All-Day Kindergarten Bill a Priority for Senator Clausen

Sen. Greg Clausen (DFL-57) is feeling good about his bill to fund voluntary all-day kindergarten for all Minnesota students.

"This is a priority for a lot of people in the Senate," the former Rosemount High School principal told Sun Thisweek.

Clausen told the paper that he hoped the bill would give students an academic head start, close the racial achievement gap and place school districts with different financial resources on more equal footing.

Currently, about half of Minnesota kindergartners attend an all-day program, some of which are funded by districts' general fund and others are paid for by charging students' parents.

District 196 charges children's parents for its all-day program, "Kindergarten Plus," though financial assistance is available.

Clausen's bill would cost the state $130 million a year, most of which would go toward paying teachers.