Dear Neighbors,
It’s been such an exciting new week at the Capitol. We’re back from our brief break, and getting right back where we left off. This week, we started the process of reaching a compromise on the state budget between the House and the Senate bills.
Education Committee
As a member of the Education Finance Committee, I was honored to be assigned to the Education Finance Conference Committee and I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues on the final bill. My goal is to ensure our schools are properly funded, and our students have the best possible environment to learn, grow, and succeed.
One of the main focuses of this discussion will revolve around early learning in our state. I taught first grade for many years, and saw a significant need to ensure our youngest learners are prepared when they enter school.
I’m supportive of the Republican approach in the House and Senate which targets our resources where research shows we will achieve the greatest effect – focusing on Minnesota’s most at-risk children through early learning scholarships. These targeted scholarships are flexible, allowing low-income parents to take their scholarships to any quality Parent-Aware rated provider, including Head Start, public school, center-based, or home-based programs. The scholarships are also portable and go with the child anywhere in Minnesota when the parents’ job or home changes.
Other important strengths I see in early learning scholarships is their propensity for encouraging parental engagement and their ability to reach the neediest children at a younger age, both which are critically important in a child’s education. In addition, education - especially early education - is never a universal, “one-size-fits-all” endeavor. This mixed-delivery system embraces the strengths of both public and private settings, and allows for schedule flexibility and educational options that can individualize for student and family needs. These are all part of what make targeted scholarships so powerful.
Zoo Visit
The Minnesota Zoo came to the Capitol this week with some of their animals. I am pictured here with a gorgeous red tailed hawk. What a majestic creature! I also saw an armadillo, a chinchilla, a giant African millipede, and more. Thank you to the staff of the Minnesota Zoo for taking the time to come here with their animals and for patiently answering questions. What a fun experience!
Please Contact Me
As always, if you have any questions or concerns about an issue, please contact my office at 651-296-8216, or by email at Rep.Peggy.Bennett@house.mn; I would love to hear from you. Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Peggy