Post by Logan on Apr 26, 2016 3:17:52 GMT -6
HONOLULU - Legislative leaders want to boost funding for a program that helps fund preschool for children from low-income families, and say they've agreed to increase the budget for the Preschool Open Doors to $10 million.
A budget committee with members from the House and Senate announced Tuesday they want to increase the program's budget beyond the $6 million Gov. David Ige requested, which would allow an additional 600 children to participate in the program.
"Both committees definitely recognize the importance of making sure our youngest keiki (children) are ready for school regardless of where they live, their families' ability to pay," said Sen. Jill Tokuda, chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means committee, calling the program a "great equalizer."
The decision was announced along with other agreements reached over how to spend the state's $13.5 billion budget for 2017.
Read more: www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/609239/Lawmakers-boost-preschool-funding--postpone-decisions.html
A budget committee with members from the House and Senate announced Tuesday they want to increase the program's budget beyond the $6 million Gov. David Ige requested, which would allow an additional 600 children to participate in the program.
"Both committees definitely recognize the importance of making sure our youngest keiki (children) are ready for school regardless of where they live, their families' ability to pay," said Sen. Jill Tokuda, chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means committee, calling the program a "great equalizer."
The decision was announced along with other agreements reached over how to spend the state's $13.5 billion budget for 2017.
Read more: www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/609239/Lawmakers-boost-preschool-funding--postpone-decisions.html