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Gov. Mark Dayton visited preschool classrooms at the Kaposia Education Center in South St. Paul Thursday to highlight his $25 million plan to start offering voluntary pre-kindergarten programs throughout Minnesota.

Dayton’s spending proposal, which is significantly lower than the $348 million he wanted last session, would benefit 3,700 four-year-olds. The governor told reporters that he’s hopeful about winning legislative approval of this year’s smaller request and will seek additional money next session.

“We scaled it back a great deal because of the budget forecast and concerns,” Dayton said. “Universal for all the four-year-olds whose parents want to send them to a pre-k program is so crucial.  I’ll push very hard for that again next year in a budget year.”

Dayton held a roundtable discussion with parents, teachers and local legislators on the benefits of preschool learning programs.

State Sen. Katie Sieben, DFL-Newport, said she believes preschool should be available to all families, not just those with low incomes.

“Every family wants to be able to send their kid to preschool,” Sieben said. “They see the not only the academic benefit, but also the social and emotional benefit.”

 in the Senate to establish a universal pre-kindergarten option. There is no House companion bill.

House Republicans have favored early learning scholarships, which target low-income families, rather than universal pre-kindergarten.

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Tim Pugmire

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Gov. Mark Dayton visited preschool classrooms in South St. Paul Thursday to highlight his plan to start offering voluntary pre-kindergarten programs throughout Minnesota.

Dayton pushing pared-down preschool plan

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