Early Ed Gets Big Boost

The Lilly Endowment is gifting $22.5 million to strengthen early childhood education programs across the state. 

Early Learning Indiana (formerly known as Day Nursery Association) is getting the bulk of the money, $20 million, to build high quality preschool programs for children 5 and under. 

Ted Maple, president and CEO of Early Learning Indiana says more families are demanding high quality early learning programs.

"We want hope to improve accessibility," says Maple, "there's a high percentage of children that need preschool and there's not enough high quality programs accessible to them."

The money will help Early Learning Indiana raise the quality of education at least 400 preschools across the state.

The grant money will not be used to subsidize the cost of tuition, but instead focus on improving the systems so the public sector can then make policies to help struggling families Maple says.

United Way of Central Indiana is also benefitting from the Lilly Endowment grant.  It will receive $2.5 million to build classrooms and improve facilities in Indianapolis and surrounding counties.