Pre-K Program Funding Approved By Indy Council

Funding for an ambitious program to to make preschool available to around 1,000 children in low-income Indianapolis families was approved by the City-County Council Monday. 

In a bipartisan 19-10 vote, the council approved the first payment towards a $40 million, five-year, public-private investment.

The city program is expected to begin this fall and dovetail with the state's On My Way Pre-K Program in Marion County.

Mayor Greg Ballard called the vote a "perfect example" of Republican and Democrats working together to make progress in the city.

“Thanks to the priority this issue has been given, thousands of Indianapolis children will have access to high-quality preschool that will provide a solid start in their education," he said in a statement. "We would not be here without our generous corporate and philanthropic partners who share in our commitment to creating opportunity for every child.”

The city agreed to move $4.2 million from a reserve fund to pay for the preschool program's first year. Within five years, the city will pay $20 million in total. Another $20 million will come from private funds.

The program calls for making voluntary preschool scholarships for qualified families and grants help to help improve preschool quality.

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.