HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 03-16 Dayton offers smaller preschool funding proposal MANKATO FREE PRESS 3/16/2016 Dayton offers smaller preschool funding proposal I Local News I mankatofreepress.com
Dayton r II r preschool funding r I
Says he may push for comprehensive program next year
The Associated Press 18 hrs ago
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T PAUL ® Facing financial constraints and the specter of last year's failed push, Gov. Mark
Dayton unveiled a new scaled-back proposal Tuesday for a statewide preschool system in
Minnesota.
The governor's supplemental budget includes spending $25 million in the next year for a
voluntary prekindergarten program that would allow about 3,700 more 4-year-olds to attend
preschool. His budget also proposes $100 million forte program in the next two-year u e
cycle.
The pared-back plan is a recognition oft the limitations posed even by a seemingly large u e
surplus and the political difficulty his push for universal preschool faced last year. That broader
proposal was rebuffed by GOP lawmakers and Democrats alike, citing concerns about s ace
requirements, costs and demand by aren s.
Dayton vowed to resume his push for a more comprehensive, statewide preschool program next
year if the economic outlook improves.
"Sometimes you can make progress in big giant steps, and sometimes you have to make
progress in slow, steady, incr ental steps," said Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, whom Dayton has
charged wi leading e administration's early education efforts.
The governor's budget includes a variety of proposals for early childhood initiatives. He is
renewing calls to expand a child care tax credit o 92,000 families and offer an estimated 18,000
families extra help foreducational ex ensesm He is also pushing to spend million to increase
the maximum amount of reimbursements that can be paid to providers participating in the state's
Child are Assistance Program, which helps parents who are working or going to school to pay
for child care.
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Sen. Chuck Wiger, a Maplewood Democrat who chairs the Senate Education Committee, said
he applauds the governor's push for a voluntary preschool program n believes a holistic
approach is es for preparing students.
"it all contributes to the probability that a young person will be ra for kindergarten and will be
likely to succeed on their journey through school and ultimately walkin stage at graduation,"
he said.
For his universal preschool program, on has proposed awarding funding o districts or
individual schools based on poverty rates and the availability of i h® uali ty programs in an
area. The funding oul be split between urban, suburban and outstate Minnesota school
districts and carter schools and would allow an estimated 13 percent oft the state's 4-year-olds
to attend an early learning ro ra
School districts and charter schools offering rest ool programs would be required o provide at
least 350 hours of instruction each school year under Dayton's plan.
The governor's proposed universal preschool program last year gained little racionm Even
though he has narrowed his focus, this year's approach could still be a tough sell for
Republicans ® prefer more targeted spending ® if any at all.
Rep. Jeni er Loon, the chairwoman of the House Education Finance Committee, said Tuesday
she still believes that closing the state's achievement a p between white and minority students
is best accomplished by targeting early childhood education tot the students who "most show
benefit from receiving it."
"Our investments in early childhood ar est targeted at e highest-risk students," Loon said.
"And creating even limited numbers of locations, universal pre-K moves away from that."
As he's said in the past, the governor wants to diversify and increase the state's teacher
ororcem He's proposed about $12 million for each of the next three years that would in part
louver tuition for teachers who agree to work in areas where there are shortages and also allow
licensed teachers to more easily obtain licenses for other subjects orspecializations.
He also has proposed spending $2 million in funding for Full-Service Community Schools, which
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3/16/2016 Dayton offers smaller preschool funding proposal I Local News I mankatofreepress.com
serve as one-stop shops for academic, social and health nee ® such as after-school
programs, medical and dental services and resource centers ® for parents and students.
The governor didn't include increase funding for school counselors, of is there's a shortage
in the state. Wiger, the Senate education chairman, s i overall he was very pleased with the
budget u would like see funding for counselors.
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