Woodbury Group Heads to Capitol for Education Rally

Woodbury resident Sujata Naik, an immigrant from India who has lived in Minnesota for six years, says her family stayed in the state because of its strong pre-kindergarten education programs.

She wants it to stay that way for her 3-year-old daughter.

“I’ve just been amazed by what she learns here,” she said.

Naik was part of a group of more than 20 area residents who met at Thursday morning and boarded a bus for the state Capitol to participate in the Voices for Children Advocacy Day.

Sarah Craig, part of the District 833 Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) advisory council, said the group was set to meet with local lawmakers to express their desire for continued support of pre-K programs in the state. The rally at the Capitol rotunda was slated for 10 a.m.

South Washington County Schools has great ECFE and School Readiness programs, Craig said, and the group wants ensure that lawmakers think “E-12 instead of K-12.”

“Children don’t really have a voice and they’re not able to speak up to their legislators,” said Craig, who was joined by her 4-year-old son Liam. “So someone has to speak for them.”

Jane Scully, who manages early education programs in District 833 and has been involved in similar programs for the past 25 years, said Minnesota was once a leader in educating kids before they hit kindergarten.

“We’ve really sunk,” she said.

Better education at a younger age helps prevent problems with behavior, development and learning later in life, Scully said, adding that lawmakers also need to look at providing better opportunities for those who can’t afford preschool.

Gov. Mark Dayton released his education budget bill Wednesday, and state Rep. Nora Slawik, a DFLer who represents parts of Oakdale, said she was pleased with his focus on early childhood education.

“Governor Dayton has not only made great proposals for reform in K-12 and early childhood education, he’s backing it up with the funding to make it happen,” Slawik said in a statement. “The governor’s investments in all-day kindergarten for low-income students and his proposed innovation fund to encourage technology improvements in the classroom will go a long way toward beginning to close our achievement gap.”

Back at Central Park this morning, Naik said the programs in District 833 have helped her network with other parents and provide a forum for her to discuss parenting.

“And they shouldn’t even think about cutting down on the program,” she said.