The Minnesota House and Senate released their education and human services bills this week.
Our priority is $28 million annually to fund early education scholarships for children from birth to two who are homeless, in foster care, or in child protection. Research shows this will have a profound impact on their academic success and ability to form relationships.
We have a huge budget surplus, yet the House proposed just $12 million annually for these scholarships, and the Senate $7 million for the biennium.
Also, both rejected proposals to fund Targeted Home Visiting, which has similarly positive impacts on these children.
We understand these bills are opening bids in a long negotiation, but they suggest the legislature envisions a final budget deal that shares very little of our bounty with children.