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Burmaster spoke on the issue at a series of news conferences around the state. She was in La Crosse July 18, in Milwaukee on July 19 and in Wausau July 20.
"We cannot let partisan politics stand in the way of putting our children on the path to success early in their lives," Burmaster said. "We must continue to provide our youngest children with every opportunity to reach their full potential."
The deadline for passing the 2001-03 state budget was July 1. The Republican-controlled Assembly and the Democrat-controlled Senate passed separate versions of the budget last month. A conference committee will try to reach a compromise between the two budget proposals. When that consensus is reached, the budget will need Gov. McCallum's signature.
The Senate proposal provides funds for 4-year-old kindergarten, but the Assembly eliminated state funding for the program and removed it from the state's two-third funding commitment.
In Wisconsin, 233 school districts provide 4-year-old kindergarten programs, including the La Crosse School District and MPS.
In Milwaukee, the proposed change to the state budget could result in an estimated reduction of $18 million in funding for MPS in 2002-03.
Posted July 18, 2001; Updated July 20, 2001