Committee Advances Sullivan’s Pre-K Expansion Bill

The House Committee on Education today advanced State Rep. Holli Sullivan’s (R-Evansville) proposal that would expand Indiana’s pre-K pilot program for low-income students.

“Offering our at-risk youth a high-quality early childhood education is extremely important to me as a parent,” Sullivan said. “This proposal would help us close the achievement gap for more low-income students. It will also provide necessary wrap around services, which will benefit the entire state.”

The current On My Way Pre-K pilot program was established in 2014 and serves nearly 2,300 students in Allen, Lake, Marion, Jackson and Vanderburgh counties. Sullivan’s legislation would add up to five more counties.

Sullivan said the increase of up to five more counties allows for a larger data set to ensure proper review of our pilot program so we can access its successes or shortfalls.

“Children who aren’t ready for kindergarten are half as likely to read proficiently by third grade. Students who aren’t reading proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school before graduation,” Sullivan said.

The bill now moves to the full House of Representatives for further discussion. For more information on Sullivan’s bill, visitiga.in.gov.