With many students heading off to early childhood programs this week, Minnesotans should know that while Johnson says he would support early education, his record says otherwise.
“A bright future for our youngest learners means a bright future for our state’s economy,” said DFL Chairman Ken Martin. “Minnesota needs a governor that will take the future of our youngest Minnesotans seriously, not someone who will throw spare change at early childhood education.”
Johnson cut early learning initiatives
- In 2002, Johnson voted for H.F. 2902, a bill that cut $21 million from early learning initiatives over three years.
He opposes early education funding for low-income families in need
- As a Hennepin County Commissioner, Johnson voted against adding support of early childhood education funding for low-income families to the county’s 2013 legislative platform.
- Giving Johnson a statewide platform to do the same would be detrimental for our kids.
Johnson looks forward to stamping out all-day kindergarten
- Johnson has said all-day kindergarten is an example of the kind of “strings-attached” funding increase he would try to stamp out.
At best, early education is a second thought for Johnson
- On early education funding, in an interview with the Star Tribune Johnson said, “…it all costs money, and so we’d have to figure out, in the grand scheme of things, where it fits in the budget.”
- Early childhood education is one of the smartest investments we can make, giving us a 16:1 return on investment. Yet, Johnson does not see it as a priority.