The general complexity of modern life combines with these factors to create intense stress on families of all income levels. Finally, a growing percentage of children and families are living in poverty which makes meeting even basic needs a daily struggle. Early Childhood Family Education was developed through a series of pilot programs funded by the Minnesota Legislature and coordinated by the Minnesota Council on Quality Education from 1974 to 1983. In 1984, the legislature made it possible for any school district with a Community Education program to establish an Early Childhood Family Education program. Families typically participate two hours a week throughout the school year.
Costs vary with extent, intensity, and location of services.
All of society benefits from strong families and healthy, well developed children. The potential of Early Childhood Family Education to prevent or reduce later learning problems of children is borne out by evaluation of the Minnesota programs and similar programs throughout the country. Parents report increased satisfaction in their parent roles resulting from the support of other parents and the skills and understandings acquired. Both children and schools benefit from a higher level of parental involvement that continues throughout the school years. Research strongly suggests that dollars spent on Early Childhood Family Education are more than repaid by savings in remedial costs during later school years.