. Well, thank you? Tom Horner: Thank you! Denise Johnson: ? for being here. We appreciate
it so much. Tom Horner: I?ve enjoyed the conversation
very much. And thank you all. Denise Johnson: And thank you for your questions! (Begin Mark Dayton segment) Denise Johnson: You know something about the
ground rules here. You?ve been given the questions in advance. I?ll ask each of them,
each of those three questions to you. And try to keep your responses to maybe about
three minutes for each question. And then we have questions from the audience. All right? Mark Dayton: Okay. Denise Johnson: Just by way of introduction,
Mark Dayton was born in Minneapolis and raised in Long Lake. He attended Long Lake Elementary
School and Blake School in Hopkins. He graduated cum laude from Yale University, where he notes
he also played Division One hockey. After college, Senator Dayton taught ninth grade
science for two years in a New York City public school. He served as Commissioner of the Minnesota
Department of Economic Development, and of Energy and Economic Development in the Perpich
administration, as State auditor from 1991 to 95. And as the United States Senator from
2000 to 2006. Welcome. Denise Johnson: So why don?t we, why don?t
we plunge right in with the questions. The first one Mark Dayton: Well, let me just say, since
you brought up hockey, Denise, that I played high school against Todd Otis. (audience laughs) Denise Johnson: Who won? Mark Dayton: I won?t tell you what happened,
(moderator laughs) but I haven?t, I haven?t forgiven him yet for that. Denise Johnson: Ahhh?. (laughs) Okay. Well,
the first question. Children learn and grow most effectively in the context of strong
families. As Governor, how will you support parents to be their children?s first and
best teachers? Mark Dayton: Well, my two sons are 30 and
almost 27. But I can still remember when they were first born, and how overwhelming those
new responsibilities seemed to be. So I sympathize with the inherent nature of that, and I?m
looking to see a rival right over there, that?s really appropriate for this. And y?know,
for parents whose lives are even more overwhelming than mine, the experience can be more thus,
overwhelming for them. So y?know, the kind of programs that are already underway, where
we support parents, whether it be through early parenting programs or whether it?s
through the nurse partnerships in 17 counties, it may be a different approach in different
family situations, but certainly the goal ought to be that every parent would have everywhere
in Minnesota would have the support that they need to be the kind of parent that they want
to be. Perhaps the kind of parent that they never had themselves. And so that every child
can have the quality parents that he or she deserves, and needs. Denise Johnson: All right. Research is the
second question. Research shows that children from at -risk families benefit most from high-quality
early childhood programs that include well-trained teachers, evidence-based curriculum, low ratios,
and parental involvement. As Governor, how will you increase the quality of early care
and education programs? Mark Dayton: Well, quality is essential, because
again from my own experience, you can?t ask a one-year-old or eight-year ? an eighteen
month old, well, y?know, ?How was your day at daycare?? And my wife Alida and I
had the horror when my older son Eric was about four, taking him to a summer program,
and he almost drowned the first day because of the inattention of a couple of young and
inexperienced staff. And of course we took them immediately out of that program, but
it was almost too late. And I don?t want any parent to ever have to experience the
horror that we narrowly avoided that day. So, quality, and particularly if we?re going
to make additional investments in expanding these opportunities as we will if I?m Governor,
assuring quality is absolutely essential. And how that?s best achieved, whether it?s
through the pilot program that?s now being undertaken in terms of quality assessment,
whether how it, who best performs it; I don?t want it to become overly bureaucratic as some
of these quality assessment devices do, they just sort of overload that process. But we
do need quality assurance, and especially as I say if we?re going to increase and
expand the opportunities that we need to be able to ensure that we?re providing parents
and children with quality, and I would deter to the experts in the field. Whether it?s
through this, the early family council that?s now Early Childhood Council that the Governor
established, Governor Pawlenty, or whether it?s through some other group, or whether
it?s the creation of a new entity to help guide us through this expansion. Denise Johnson. Okay. And the third question.
The high cost of early childhood education makes it difficult for many families, especially
those with low incomes, to afford quality care that can help children get ready for
school. As Governor, what will you do to make high-quality learning experiences more affordable
for families? Mark Dayton: Well, we?re going to need to
increase the public investment. And we will if I?m Governor. We (unclear) to partnering
with, with businesses, with non-profits, with the foundations, and create public/private
partnerships that will help expand access and the affordability of quality early childhood
care. Some people would say we can?t afford it, I would say we can?t afford not to do
it. Because the stakes are so high in terms of the kind of adults that these children,
eventually young people, will become. So, so whether it?s the 180 million that has
been estimated to double the number of at-risk children by the year 2015, and I would hope
that goal could ? at times it?s a worthy goal, and I would hope if anything that timetable
could be accelerated. Because there are so many children whose lives are literally at
stake in this undertaking. And where those resources would come from, again with the
budget situation we face in the state, I mean obviously everybody knows that the general
fund is going to be hard-pressed, but hopefully, as the economy improves, as more people are
going to work, as the Vice-President assured us today, they will be, with their efforts,
that we?ll have more resources, and this certainly early childhood on with, I?ve
also proposed state funding for optional all-day kindergarten, along with funding for K-12
education, education starting at birth. And the support of families in providing those
educational experiences certainly ought to be our top priority. And y?know, the people
of Minnesota have shown with the Legacy Amendment, they?ve shown with their support of various
school referenda that they?re willing to even vote to increase their own taxes selectively
for causes they believe in. And I believe if it?s necessary to be creative, it?s
certainly possible. I would certainly be willing to look with those involved to make the case
to Minnesotans that early childhood education and this goal of doubling the access in Minnesota
is a worthy one, and one that?s worthy of their support. And I believe that Minnesotans
would support this. If they knew that this is where the resources were going, that the
quality had been assured, and that the result was going to be that we could double that
opportunity. Denise Johnson: Senator, you?ve said that
you would not, or you would support the two million dollars into early childhood education
that the Governor, the current Governor, vetoed. Where would that two million dollars come
from and what specifically would you use it for? Mark Dayton: Well, I believe you?re referring
to the bonding bill he, that Pawlenty vetoed for 19 different facilities, early childhood
facilities, and for the life of me I can?t imagine why he did that. Y?know, these were,
what I?m told, projects ready to go, so-called shovel-ready projects, the ideal ones in terms
of putting people back to work in the building trades. My commitment, if I?m Governor,
is to move the bonding bill traditionally from the even year to the odd-numbered year,
to next year. I?d like to ask the Legislature to take it up in January and pass it in early
February so that all those projects could be ready to go by the beginning of the next
construction season. And I?ve said that the projects that were vetoed by Governor
Pawlenty would be the first in line in my provision for it. And obviously the Legislature
would have to concur, but they did last time, so I have every reason to believe they would
again this time. Denise Johnson. Okay. And we?ll go to some
of the questions from the audience that were collected. ?Given the state?s challenges
to funding K-12 and MnSCU and the U of M, where specifically are you going to find the
essential funding we need to invest in our youngest learners? Mark Dayton: Well, I?m going to raise revenues
by making the income tax even more progressive, and indicated that I would raise revenues
by asking the highest income people in Minnesota, the top four percent according to the Minnesota
Department of Revenue, to contribute more to our state. And I would go to those successful
individuals with just this request: that the y?know increase the taxes that they pay
for a very important reason, which is the education of our children. And given that
the forty percent of the state budget now goes to K-12 education, 8% to higher education,
but y?know less than 1%, I think it?s three-fourths of 1% to early childhood education.
I mean even doubling that to 1 ? or 2% would actually then bring the state, and I think
appropriately so, the state budget up to about 50%, where half, you say half of the money
that you?re contributing with your taxes to the state of Minnesota is going to the
education of our children. And to our young adults. And I would say that, along with public
safety, are the two most important responsibilities of our state government. And I think education
in the past has shown to be an area where Minnesotans have been willing to make an extra
commitment and I think Minnesotans would be appalled if they knew
the cuts in state funding for education, where we?ve fallen in ranking relative to other
states, because I know Minnesotans? values are education. And I know, and I would point
out again that our budget is as much about our values and our priorities as it is about
dollars and cents. And I think Minnesotans share that value and are willing to make that
a priority. Denise Johnson: What tools of the governor?s
office will you use to raise resources and the profile of early education in areas that
traditionally don?t support it? Mark Dayton: Well, I guess I would defer to
the expert. I mean, who doesn?t support it? I would like to believe that there?s
broad support. I just may not be broad public recognition. The importance of it. Y?know
I mean I give credit to all of you, I think this is recognition of the importance of early
childhood education, which Don Fraser and others have championed in years before. I
mean when I was in college a long time ago, over 40 years ago, my senior year I volunteered
at a Head Start program in New Haven. And it was known back then that children in Head
Start got a tremendous assist in their readiness for whatever was next: preschool, kindergarten.
And yet even today you know there?s only enough federal funding for less than half the children
in this country who are eligible for Head Start. So we?ve known some of these, and
Don and others have reminded us, to their enormous credit, of the need for this, and
true visionaries, it?s an overused word, but I would ascribe that to Mayor Fraser and
others. And I think now people recognize! Certainly the experts recognize. I think the
business community is increasingly recognizing. So hopefully this is, as I said, is an idea
whose time has come. To borrow from someone else?s phrase, and to really you know not
even convince people, that just make people aware of how we?re under supporting what?s
necessary to be done. And suggesting to people that here?s an opportunity. To put the heart
and soul of Minnesota with those who are most in need, who are the most vulnerable, but
who stand ready, if we give them the opportunity by realizing their own potential to be all
of our salvation. Because we need everybody to be successful in this society. In order
for all of us, especially in my generation, who?s gonna depend on them, to be able to
carry us forward. 54:18 Denise Johnson: How would you distribute resources
for early childhood among these programs, and why? And the programs that the questioner
has listed are ECFE, Head Start, School Readiness, and Child Care. 54:35 Mark Dayton: Well, I would defer to the experts
on it. Y?know, I don?t pretend to have that expertise, but there are a lot of people
who do, and whether again it?s the early childhood advisory council that Governor Pawlenty
set up or whether it?s some other entity, and obviously the Legislature would be involved,
and that council has members of the Legislature as well as people appointed by the leadership
of the Legislature. So some way we can, you know, that?s what the process is, by which
we allocate resources. And I would defer to those of you. But rather than, y?know, trying
to distribute, if you?re trying to distribute an insufficient amount of money, y?know
that you inevitably get people placed in competition who really are allies in this endeavor, and
so hopefully in this case if we?re looking at, and sometimes if you?re expanding resources
you get some competition too. But y?know, that would be the goal I think, if we?re
gonna be expanding the commitment as we should, that we can ask people, y?know in good faith
to be supportive of one another and then again look at the measures of effectiveness and
see what?s most cost effective. Denise Johnson: The compensation for early
childhood educators, particularly child care, is quite low. What strategies will you use
to ensure that providers are paid well enough, incent them to participate in professional
development opportunities to improve quality and stabilize the workforce? Mark Dayton: Well, I remember we sent our
boys to this wonderful couple that ran a family day care in southeast Minneapolis, and they
computed if they put in all the hours what they were paid it was about half, half the
minimum wage. So you?re right, y?know, the underfunding again where some of the affordability
issues for lower-income families but also for middle-income families. Because as they
pointed out if they were to raise their rates, give them the pay they really were earning,
then they would y?know be less affordable for working families in terms of sending especially
you know if they have a couple of children in daycare at the same time. So so whether
it?s again until the public investment or the public-private partnership or federal
child care credits or whether it?s some state version of that, whatever, if the budget
were to permit, but we need to keep looking for ways where we can make it more affordable
and therefore allow those who are getting paid for doing tremendously important work
to earn a fair living by doing so. Denise Johnson: Minnesota?s rural communities
have unique challenges delivering early learning services. How will you insure rural community
needs are addressed? Mark Dayton: Well, it?s where again I think
it?s promising there are 17 counties involved in the nurse partnership. Because that evidence
says to me that there?s a, without knowing exactly which counties they are, but there
is a geographical diversity there, which is really crucial. So you know that?s where
you get to more rural areas where the population is more dispersed, more of an outreach service
well may be necessary. So it?s not one size fits all, and y?know we?re going to have
to provide resources and we?re gonna have to have guidance from people from all over
the state of Minnesota, and legislators who represent the different parts to make sure
that these services are appropriate to the different areas of the state. 57:49 Denise Johnson: All right. Studies show that
return on investment is higher with early childhood than all-day kindergarten. Where
will you put your investment and limited resources if you have to choose between these two? What
will you do? Mark Dayton: Both. Denise Johnson: Both? (audience laughs) Mark Dayton: I mean, y?know I just, no.
I don?t accept the premise of either/or. I?d say both. Denise Johnson: You think both of them are
important, but there are limited resources! I mean, you feel you?ll be able to raise
the amount that?s necessary in order to do both of those things? Mark Dayton: Y?know, Tom Harkin said that
for every complex issue there?s always a simple answer. And it?s almost always wrong.
(audience laughs) Again, I don?t think it?s either/or. Denise Johnson: All right. Mark Dayton: The kids that were doing better
in Head Start, coming out of Head Start, y?know if they didn?t have a continuation, have
lost some of those gains. So I mean, as I say, to me it really needs to be both. We
have less than half of the national average of children in all-day kindergarten today.
In Minnesota. Y?know. A state again, where we value this. I mean if we see education
as a continuum, is it is starting with early childhood and starting with very early childhood
for children who need that, and for parents who need that help as well, that it seems
to me you want it to be continuous. You don?t want to see it y?know drop the balls after
getting some gains. Denise Johnson: All right. Mark Dayton: Diversely, as you know, having
children ready for kindergarten. Which is the name of this supporting organization,
has set its own priorities as well. So, I mean I guess I just don?t accept that it?s
either/or. Denise Johnson: All right. Mark Dayton: Or shouldn?t be. Denise Johnson: Attention to early childhood
issues is often focused on ages three to five. Yet the science indicates a greater return
on investment targeted to prenatal to age three. How would you work to ensure a more
equitable distribution of resources toward very early learners? Very early childhood
development? The prenatal to the three-year-olds? Mark Dayton: Now we?ve got pre-natal to
three against three to five against all-day kindergarten? (audience laughs) I mean, again
I say it?s a continuum. And y?know there?s validity in all of these areas, and importance
in all of these areas, so that there needs to be a continuum in all these areas where
you start with very early and then continue through. And again I?ll defer to those,
you have greater expertise than I do, in terms of y?know allocation, but y?know it?s
one I think again that should recognize the importance of that continuum. Denise Johnson: What kind of support do you
think the state should give to very early learning groups? Mark Dayton: Well again I think it?s Denise Johnson: Do you have specifics in terms
of the kinds of things you think the state should fund? Perhaps that it doesn?t fund
now? Mark Dayton: Again, earlier, we talked about
the parenting. That?s important. About the at-home and the nurse partnerships. So I would
say y?know again, it?s a variety of services reflecting the different needs of the parents
and the very young children and the different geographical environments, whether it?s
y?know urban or more rural, I mean again that?s where the expertise ? Rudy Perpich
had a sign in his office wall that I?ll put back up if I?m Governor. It says ?None
of us are as smart as all of us.? So I believe that we need to enlist those of you who have
this expertise and enlist your involvement and input. And if I?m Governor I?ll gladly
do so. Denise Johnson: Would you support a loan forgiveness
program for degreed early childhood teachers? Mark Dayton: I?d certainly consider it.
I mean I?d have to look and see what it ? you mean forgiveness of student loans?
Is that what you?re asking? Mark Dayton: Well, most student loans are
federal, but y?know, and there?s also important areas like nursing and especially
in areas of the state that need that and others. So, but, y?know if we?re gonna look at
a constellation of occupations where loan forgiveness would be appropriate, this would
certainly be one of them. But I?d have to look at the financial implications of that. Denise Johnson: All right. Does early childhood
education have a claim to funding that is equal to the K-12 claim? Mark Dayton: Well, they?re equal in a sense
that yes, they?re both, they?re all important. Yes. Denise Johnson: Well, is, as you know, early
childhood education issues have sort of fallen to the bottom of the list in many Legislative
sessions Mark Dayton: Well, that?s why I say ? Denise Johnson: What would you do to change
that? Mark Dayton: ? I think it?s an idea whose
time has come. Y?know, obviously we have a commitment already established for K-12,
K-12 education, and it?s really first through 12 since as I say the kindergarten commitment,
Minnesota is one of the relatively few states that doesn?t? provide state funding for
optional all-day kindergarten. So, y?know y?know, not to, and I?m committed to increase
state funding for public K-12 education every year I?m Governor. So I?m not gonna take
away from that. And, I?d like, and, so I?d like to increase the funding for very early
childhood until beginning of kindergarten. As I say, make state funding for optional
all-day kindergarten another initiative, so again it?s again all of it, and all of a
continuum? y?know I just think it would be unfortunate if y?know people who share
a common concern for the well being of our children, which everyone who is involved with
this does, I mean gets into y?know this one versus that one. Because I think it?s
all. Denise Johnson: Okay. How will you support
the development of children?s creativity, given that lifetime accomplishment is correlated
with childhood creativity? Mark Dayton: Say again? Denise Johnson: How would you support the
development of children?s creativity? Mark Dayton: Creativity! Well, as someone
who almost failed fourth-grade art, (moderator, audience laugh) ?cause I couldn?t make
a soap boat, (moderator laughs) that?s a way to stifle creativity. (audience laughs)
But I mean y?know that?s one of the areas in which again you can talk about the opportunities
in early childhood. I remember seeing my children?s art and thinking my goodness, there?s a
free flow quality to their imaginations at the very early ages that really just needs
to be nurtured and allowed, or given the opportunity for manifestation, and then as they start
to get a little older, y?know, I would, some of that was lost. So it really does becom

Source: http://windymate.com/innovation/childrens-forum-debate/

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