MANKATO — Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius is in Mankato, for an informal roundtable discussion about early education.

Cassellius is also touring an early learning program in Mankato on Wednesday morning. The roundtable discussion will include staff from Mankato’s School Readiness Program, as well as parents who enrolled their children in early learning through a state early learning scholarship.

Gov. Mark Dayton and the Legislature approved $40 million in early learning scholarships in 2013 to expand access to early learning programs for low income families.

The Education Department says about $1.6 million went to Blue Earth, Brown, Nicollet and Watonwan counties over the biennium. The money provided early learning opportunities to nearly 400 children in the region.