state-funded pre-K

On this year's State of Preschool report from The National Institute for Early Education Research, Indiana ranked second to last for state funded pre-K access for four year olds.

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

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.

The new plan will expand state-funded preschool to 20 counties, tie it to the state's private school voucher program and include an option for online 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.

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 Senate Appropriations Committee endorsed the move Thursday to cut the governor's request for $10 million a year in additional funding to $3 million.