US Education Chief Praises Minnesota Preschool Funding
BLOOMINGTON (AP) — U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has praised Minnesota's newest funding for early education during a trip to the Twin Cities.
Duncan visited a Bloomington preschool Tuesday to drum up support for President Barack Obama's "Preschool for All" initiative.
Minnesota devoted more money in the just-ended legislative session to initiatives including all-day kindergarten.
Duncan says funding quality preschool will boost kindergarten readiness, close the achievement gap and improve the future economic prospects of everyone.
Obama has proposed $75 billion in new funding over 10 years that would fund preschool for low- and middle-income while increasing pay for early educators to help ensure high-quality programs. The White House has proposed a cigarette tax increase of 94 cents per pack to pay for the program.
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