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Lawmakers look at plan to help cover child care, early education

The plan calls for using a chunk of the projected $1.3 billion budget surplus to pay for child care costs.

ST PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota House DFL lawmakers are looking to inject $500 million into child care and early learning programs.

On Thursday, leaders argued the plan – called the Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act – would help deal with the achievement gap while also giving parents the support they need to work.

“Our children are only young once. So if we take some of the one-time budget surplus and invest now, we’ll have an impact on the rest of their lives,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman at the press conference.

The plan calls for using a chunk of the projected $1.3 billion budget surplus to pay for early learning scholarships, child care assistance and one-time provider support. The proposal would also ensure that 4,000 children can continue receiving school-based preschool.

The DFL-sponsored plan does face challenges, with no Republicans yet signed on to support the measure.

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