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.

The bill looking to expand state funded pre-K also allocates $1 million for in-home digital preschool learning.

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.

In a 41-9 vote, state senators pushed ahead a two-year, $32 million proposal that would modestly expand state-funded preschool beginning July 2017.

The committee reduced funding for a pre-K expansion bill, from $10 million a year to $3 million a year.