Indy Council Committee OKs Pre-K Program Payment

A City-County Council committee Wednesday approved the city’s first payment towards a $40 million, five-year, public-private investment to make high-quality preschool available to 1,000 children in low-income Indianapolis families.

The vote to shift $4.2 million from a reserve fund intended for special uses to the program drew unanimous support from the bipartisan committee and outpouring of praise from community and business leaders.

The committee also approved making the United Way of Central Indiana the program administrator for the Indianapolis pre-K program. The non-profit is also overseeing the state’s On My Way Pre-K pilot-program.

The full council is expected to consider the final approval on the funding next month.

The city’s preschool plan is part of Mayor Greg Ballard’s three-tiered plan to fight crime.

“Indy's pre-K plan took an important step forward tonight, getting us even closer to giving more of our children a better start in life,” Ballard said in a statement. “I look forward to working closely with the United Way of Central Indiana to put thousands of three- and four-year-olds on a path to success."

The $4.2 million dollars is city’s first-year deposit on its $20 million portion of the pre-K scholarship program aimed at low-income families. Another $20 million will come from private funds.

Ann Murtlow, United Way CEO, said the nonprofit plans to raise $7.5 million for the city’s plan.

To be eligible for the program, families must have a household income of up to 127 percent of the federal poverty level -- that’s about $30,290 for a family of four. Scholarships to attend a qualified preschool would range from $2,500 to $6,800 per year.

Contact Weddle at eweddle@wfyi.org or call (317) 614-0470. Follow on Twitter: @ericweddle.