INDIANAPOLIS -- Democrats John Gregg and Glenda Ritz spelled out their plan Thursday to make Pre-K available to every 4-year-old in Indiana.
The Indiana Department of Education says as many as 21,000 4-year-olds could have access to preschool through the plan in the first year.
Gregg and Ritz say they expect a 50 percent participation rate in less than five years.
The initial cost for the program is $150 million.
Here's how they propose to pay for it:
- Using reversions, or unspent appropriations, at the end of each year
- Reprioritizing funds in the budget, including the amount appropriated for the I-STEP once it's replaced
- Applying for federal dollars
The state would issue grants to public and private Pre-K providers meeting a 'Level 3' or higher standard of quality.
Governor Mike Pence says he thinks expanding the state's pilot Pre-K program, which targets low-income children, is the right path forward.
Pence's deputy campaign manager says research shows that type of program has the greatest success and doesn't rely on funding that might not always be available.
