Minnesota

"The 2015 Legislature has the opportunity to make more progress for preschoolers based on the general and often bipartisan support for some of the ideas that have already been introduced. One of those proposals, which calls for state-funded, school-based programs for all 4-year-olds, should be modified. Rather than approving a universal program, lawmakers should fund expansion of the current scholarship program targeted to lower-income students."

"As the Obama administration makes early-childhood education a top domestic priority and most states are expanding preschool for low-income kids, Minnesota is taking a unique approach. It is the first state to make a major investment in a market-based preschool subsidy. So-called 'early-learning scholarships' follow children, whether they enroll in a public school pre-kindergarten or federal Head Start, which the government pays for anyway, or a private center such as New Horizon or home day care that charges fees. The scholarships, essentially pre-kindergarten vouchers, are designed to steer the most at-risk kids into the highest-quality care and reduce the achievement gap at the outset."

"About 100,000 low- and middle-income Minnesota college students will see a one-time, $295-per-student boost in the living-expenses allowance the State Grant Program awards next year, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education announced last week. So why the worried looks among some of that program's strongest advocates as the Legislature adjourned for the year?"

"Minnesota's education community has never been more focused on closing our achievement gap, one of the highest in the nation. However, our efforts are hampered when the basic needs of our students are unmet, needs as basic as safe and stable housing. How can we close the achievement gap when thousands of students don't know where they're going to sleep at night?"

"While the number of children living in the U.S. has grown, the ratio of children to adults has decreased and the number of children living in poverty has increased significantly. The racial and ethnic composition of the nation's children continues to change. In Sauk Rapids-Rice, as many as 42 percent of our students qualify for free and/or reduced lunch and/or are living in poverty. As a result of successful partnerships with parents and community members and our wise utilization of resources for our children, we have been able to demonstrate our commitment to the success of all students and families despite increasing needs."

"The Legislature has another important task this session: making a much-needed adjustment to the State Grant Program. This program provides funds directly to low-income students to help them pay for their education unmet financial need is one of the main reasons students are unable to attend or complete college."