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Business leaders, parents and providers urge continuation of early learning scholarships; committee lays over HF470
Summary
Dozens of testifiers told the Children and Families committee that preserving early learning scholarship funding is critical for families, providers and workforce development; Representative West moved House File 470 to be laid over.
The Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee received extensive public testimony urging continuation of the state's early learning scholarship program as Representative West moved House File 470 to be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
Chair West described HF470 as legislation to continue funding that was established in the prior budget cycle and said the bill includes an appropriation of $96,565,000 for the next two years. Testimony in support came from parents, providers and business leaders who said scholarships increase access to quality early learning programs and support workforce participation.
Corinne Martin, a parent and scholarship recipient from Saint Louis Park, described how the scholarship helped her complete education and regain custody during recovery. Athena Mijas, chief financial officer for Greater Twin Cities United Way, described the organization's new role as the central payment administrator for early learning scholarships and said the United Way had processed 14,177 invoices, paid more than $55,000,000, and served 10,377 children and 1,347 providers since assuming the role.
Lisonbee Geddings, chief executive officer of Red Wing Shoe Company, testified that insufficient scholarship capacity in small counties creates employee-recruitment challenges and said preserving funding is a long-term investment with returns in reduced special-education costs. Viridiana Anguiano, program director at Listos Preschool in Rochester, said almost 40 percent of her center's enrollment receives scholarships and that funding reductions would destabilize programs that have only recently reached balanced budgets.
Department staff and nonprofit administrators answered member questions about the difference between CCAP and scholarships and about administrative costs. Testifiers said the average scholarship amount statewide is about $15,000 per child per year and that roughly 10,500 children receive scholarships in an average month. Committee members and the two chairs expressed support for the program but acknowledged the broader budgetary constraints; Chair Katiza Watoone noted the scholarship funding had been provided as one-time dollars in the prior session and said the committee must weigh priorities in a tighter budget environment.
After member discussion the committee laid HF470 over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill so members could continue to seek options to preserve funding.
Votes and immediate next steps: House File 470 was laid over by motion of Chair West and the committee recorded the layover for further consideration in the omnibus process.
