Community Corner

Parents Talk: Should All-Day Kindergarten Be State Funded in Minnesota?

As a parent, do you support state funding for all-day kindergarten? Why or why not?

Among the first bills of the 2013 Minnesota Legislative session included one that would provide state funding for school districts to offer all-day kindergarten. Sen. Chuck Wiger, a co-author of a bill, said the funding would provide “an important step toward enhancing Minnesota’s commitment to quality education for all children.”

Some school districts in the Twin Cities are already providing all-day kindergarten at an extra or no cost. The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School Board reallocated funding - $1.5 million - to fund a free, all-day kindergarten program for the 2012-13 school year. Although, some questioned the sustainability.

In the Osseo School District, some Maple Grove and Plymouth parents have the option to pay to have their children to participate in the district’s tuition-based, full-day kindergarten programs. In the Minnetonka School District, extended day kindergarten is offered for an extra fee.

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Since some school districts are already offering it, should Minnesota be footing the bill?

SHARE: As parents, do you support state funding for all-day kindergarten? Why or why not? Would you use (or have you used) all-day kindergarten? Do you think it helps? Share your opinion in comments.

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