The Family and Social Services Administration announced the recipients of more than $1.5 million in grant money this week, for expanding the capacity of early learning across the state.

The report assessed different policies in key areas including transportation and education to assess how they support community outcomes.

Those counties are: Bartholomew, Delaware, Elkhart, Howard, Kosciusko, Madison, Marshall, Monroe, St. Joseph, and Tippecanoe counties

A new report from the preschool advocacy organization, Early Learning Indiana, says the rule penalizes children whose parents can't work.

New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated Schools is the first district in the state to pilot UPSTART through a federal grant.

During the 2018-2019 school year, low-income families in the additional 15 counties will be able to apply for their 4-year-old children to attend preschool.

Currently the program serves about 1,500 students in five counties.

Republicans rejected several attempts by Democrats Wednesday to increase pre-k funding.

The Indiana Senate approved legislation for state-funded preschool that offers far less financial support than what Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb had sought.

Many are calling on the legislature to expand the current pre-K pilot program, but there two very different bills regarding the issue.