ST. PAUL, MN - At 10:50am on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, Governor Mark Dayton and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will visit a preschool classroom at Richardson Elementary School in North Saint Paul. Following the classroom visit, Governor Dayton, Secretary Duncan, Lt. Governor Tina Smith, Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius, and teachers, parents, and administrators from Richardson Elementary will hold a news conference to discuss the importance of investing in early learning programs. Details regarding Tuesday's classroom visit and news conference are listed below.

WHO:
Governor Mark Dayton
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Lt. Governor Tina Smith
Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius
Jenna Peters, Principal of Richardson Elementary

WHAT:
Preschool classroom and news conference at Richardson Elementary

WHEN:
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
10:50am - Preschool Classroom Visit
11:00am - News Conference

WHERE:
Richardson Elementary School
2615 First Street North
North Saint Paul, MN 55109

Governor Dayton's Proposed Investments in Early Learning
Governor Mark Dayton is continuing his push this legislative session to access provide free, full-day, voluntary prekindergarten programs for every four-year-old in Minnesota. Governor Dayton's proposal would also continue $56 million in funding for early learning scholarships, and expand eligibility for those scholarships to children ages 0-5. In addition to universal prekindergarten and early learning scholarships, the Governor's budget would also eliminate the waiting list for Head Start programs in Minnesota. Here is what you need to know:

/governor/assets/universal_preK_fact_sheet_tcm1055-114727.pdfUniversal Pre-Kindergarten - Governor Dayton has proposed investing $343 million in universal prekindergarten in Minnesota. If passed, the proposal would allow an estimated 47,300 students to attend preschool in the program's first year of operation. Within just a few years, the Minnesota Department of Education predicts that number would grow to roughly 57,000 four-year-olds statewide. Right now, Minnesota ranks 50th in the nation for access to all-day, pre-kindergarten learning.

Early Learning Scholarships - Governor Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature have invested over $56 million of ongoing funding in early learning scholarships. Over the last several years, those scholarships have helped more than 12,500 young learners attend high-quality preschool programs. The Governor's budget proposal would continue that investment, and expand eligibility for the scholarships to include children ages 0-5.

/governor/assets/fact_sheet_supplemental_education_tcm1055-114767.pdfEliminating the Head Start Waiting List - The Head Start program promotes school readiness for low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional developments, and by providing their families health, educational, nutritional, and other services. Right now, more than 2,400 children are stuck on the waiting list, hoping to get into Head Start programming. Governor' Dayton's budget proposal would eliminate the waiting list and ensure no child is denied a great start in life.

/governor/assets/fact_sheet_supplemental_education_tcm1055-114767.pdfTo learn more about Governor Mark Dayton's proposed investments in education this legislative session, click here.