Gov. Pawlenty has signed a nearly $13.8 billion education bill funding K-12 schools and early childhood programs for the next two years. While the bill doesn't achieve the ambitious goals set by early childhood advocates before the session, it does boost funding for programs that prepare children for school.

The education bill also includes $1 million for an early childhood literacy program, such as the Words Work program run by the Saint Paul Foundation.

Read the complete story at http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/05/30/earlyed/

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