ST. PAUL — Gov. Mark Dayton’s drive for universal, tuition-free preschool for all Minnesota 4-year-olds is cementing its place in his bottom line for a new budget.

Dayton emphasized Tuesday that he considers the program essential as budget negotiations near. He got down to eye-level with youngsters in a St. Paul public school program and heard from teachers about the value of pre-kindergarten classes in readying children for education success.

Early education appears to be a shared Capitol priority this year. The debate is over the scope and setting.

Dayton’s $343 million plan favors public school-based learning programs. Legislative Republicans are considering less money that is poured instead into need-based scholarships that can be used in several types of programs. Dayton says there is room to both given a $1.9 billion surplus.

House Republicans are also passing on Gov. Mark Dayton’s $343 million plan to offer voluntarypreschool across the state. House Education Finance Committee Chairwoman Rep. Jenifer Loon wants about $40 million more for early learning scholarships and other help instead.

House GOP wants small bumps in school funding

ST. PAUL — Minnesota would spend about $179 more on each student under an education funding plan from House Republicans.

The bill released Tuesday includes a bump of a little over a half percentage point in general education funding to schools for each of the next two years. That’s less than Democrats in the governor’s office and state Senate want.

Schools like formula increases because they can spend the money without conditions.