The competition received such a huge response that Congress earmarked more money in its 2011 fiscal budget for the plan, Reuters reported yesterday. (Read the story here). In fact, the Obama administration has designatied $500 million for a spin-off program, "Early Learning Challenge," which focuses on children from birth to age five and high-quality early childhood education.
Yesterday, District Attorney Seth Williams was one of several speakers who participated in a forum on early childhood education in Washington D.C. Irnonically, the Philadelphia School District has proposed to make cuts to Pre-K, and full-day Kindergarten in order to close the $629 million deficit they stand to face next fiscal year.
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Obama is also pushing to create yet another verison in which individual school districts can compete.
For the third round of grants this year, states will vye for a piece of $200 million, which range in size from $10 million to $50 million.