Dayton Revives Minn. Early Learning Council

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Gov. Mark Dayton is reviving a Minnesota council for early childhood education as he focuses on preparing children to start school.

The Democratic governor told young children and parents who filled the Capitol rotunda Thursday that he signed an executive order for the Early Learning Council.

His directive renames the old Early Childhood Advisory Council established by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty in 2008. Dayton is charging the council with making policy recommendations to ensure that all children are ready for school by 2020.

Dayton says it's more efficient to make sure children enter school well-prepared than to try to catch them up once they're in school.

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