The federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, Public Law 110-134, authorized governors to establish a state advisory council on early childhood education and care.
Governor Tim Pawlenty established the Early Childhood Advisory Council by Executive Order in 2008 in response to and in order to fulfill the requirements of that federal law. In Governor Mark Dayton's first term, he established the Early Learning Council, tasked with many of the same responsibilities of the council that proceeded it. Governor Tim Walz initially provided for the continuance of the Early Learning Council by Executive Order 19-29, but then eliminated it and established the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care through Executive Order 19-34.
All three councils were created and tasked, in part, with fulfilling the requirements of the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 as provided in Public Law 110-134.