St. Cloud District Receiving Over $1 Million in Preschool Funding

ST. CLOUD - Over $1 million is coming from the state to the St. Cloud Area School district for preschool programs this upcoming school year.

The District will receive $1,005,160 for an estimated 150 pre-k students. Statewide, more than 3,300 4-year-olds will attend preschool this upcoming school year as part of Minnesota's new state-funded program.

District 742 is one of 74 school districts and charter schools in the state to receive money from the state, nearly 60 percent of districts that applied for funding were denied.

The state passed a preschool program earlier this year that targets impoverished school districts. Governor Mark Dayton originally pushed for a more expansive preschool program but faced resistance from a Republican controlled House. The state eventually approved $25 million for the programs.

A news release from the Governor's Office says with the pre-kindergarten investment, about one-fifth of Minnesota districts will provide free, voluntary pre-k. The hope is that these programs can help reduce the achievement gap and increase graduation rates.

This story was written with information from the Associated Press.