letters

PRE-K PROGRAMS

Good investments

Parents of preschoolers might have been surprised by recent articles indicating that fewer than 2 percent of 4-year-olds in Minnesota access pre-kindergarten programs. This statistic is confusing in that it refers specifically to publicly sponsored school-based pre-kindergarten programs.

In fact, according to Wilder Research, 69 percent of preschool-age children in Minnesota are enrolled in licensed early care and education settings, although a tiny portion of those are publicly sponsored school-based programs.

Outside of the home, the vast majority of young children's early education experiences are paid for by parents and in private community-based programs -- child care centers, home-based child care and part-time nursery schools.

Given that 75 percent of Minnesota's mothers with young children are in the workforce, it's critical that there are high-quality, full-day, year-round options for families to choose from.

The research is in. According to Art Rolnick of the Federal Reserve Bank, the high returns that come from early childhood investments are something his venture capitalist friends wouldn't pass up. We shouldn't either. Let's make sure those are smart investments that recognize the wide array of parents' needs and create access to high-quality options for Minnesota's children.

ANN KANER-ROTH, MINNEAPOLIS;

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHILD CARE WORKS

school funding

An unfair system

Sen. David Hann's Nov. 12 commentary, "Big-picture question on schools: Who has control?" was littered with misleading statements. His tactics are similar to the strategy of deception that killed a crucial levy referendum for Robbinsdale students this month.

I have a particular problem with Hann's claims that local governments should claim more responsibility for school funding. That may work for a few rich school districts, but it isn't a formula that will support strong education opportunities for all Minnesota students.

If Hann is concerned about local control, I invite him to join me in working to stop anti-tax extremists who live in other states from misleading Minnesota voters -- hired hands like Paul Dorr, who lied to voters in the Robbinsdale district to promote his own anti-tax agenda.

Minnesota's Constitution mandates that the state provide a "uniform system of public schools," because Minnesota is supposed to work for everyone. Funding schools as Hann suggests -- based on the value of homes in the district -- doesn't serve our students, our economy or our future.

REP. RYAN WINKLER, DFL-GOLDEN VALLEY

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