While Vikings-related legislation lives on at the Capitol, measures to reform early childhood education have been stripped from House- and Senate-passed education bills in conference committee by Republican leaders.

Early childhood education has long been championed by Minnesota business leaders, who sponsored the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation (MELF). The reform bills had bipartisan authors and the support of Gov. Mark Dayton.

"This move truly boggles the mind," said a frustrated Duane Benson, executive director of MELF, a former Republican state senator and head of the Minnesota Business Partnership. "We've got a mountain of research clearly showing that early education reforms are effective in improving school readiness. We've got polls showing our early education reforms are overwhelmingly supported by Minnesotans, regardless of party or region. Yet every syllable of every early education reform was stripped from this bill. If a bona fide crisis, a mountain of evidence and the overwhelming will of the people won't get the attention of the Legislature, I'm not sure what will."

The legislation was crafted after years of economic study, $20 million worth of pilot programs and independent analysis done for the early learning foundation. The legislation was designed to improve quality through a voluntary ratings systems and get more at-risk Minnesota kids ready for kindergarten -- all for the same $400 million per year that's currently spent by the federal, state and local governments on early-age education in Minnesota to assist low-income families.

Sen. Dave Thompson, R-Lakeville, and Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, and Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, were key opponents of the bill, which also was opposed by Education Liberty Watch, which says parents should get kids ready for school.

Fact is, about three-quarters of Minnesota families use early-learning services, including $1.2 billion in private dollars paid. Most of the providers are churches, licensed homes and outfits such as New Horizon. It's estimated that half of Minnesota's kids aren't ready for school at age six. University of Minnesota research recently confirmed that kids ready to learn at kindergarten had higher third-grade reading and math scores, are less likely to need remedial services and are more likely to stay out of taxpayer-draining trouble as teenagers and adults.

GRANT THORNTON REPORTS OPTIMISM

A Grant Thornton survey this month reveals growing economic optimism among U.S. and Midwestern financial executives.

In Minnesota and several neighboring states, about 45 percent say the economy will continue to improve this year, compared with 33 percent six months ago. About 40 percent plan to increase staff, compared with 28 percent last fall.

Nearly 60 percent are optimistic about their own company's prospects this year, up from 48 percent. And a majority see increased demand, some inflation due to commodity-price increases, and plan to raise prices later this year.

Grant Thornton conducted the biannual national survey in March and April with 318 U.S. CFOs and senior comptrollers.

Meanwhile, there's increasing anecdotal evidence that companies are restoring matching grants to employee 401(k) plans, raising salaries a bit and otherwise investing in their people as the economy gets traction and good workers look at other opportunities.

ALLIANZ LIFE AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

On Monday, Allianz Life Insurance opens the "Allianz Bright Beginnings" child development center on its Golden Valley campus that will be run by Bright Horizons Family Solutions.

"We couldn't be happier that our employees can now have their children on-site, can visit them during the workday and have greater flexibility to balance their busy schedules," said CEO Gary Bhojwani of the 2,000-employee company. "We also know that employees' engagement with our company improves, and retention and recruitment are strengthened."

A third of Allianz employees surveyed said they would use on-site day care if it were cost competitive.

Nationally, about two-thirds of kids under 6 live in homes where both parents work. And more than three-quarters of working parents say they stay home when there's a child care crisis. More than half of Allianz's employees are women.