Albert Lea Area Schools is one of 74 districts across the state that will receive funding for a voluntary state-funded pre-kindergarten program this year.

The local funding, for about $819,000 this school year, will pay for 100 preschool students, said Jenny Hanson, director of early learning for the Albert Lea district. The program will be for eligible 4-year-olds in the attendance areas of Hawthorne and Halverson elementary schools.

“We’re hoping this shakes loose any of those families that either didn’t know about preschool opportunities or couldn’t afford preschool programs,” Hanson said.

The funding is part of a new $25 million investment for voluntary state-funded pre-kindergarten announced Monday by Gov. Mark Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith. Seventy-four districts and charter schools will receive money, including 14 metro area districts, 50 Greater Minnesota districts and 10 charter schools.

The program is targeted to Minnesota school districts and charter schools that serve high numbers of low-income students.

Hanson said Hawthorne and Halverson schools were selected based on data for free- and reduced-price lunches for students.

The program will serve 80 students at Halverson Elementary and about 40 at Hawthorne Elementary, she said. This includes a dozen special education students at Halverson and eight at Hawthorne, which will be paid for in collaboration with separate special education funding.

The pre-kindergarten funding is expected to continue for three years.

Hanson said the program will start after Labor Day to give the district time to prepare for the opening.

Parents who are interested in getting their child into the program and who live in the Halverson or Hawthorne attendance areas are asked to call 379-4838 for more information.

Hanson said depending on interest, there may be an option for wrap-around child care as well. If the spots do not fill from the Halverson and Hawthorne attendance areas, the district has the capability of expanding it out to other attendance areas.

Hanson thanked the district administration and school board for supporting the application for funding.

Prior to the new program, she estimated preschools in both the district and in the community were serving about 65 percent of the pre-kindergarten population.

She said she hopes that number will rise with the new classes being offered.

According to a news release, Minnesota ranked 50th in the nation last year for access to full-day early learning programs.

The release stated 55 percent of the state’s 3- and 4-year-olds are not enrolled in any form of pre-kindergarten and many who are have to pay tuition.

“The investment we made this session brings Minnesota closer to optional preschool for all 4-year-olds, regardless of their families’ ability to pay. But we have a lot more work to do,” said Lt. Gov. Tina Smith in a press release. “Access to preschool is a proven strategy for closing our state’s opportunity gap. We need to build on this investment to ensure every child gets a great start in Minnesota.”

Dayton said he and Smith will keep fighting until every family in the state has the choice to send their child to preschool.

According to a news release, about 60 percent of the 183 school districts and charter schools that applied for the funding did not receive state aid.