Louisville's mayor says his city will have free quality pre-K for three and four year olds.

A new nonprofit, Thrive by five Louisville plans to create a five year program rolled out in three phases.

Governor Andy Beshear is also pushing for universal pre-K across the Commonwealth, but has received pushback from Republicans and the General Assembly.

Most children today in our city start kindergarten at five years old, but research has clearly shown that intellectual and social learning experience for age five is as important as what they learn after age five.

Children who attend high quality preschool are more likely to graduate from high school, more likely to earn more money in their careers, and more likely to live longer, healthier lives.

Universal pre-K will help more parents and caregivers get back into the workforce.

This plan will happen in three phases.

Phase one will begin immediately and will focus on workforce development.

This means getting more early learning professionals hired, trained, supported and compensated at a level that allows them to do the incredibly important work that we know we need them to do.

Phase two of the process is expected to begin in a year or so, and during phase two, it's when thrive by five, Louisville will begin to provide financial assistance so more local kids can attend quality preschool for free.

This financial assistance will initially be provided for four year olds whose families earn less than 300% of the federal poverty level.

Right now in Louisville, that equals a family of four, earning $93,600 a year or less.

Finally, in phase three, three, five, five, five, we will build on all of that work in the first two phases, refine the work, continue to improve it, and expand the program.

Let me be clear.

Our goal is that every Louisville family with a three or four year old child will have the option to send their child to free quality pre-K. Whatever your income, wherever you live in Jefferson County.

Mayor Greenburg says the initiative will cost about $35 million a year.

He anticipates funding will come from the city, state and federal government and through philanthropic efforts.