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Arizona Education Department Gets $20 Million Grant To Improve Preschool Access

preschool child playing
(Photo via graphicstock.com)

The Arizona Department of Education got confirmation this week that their preschool improvement efforts can look forward to another round of $20 million in grant money. Arizona was one of 18 states to receive federal funding.

The money is part of a four-year federal grant intended to help states expand access to high quality preschool for children from low- to moderate-income families.

In 2015, the project helped the state improve and add slots for children in high need communities, or communities with a high number of English-language learners and students on free and reduced lunch.

The state has also allotted some of the money to offer scholarships to teachers pursuing early-childhood education certifications.

When the grant period ends in 2019, schools who have received funding will be responsible for strategizing how to continue their improvements.

Carrie Jung was a senior field correspondent from 2014 to 2018.