FORT WRIGHT, Ky. — The federal government has selected Kentucky for a nearly $36 million dollar grant to ensure more children are ready for kindergarten.

State officials say this helps support both families and the state’s economy. The superintendent of one northern Kentucky school district that’s been ahead of the curve with preschool spoke about the benefits early education provides.

What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky will benefit from millions of dollars in federal funding toward early childhood education

  • State officials say children who get early childhood education can master basic skills at a much higher rate

  • The funding will help hire more early childhood educators and expand access

  • The Kenton County School District adopted full-day preschool two years ago

A full day of preschool was not something available to young children in Kenton County until the school board approved a change two years ago.

“We went from having half-day preschool four days a week to now we have all day preschool five days a week for about 560 kids here in Kenton County,” said Kenton County School District Superintendent Dr. Henry Webb.

Webb said his is one of just a few Kentucky school districts to adopt full-day preschool. That could soon change.

The Office of Early Childhood Development Preschool Development Birth Through Five Grant will provide Kentucky with $11.9 million each year over a three-year period. 

According to the governor’s office, a young child who enters kindergarten ready for school has an 82% chance to master basic skills by age 11, compared to a 45% chance for kids who are not school ready.

Webb said that’s consistent with what he’s seen in Kenton County.

“Kids that are kindergarten ready obviously perform much higher throughout their education career than kids who are not kindergarten ready. And we all know brain development in those early years is so important,” Webb said. “Being able to come to kindergarten kindergarten-ready is a game changer.”

Gov. Andy Beshear said these funds will help the state develop and expand early learning programs, build an early childhood education workforce talent pipeline and expand access to high-quality education for children most in need.

In Kenton County, preschool is available—for free—to 4-year-old kids whose families are income eligible at 160% of the poverty level, and to 3- and 4-year-old kids with an educational disability because of delays in their development.

Webb said adopting this model has been popular among parents, and contributes to economic development.

“You get parents able to get into the workforce when their kids are at school. So yes, it’s a win-win. I mean, it really is,” Webb said. “And I hope going forward at some point the state will do more investing in early childhood development for all of our three, four- and five-year-olds.”

In the classroom, kids learn things like how to work in groups, follow instructions, and the beginning stages of reading and math. Webb said it’s an easy investment to make into the long-term future of the kids and the community.

Gov. Beshear has proposed an education first plan to be considered during the upcoming 2023 legislative session. The plan aims to address student learning loss brought on by the pandemic and public school teacher vacancies.

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