Pre-K program hopes to reach all 4-year-olds in 10 years

Advocates unveiled a plan Thursday to expand Alabama's pre-K program.

Education leaders say that currently, only six percent of children in the state participate in early education. 

The plan to increase that enrollment is a 10-year goal to expand the state's voluntary pre-K program to reach all four-year-olds.

Advocates say that participating in pre-K education not only helps students' reading levels at an early age, but can affect academic success through graduation and college.

A 38-member task force organized by the Alabama School Readiness Alliance has been meeting for more than a year to discuss recommendations to improve and expand the pre-K program.

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