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What Is SPARK Education
SPARK Education is a 501(c)3 non-profit devoted to educating the public about the needs to invest in early education and childcare in Saint Paul. We can build a better future for families in our city through voter participation efforts and organizing to change the conversation about how to best support all our kids. We will work as a community to make sure childcare and early education is available to all, not just the privileged few.
The Need
Our city has a childcare crisis. Too many of our kids can't access early learning and childcare.Over 30% of our city’s kids live below the poverty line. Children of color are disproportionately represented among the lowest income households.
Educational disparities in Minnesota are among the worst in the nation; the systemic failures of our early learning system result in worse outcomes for children of color and indigenous children than their white counterparts. These disparities persist throughout their education.
Finding childcare is difficult and expensive; Minnesota is the 4th most expensive state for childcare, putting a strain on families across Saint Paul and often leading to gender inequities when one parent stays home.
Existing childcare support programs for early learning and childcare fall far short of the need in our city. We can bridge the gap and make access a reality for all families.
The Benefits
Early childhood education is one of the best investments Saint Paul can make in the overall health, well-being, and future success of children and their families. Early childhood education helps eliminate opportunity gaps, decreases the poverty rate, and provides an economic boost for families who no longer have to worry about the expense of childcare. Dependable childcare allows for a more stable workforce, attracting families and businesses to Saint Paul. Existing federal and state support programs for early learning fall far short of the need in our city. We can bridge the gap and make access a reality for all families.
What We Do
The City Council added an initiative to the ballot this fall that will devote a special property levy to ensuring every family has the resources they need for early learning and care. We can show the city how important this investment is by:
Empowering families, childcare providers, and small businesses in Saint Paul to organize support for investments in early childhood education in their local community
Demonstrating to the public the shortfall our city faces from federal and state support for families that can not afford to send their children to the early learning and childcare programs that are right for them
Showing the city and the rest of Minnesota how Saint Paul can lead the way and illustrate the importance of investing in early childhood education for every family
Turning out voters who want to make early learning and childcare a priority in their local, state, and federal governments so our leaders know how important this issue to the people of Saint Paul
Get Involved
We are excited to engage community members from all sectors – business, labor, nonprofit, higher education, health care, and government – to join us. Our mission is to engage people all across the city to show that Saint Paul voters want their leaders to make early education a priority. We want you to be a part of the effort. E-mail us at info@sparkeducationstp.org or visit us online at www.sparkeducationstp.org to get involved. Together, we can build a better future for every family in our great city.
Website: www.sparkeducationstp.org Mail: PO Box 4232, St Paul, 55104