Good Afternoon Friends,
As we transition from committee work to the house floor debate, I continue to work with my colleagues across the aisle to introduce and support bipartisan bills that improve the quality of life in Lakeville and across Minnesota. It’s important to share with you that I have very much enjoyed getting to know my fellow Democrats and Republican colleagues. In fact, nearly half of the 35 bills I’ve authored or co-authored have bi-partisan support. As the media attention will start to focus on floor debate, please know that some of the partisan conversation is highlighted more than the actual nature of the work we do. I am committed to doing the work we were sent to do.
Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Lakeville’s Early Childhood Family Education center to see firsthand the outstanding work our teachers do to ensure our youngest minds are prepared for kindergarten and beyond. These programs are valuable for the development of young students, however, I have spoken with many school officials in several districts who have expressed their concerns with mandatory programming.
I support our House legislation that would provide $10 million more School Readiness and $30 million Pathway to Learning scholarships for families in need, in contrast to mandatory preschool. With many classrooms already at capacity, our schools simply don’t have the space required for mandatory preschool programming. Mandatory preschool doesn’t take into account the options and choices – public or private, home-based or school-based – of families for their youngest students.
Please continue to take my Legislative Survey and stay in touch to share your thoughts on the issues you face every day in our community and in our state. I look forward to hearing your feedback!
Have a great week,
Rep. Jon Koznick