INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has reversed course from a previously held position and is now seeking federal money to help pay for an expanded pre-kindergarten program that helps disadvantaged children.
Pence said Thursday that the success of a five-county pilot program led him to write a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to inquire about federal grants.
Gov. Pence: Indiana "ready now" to expand pre-K pilot. Targeted to low-income children. @IndyThisWeek @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/1myiginWeE
— Katie Heinz (@katieheinz6) June 3, 2016
"Indiana is years behind in implementing pre-k throughout our state. Our children deserve better." - Supt Ritz pic.twitter.com/YcovM55Qu7
— IN Dept of Education (@EducateIN) June 2, 2016
The Republican governor surprised many in 2014 when he decided to not seek $80 million in federal pre-K funding amid opposition from religious conservative groups.
PREVIOUS | Approximately 600 state staff hours went into nixed pre-K grant application
In 2014, Indiana Department of Education spokesperson Daniel Altman said, using a conservative estimate, two people spent 20 hours a week for six weeks working on the pre-K project.
Altman said one of the workers, the Director of Early Learning and Intervention, has a $92,000 salary.
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration estimates their staff spent between 300 and 400 hours on the research, evaluation and response drafting pertaining to the grant.
Pence said Thursday that he wanted to make sure the smaller pilot program worked before asking for federal money.
Many families that applied for the On My Way Pre-K pilot program were turned down because demand was too high for available funds.
