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State Representative Tim Mahoney
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4277
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
NEWS COLUMN
ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN SHOULD BE AN OPTION FOR ALL MINNESOTA SCHOOLS
Last week at the Capitol a bill I co-authored providing voluntary all-day kindergarten was discussed in the K-12 Finance Division. The bill was introduced on the House floor in mid-January and referred to the K-12 Finance Division shortly thereafter. The Division will be discussing this bill and two other versions providing all-day kindergarten this session.
The bill I have signed on to would make all-day kindergarten available to every school district in Minnesota on a voluntary basis. Currently, more than 200 school districts across the state offer some form of voluntary all-day kindergarten. Individual districts fund some; others ask parents to pay all or part of the cost. But those voluntary programs serve only a small fraction of the state's 65,000 five-year olds. My legislative colleagues and I would like to extend this privilege to all children in order to give them an equal foot to stand on as they begin their education.
Not enough has been done in this effort in the past. In fact, Minnesota has fallen behind 29 other states that already fund all-day kindergarten as part of a comprehensive system of public education. As they enter 1st grade, all Minnesota children deserve the opportunity to be fully and equally prepared for a successful academic career. As a state that takes pride in providing the best education possible for our children, Minnesota should not take a back seat to providing the necessary tools for academic success that come with all-day kindergarten.
Studies show students enrolled in all-day kindergarten make average learning gains comparable to at least a month of additional schooling. These students are more likely to be low income, rural or urban children. These children are often more likely to enter school at below average school readiness levels. But kids from wealthy families benefit too, learning as much as those from low-income families. All-day kindergarten benefits all children by providing them the time and resources they need to be good students.
A recent Minneapolis Foundation study including local and national research showed that children enrolled in all-day kindergarten programs make the transition into first-grade more easily, and do better on tests that measure language and literacy skills. Studies also show that enrolling children in all-day programs helps narrow achievement gaps for students of different economic and racial backgrounds.
Children should not be denied the skills to achieve in school based on their socioeconomic circumstances, nor because of a lack of action on the part of the Legislature. It is our responsibility to act now to give students the tools to succeed in school. Early intervention in education is a key component of academic success and should not be ignored.
Education is a top priority for the Legislature this session and a top priority always for parents. School funding is arguably one of the largest and most important investments that state government makes, and studies have shown that investing early offers the best results.
Taking the step toward all-day kindergarten for all Minnesota school districts is a good first step toward planting the seeds for success in all of our children. All-day kindergarten could boost the graduation rate of high school seniors, close the achievement gap, and increase the number those who go on for further education and eventually employ the good paying jobs that Minnesota needs. If we choose to remain idle in this effort, our children will suffer the consequences of our apathy. Instead, we must take the opportunity today to provide our young people with the opportunity to succeed in this life for themselves, this state, and this world – a world that daily thirsts for apt young minds to take the reigns and lead us all to a better future.
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