BOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WOWK)– School is one of the most crucial aspects of a child’s development, which is why Kentucky is working to make pre-schooling available to all children.

Fifty percent of children in Kentucky are not ready for kindergarten, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics. That’s why Governor Andy Beshear (D) is looking to start “Pre-K for All.”

The program would provide public schools with funding to create Pre-K classes. That includes building new facilities and training new staff. In the process, it would create an estimated 10% growth in the workforce across the state.

Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman says that this investment in children will impact the future.

“The most important investment we can make for our kids, for our families, for our workforce, for businesses, for the future as a commonwealth,” said Lt. Gov. Coleman. “This is an investment that will change the trajectory of entire generations of kids’ lives. It will be the difference maker between you know, better literacy rates, higher graduation rates, higher college-going rates, more success in the workforce, even in the next generation.”

Right now, the only options for parents when it comes to pre-schooling are paying out of pocket or trying to qualify for federal aid.

There are also some schools that pay for pre-school for children themselves.

Stephanie Lyons is the Director of Boyd County Early Childhood Education, is the head of one of those school programs. She says that preschool teaches them life skills, as well as reading and writing.

“So our team certainly believes that every child deserves it should be a basic right that a 4-year-old gets a quality year of preschool before going to kindergarten,” said Lyons. “And, you know, not only do we teach early childhood standards, but we also teach kids to be safe, be respectful and be a friend. And we teach them to walk in line. We teach them to share.”

Lyons says that all children should have access to preschool.

“Support no matter what, no matter what their background is. We have a lot of grandparents and great-grandparents now raising kids, and we have kids born addicted to drugs,” said Lyons. “So you know, those families don’t have the resources sometimes to handle, you know, the needs that the child has. So let’s give every kid that great start so that they can enter kindergarten ready to roll.”

Gov. Beshear’s looking to get the program into the state’s legislative session in January of 2026.