Minnesota lawmakers should stand firm on early education support

After years of falling to the bottom of the funding priority list, Minnesota's littlest learners may finally get a substantial and long-overdue boost from the 2013 Legislature.

Gov. Mark Dayton and his Education Department propose spending about $85 million to provide early education for the state's 3- to 6-year-olds, nearly splitting that amount between expanding all-day kindergarten and scholarships for quality preschools.

Both the state House and Senate plans include even more investment in early learning: the Senate plan calls for $50 million in preschool scholarships and $105 million for all-day kindergarten. The House recommends spending $44 million on preschool and $130 million on all-day kindergarten.

Too often in the past, legislators have proposed expanded preschool opportunities, only to let those plans die without action. This year's Legislature should avoid making the same mistake, especially if the funding choices come down to preschool vs. all-day kindergarten.

The pre-K scholarships would be available only to lower-income youngsters — those most in need of help to close the state's significant achievement gap between poorer and more-affluent kids. A half day of that first level of schooling has been part of public and private school systems for several generations now. State law only requires kids to be in school between ages 7 and 16. Families can opt out of kindergarten if they choose, though most do not.

All three proposals would substantially increase the $5 million that is now being spent on pilot programs and make preschool available for up to 10,000 additional children.

Expanded access to daylong kindergarten, however, would be available to all school districts — some of which already offer the longer program by charging fees to families.

It's clear that all-day kindergarten may have the most public and political support, however. As lifestyles have changed and the percentage of two-income households has grown, more parents at all income levels have wanted full-day school options for their young ones.

That's one reason why the governor and lawmakers in the majority are intent on doing both. Of those plans, the House version holds more promise that all low-income 3- and 4-year-olds would be served sooner. That proposal anticipates that spending on scholarships would increase to $127 million after 2015.

It's good to see legislators attempting to expand both kindergarten for all and preschool for the needy. But if a squeeze comes, as it often has in previous years, they should strive to protect preschool first.

State lawmakers have set some ambitious goals for Minnesota students — including a 100 percent high school graduation rate and ensuring that kids are academically ready for postsecondary college and career training. Giving the youngest learners a good start is among the best ways to achieve those goals.

Research by Minnesota economist Art Rolnick shows that for every dollar invested in preschool, society receives a $17 return. ­Compared with other states, Minnesota is behind the curve in supporting early education despite its larger-than-average achievement gap between more-affluent white students and lower-income students of color.

--------------------------