Montgomery, AL – Plans to expand Alabama's pre-kindergarten offerings include folding more Head Start sites into the state funded program.
It's a move education officials say will make sure quality isn't sacrificed for growth.
There are currently 25 Head Start sites in Alabama's pre-k program, but officials hope more of the federally funded programs are added next year.
That's when the number of 4-year-olds served by the state will more than triple if all goes as planned.
Federal dollars will continue to go to the Head Start site, but the state's higher pre-k standards are aimed at enhancing the learning experience of kids in the program.
Alabama's state-funded pre-k has been widely lauded for its quality, but it currently serves just four percent of the state's 4-year-olds.
That's 2,400 youngsters, but expansion plans for the upcoming year call for a $20 (m) million increase to serve 7,600 students.
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