Bakk Says Wide Expansion To All-Day K Planned

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The budget Minnesota lawmakers expect to pass will contain funding for all-day kindergarten at state expense.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said Monday that any district that wants to offer it will have the cost fully reimbursed. That's different than the current system where some districts charge a fee to parents for more than half-day kindergarten.

The expansion is a key feature of an education budget bill that will come to a final vote in coming days.

Lawmakers plan to pay for it through a series of tax increases, with most on high-earners and smokers.

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