Minnesota is one of 35 states seeking to tap into $250 million worth of federal grant money established under President Obama's "Preschool for All" initiative.
About 25 communities in a dozen or so states will be awarded Preschool Development Grants, money that can be used to either launch or expand preschool opportunities.
In Minnesota's case, that would mean expanding the work of the four "Transformation Zones" that were awarded $45 million in 2011 as part of the Race to the Top competition. Those areas include: the Northside Achievement Zone, St. Paul Promise Neighborhoods, Itasca County and the White Earth Reservation. The application calls for establishing two new zones - one in southern Minnesota and another that would serve children in suburban communities.
The state's application also calls for deploying the Minnesota Reading Corps in each of the zones.
Minnesota is eligible for up to $15 million in grant money for up to four years. The U.S. Department of Education will announce the grant winners in December.
"Expanding access to high-quality preschool is the single most important step we can take to improve the future of our children," said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. "The states applying for the Preschool Development Grants are demonstrating their commitment to partner with the federal government in providing educational opportunities that can help close the equity gaps that exist in our country and prepare our young children—especially those with high needs—for success in kindergarten, through elementary school and beyond.
Spurred by research that shows quality early education programs can help close the achievement gap between white and minority students, Minnesota education leaders have increased their efforts to expand the state's current array of preschool options.
Last spring,state lawmakers approved $12 million in funding increases for the school-based readiness initiative,early learning scholarships and early childhood family education (ECFE) programs.
In general, Minnesota gets high marks for the quality of its preschool programs but has been encouraged to expand the number of students enrolled in those programs.
Duncan at the Pond Early Childhood Education Center in Bloomington. Photo by Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune
