Childhood screening cost concerns

Between 10 percent and 12 percent of kindergarteners aren’t ready to start school because they have problems with language development, literacy and mathematical thinking, according to the Department of Education.

To help identify children who may need extra help to succeed in school, Minnesota school districts are required to screen children from 3- to 5-years-old for health and developmental problems. But the screenings can be costly — up to $70 per student — and the state reimburses only up to $40 per child. The differential is incurred by the district.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) would close the gap, and require the state to reimburse the full amount to school districts. HF2920 was laid over Feb. 26 by the House Early Childhood Learning Finance Division for possible inclusion in its omnibus bill.

The companion, SF2669, awaits action in the Senate Finance Committee. Sen. Sandy Rummel (DFL-White Bear Lake) sponsors the bill.

The money to reimburse the districts would come from the General Fund, at an annual cost to the state between $1.5 million and $1.7 million.

Charlie Blesener, director of community education for the Elk River School District, said if the state doesn’t reimburse the full amount, the burden falls on the school districts.

Even so, the screening helps the district and its students in the long run, Blesener said.

“It’s a great way to find issues with kids early, so that we can do an intervention and maybe close an achievement gap.”