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State Representative Leon Lillie
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1188
For more information contact: Christina Gosack 651-296-5524
NEWS COLUMN
PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PAY OFF
This week, I had the opportunity to participate in the 4th Annual Early Childhood Read-a-Thon at the State Capitol. Over 120 area pre-school students came to the Capitol where they were read to by members of the Legislature, and also enjoyed children's entertainment, appearances by the Berenstain Bears and Walter the Library Dog, and book giveaways. Early literacy resources from libraries and publishers were provided for parents.
Reading to young kids pays off far beyond the preschool years. That's one of the reasons I was so pleased to attend the groundbreaking of the new Maplewood Public Library recently. This new library will be a great resource for families and our entire community. It's good to see the continued commitment by the Ramsey County Library Board to having great libraries in both Maplewood and North St. Paul.
Reading is just one part of preparing kids to start school. As a parent, I've seen how much my kids developed in those first few years of childhood. It's critical that parents have access to quality, affordable childcare and early childhood education so that all Minnesota children can start kindergarten ready to learn. Study after study has shown that state investment in childcare and early childhood education programs like Head Start pays off in later educational achievement and supporting working parents. Research has shown that public investment in early childhood education programs yields an 8:1 return on investment.
Yet our state's early childhood programs have been cut by many millions of dollars over the last few years. We now dedicate only 0.5 percent of our state budget to quality early childhood programs. In 2005, just 2 percent of our states 4-year-olds had access to some type of state-sponsored preschool, compared with 11 percent in Colorado, 29 percent in Wisconsin and 17 percent nationally.
Recently, the Governor proposed $10.2 million for a package of pre-K initiatives, including re-establishing the early childhood screening program that fell victim to cuts in 2003. That's a good start, and I am hopeful that we can pass fair funding for early childhood programs this session. This is one of the best investments Minnesota can make – it will help us build the foundation for all of our children to be successful.
If you have comments or questions on this or any other legislative issues, please contact me at (651) 296-1188, by e-mail at rep.leon.lillie@house.mn, or at 353 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55155.
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