Bill seeks $96.5 million annually to secure funding for early learning scholarships

Early learning scholarships provide funding for children to attend a high-quality early learning program.

In an effort to keep that program alive and well, HF470 would appropriate $96.5 million annually in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Early Learning Scholarship program and makes the appropriation ongoing.

Rep. Nolan West (R-Blaine), the bill sponsor, admitted Tuesday that appropriation will be much less at the end of the session but thinks that the program is too valuable to not fund at all.

“I will fight vigorously for us to find some money to continue this program as much as we possibly can. With the budget deficit, it does make it difficult but I don't think this is the program that would be appropriate to let it stop,” he told the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee, which he co-chairs.

To be eligible for a scholarship, children must be ages birth to 4 years old on Sept. 1 of the current school year, and families must also meet eligibility requirements. The scholarship must be used at a program rated by Parent Aware, Minnesota's quality rating and improvement system. 

Currently, there are about 10,000 scholarship recipients each month.

“Early learning scholarships will provide resources to ensure that families can enroll and gain access to quality care. We understand that when families have access to affordable child care, it allows parents to participate in the workforce, boosting the state’s economy. Minnesota’s economy loses $2.1 billion annually due to the child care challenges,” wrote David Dominick, director of public policy for the Minnesota Alliance of YMCAs.

Corinne Martin was a recipient of an early learning scholarship, and it helped her get back on her feet from addiction.

“Getting a scholarship changed our lives and marked the start of our family’s independence,” she said. “I was able to work on getting my license unsuspended, filing for child support, joining a legal aid program, then filing for divorce, finding an affordable car and then finally being able to drive my car. I built a resume, got a job and then I was finally able to go back to college. Things I could never do in my addiction were also things I could never do if I had to worry about taking care of (my daughter) Oakland for the entire day.”

Not only does the scholarship help families and children but it helps the community, said Allison Gettings, president and chief executive officer of Red Wing Shoes.

“Access to quality child care is fundamentally important not only for parents and for families, but for businesses in our community to remove barriers for parents entering the workforce. Scholarships connect children and low-income families to quality, early care and education. We've seen this kind of investment has shown to have extraordinary public return and investment because of reduced future cost to taxpayers.”