Five Indiana counties are getting pre-K funding from the state this year, and Elkhart County could be one of them.
Indiana earmarked $10 million to go to five counties that need pre-K support the most. Each of the five yet-to-be-selected counties will receive $2 million and are responsible to come up with between at least 10 percent of that in matching funds.
Elkhart County is one of 18 counties in the running for the money, but a decision won't be made until the end of July.
The money will provide preschool vouchers for children in families making an annual income that's 127 percent of the federal poverty level or less.
This summer, Horizon Education Alliance is training 20 preschool classrooms in Elkhart County in a learning method called Tools of the Mind.
They are dedicating $100,000 to train preschool teachers in this method, which is focused on teaching children self-regulation through play.
"Hopefully, using Tools of the Mind will help more preschool classrooms qualify for this grant from the state," Brian Wiebe, executive director of HEA, said.
Preschools eligible to accept children who qualify for the state's vouchers must be using a planned curriculum that guides child development and school readiness.
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