All-day kindergarten a cost saver for Minn. parents
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
New funding will allow Minnesota school districts to offer free all-day kindergarten Minnesota starting in 2014.
Jessica Bohlinger enrolled her son in half-day kindergarten in the Wayzata district this year, because the all-day option cost $3,700.
"Cost was the only factor. I work part-time. So it was cheaper," Bohlinger said.
But by the time Bohlinger's 3-year-old daughter starts kindergarten in a few years, all-day kindergarten will be free. That's because of a $134 million boost in this year's K-12 funding bill.
Northfield superintendent Chris Richardson said that means his district will stop charging $3,300 a year for all-day kindergarten in 2014. "This will allow us to move to a free volunteer all-day program for every student," Richardson said.
The bill also provides an additional $40 million for early childhood education scholarships so more parents can afford to send their children to quality pre-K programs.
Education officials hope that helps improve the academic performance of low-income students.
Support Local News
When breaking news happens, MPR News provides the context you need. Help us meet the significant demands of these newsgathering efforts.