Governor Mark Dayton is pushing Republican lawmakers to extend funding for a portion of the state’s pre-kindergarten program that’s set to expire for 59 school districts and charter schools. Dayton says, “I’m determined to get it. The consequences… to have this program be taken away from schools that are carrying it forward now. It should be expanded.” Republicans argue it’s a better use of taxpayer dollars to target pre-kindergarten funding to areas where young students are particularly struggling and get them up to speed for the start of kindergarten.