Raising the financial threshold for who qualifies for free preschool, mandating school districts create expansion plans, and crafting a statewide data system to keep track of enrollment. Those are the mechanisms Democrats want their Republican colleagues to consider, as they continue their campaign to move the state toward universal pre-K.
"The earlier you can start with early childhood education the better," Lexington Democratic Rep. Anne Donworth said. "This is a first step toward making sure that children do have access to that quality education."
Currently families making up to 160% of the federal poverty rate are eligible. Democrats want to raise that ceiling to 250% — and pay for it with gambling profits in Kentucky.
Sam Flynn with Team Kentucky Pre-K for All has said sports gambling funds could cover the $10 million startup cost and the recurring $40 million needed to run the programs.
Republicans, however, have their sights set elsewhere when it comes to helping parents and young children.
"There is an appetite in our caucus to deal with daycare. To say universal pre-k, that would be a stretch," Senate President Robert Stivers said early in the session.
GOP lawmakers have also cautioned that preschool expansions will come with other requests, including money for new facilities and staff.