Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning is applying for a multi-million dollar federal grant to expand the state’s pre-kindergarten program.

The four-year grant administered by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would enable Georgia to develop services to eligible children in high-need communities.

Georgia is among 35 states asking the U.S. DOE for nearly $250 million in grant money, which will be awarded in 12-15 states and allow them to significantly increase funding to preschool programs.

The goal of the grant is to support states in building, developing and expanding voluntary, high-quality preschool programs in high-need communities for children from low- and moderate-income families.

The grant program will lay the groundwork to ensure that more states are ready to participate in the Preschool for All initiative proposed by the Obama Administration.