After Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of several bills, lawmakers are carefully deciding where to invest and how much to give toward different aspects of Minnesota's future.
Transportation, law enforcement and health care are all wise investments, but the cornerstone of productivity in our state rests on its educational system.
The Legislature is currently working out differences through the conference committee in the K-12 omnibus education bill. This is one bill Pawlenty should not veto, despite his reservations on a couple of controversial provisions.
Perhaps most exciting about the bill is $211 million in early education funding. Many people do not understand the value of early childhood education, but it is one of the best ways to make a lasting impact on children and the future.
As any parent of a toddler may remember, young children soak up knowledge about the world like a sponge. Parents can be driven to distraction by the endless stream of questions coming out of children's mouths.
ADVERTISEMENT
Early childhood education takes advantage of a child's innate desire to learn by giving them knowledge to prepare them for life.
The demands of business often dictate understanding another language, and the younger someone begins learning an additional language, the better. Studies show young children can easily learn additional languages and distinguish between them with little effort.
Children who participate in early childhood education do better in school, are less likely to be a teenage parent and are less likely to be on welfare, smoke or do drugs.
A study undertaken in Chicago measuring public funding for low-income preschoolers found children in preschool intervention programs are also less likely to be arrested as a juvenile, commit violent crimes or drop out of school.
All-day kindergarten is another wise investment. Almost two-thirds of US states already offer full-day kindergarten services.
The issue has wide bipartisan support. Some of the strongest objections revolve around lack of facilities. To that end, all-day kindergarten will remain voluntary, at least temporarily.
A couple measures threaten the omnibus bill's passage. Provisions about family life and sexuality education as well as compensatory funding drew some partisan bickering. But neither of these provisions should serve as deal-breakers to an otherwise sound, comprehensive package.
Education funding has suffered from austere demands on the state budget during the last seven years. The 3 percent budget increase at least allows wages to keep pace with inflation, while taking the strain of $91 million in property taxes off local governments.
ADVERTISEMENT
If Minnesota wants to remain a leading educational state, it needs to keep pace with investments. Fewer investments pay greater dividends in the state's future than the minds and bodies of children.
