Establish universal public pre-k in the state of Minnesota.

 

The purpose of this bill is to insure a spot for every 4 year old in a pre-k class at a local public school.

 

Pre-k age children are in a crucial stage for brain development and have been proven to gain major cognitive, social,

and emotional benefits when enrolled in a pre-k program. A study by the UChicago Consortium On School Research showed

that 90% of English learners enrolled before age 4 scored one level higher on an English proficiency test than those who

weren’t. Universal pre-k allows parents to go back to work. For example, after offering 2 years of free, full day

preschool, Washington D.C. saw a 15% increase in working mothers who live under the poverty line and 13% above. On

average, enrolling a 4 year old in private childcare costs $17,882 per year per kid, and eliminating this cost saves

families from this incredibly substantial financial burden.

 

Income tax: a tax established by the state government directly on income

Tax bracket: a certain range of incomes that are taxed at a certain rate

Universal (as in “universal public pre-k”): available to all children at a certain age. To be ‘universal’, must have

enough space for at least 70% of all children in the state

 

A small additional income tax will be imposed on the top tax bracket in Minnesota. The top tax bracket rate will

increase from a 9.85% rate to a 10.22% rate. This will bring an additional $180,752,472 to pay an average of $59,832 to

each pre-k teacher (which is the Minnesota state average).

 

According to Minnesota Statute 609.54, if funds are embezzled over $2,500 all persons involved may be subject to

imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or pay a fine of up to $20,000. If the embezzled funds are equal to or less than

$2,500, all persons involved may be subject to imprisonment for up to 5 years and/or pay a fine of up to $10,000.

 

This bill should be put into effect by March 1st, 2026.