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Solvejg Wastvedt

Bipartisan plan seeks state money for early education

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A bipartisan effort at the state Capitol aims to target more early education money for low-income children.

The measure would expand pre-kindergarten scholarships, which low-income children can use at public or private programs. It would also fund the state's quality rating system and home visits.

"There's no lobbyist group for these kids," said Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, who co-authored the scholarship bill. "When we can champion, when we can come together — quite frankly any time legislators come together it's a good thing — but when it comes on this issue I think it's just that much more powerful.

Gov. Mark Dayton has favored universal preschool over scholarships. The Democrat hasn't yet said how he wants to spend the state's $900 million budget surplus. He plans to release his priorities for spending the surplus next week.

Sen. Melisa Franzen, DFL-Edina, said she'll push for as much of the state's $900 million surplus as she can get for the early education effort.

"We've only funded 11 percent of the need so we know we have a ways to go," she said, "and it's going to be an effort to really grasp any dollars we can from this legislative session."