Andy Bashir's pre-K for all initiative is drawing support from some leaders across the state.

The initiative would expand access to preschool education to all four year olds in Kentucky.

According to Beshear, more than 60,000 Kentuckians have written letters in support of universal pre-K.

Our Emily Sisk sat down with two Northern Kentucky leaders to hear why they support the initiative.

In my opinion, this would be a great equalizer in a sense.

Covington Independent Schools Superintendent Alvin Garrison is a staunch supporter of the pre-K for all initiative.

He believes it will set a firm foundation for all Kentucky children.

For us, we are a low income district.

I think we're about 90% free and reduced lunch.

Our kids are, more than likely less prepared compared to their wealthier peers.

Garrison, who is a member of the pre-K for all advisory committee, pointed to the data of kids who attend preschool.

When you look at graduation rates, they improve.

When students that attend preschool, I think, college, the more successful in college, less likely by attending preschool, less likely to be incarcerated to be on special ed.

Currently in the Covington Independent School System, preschool is available for families who live up to 160% below the federal poverty line.

It's also available to any 3 or 4 year old with a disability.

We cannot serve all the kids out there that probably need it because of the requirements to be eligible.

Some critics of the pre-K for all initiative wonder if the state has enough teachers to expand its preschool offering.

11% of Kentucky teachers left the profession at the end of the 2023 school year, and almost 50% of principals and superintendents said they regularly used long term substitute teachers to cover vacant positions.

I asked Superintendent Garrison about the teacher shortage.

He said the pre-K advisory committee is recommending school districts expand their preschool offering when they are ready, which should allow them to prepare enough teachers.

It's not like it's a mandate next year, so that gives us plenty of time to develop more teachers, I think changing some of the certifications.

So maybe teachers that are elementary certified or primary certified could now teach in the preschool.

And educators aren't the only ones showing their support for universal pre-K.

63 county judge executives signed a letter to the Kentucky General Assembly in support of the initiative.

One of those was Steve Pendry of Campbell County.

The Republican leader said universal pre-K will allow more parents to return to work and boost the local economy.

Everybody that you can convince to be in the workforce needs to be there.

Judge Pendry believes it may take time to secure a preschool program that delivers financial results for the state.

It's going to be difficult to come up with a program that meets needs, is affordable enough to gain support at a legislature.

But he believes it's something that can happen.

I do know that it's something that that we need.

If Kentucky could get ahead of the rest of the world in something like this, it will provide us an advantage.

And Superintendent Garrison, who grew up in Louisville, gave his own testimony on why he believes in preschool for all.

I was a student of poverty, inner city student of poverty, and I have preschool opportunities.

I'm a personal example of what I can do, how it can change a whole generation.

That was because I got a strong foundation early on from preschool.

It will be up to the Kentucky General Assembly to provide the funds needed to establish universal pre-K for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

Thank you, Emily.

The Campbell County Judge executive said he hopes public preschools can work with private childcare centers to ensure they stay in business.

Preschool education was also the topic of a legislative committee meeting.

And Frankfort today, Kentucky Department of Education officials told lawmakers they have not yet fleshed out all the details for what universal pre-K might look like in the state.

State Senator Danny Carroll, a Republican from Paducah, says that's in part because of a disconnect in the governor's messaging.

The governor keeps touting, pre-K for all universal pre-K, but he doesn't define what that means.

If it's public pre-K for all, there is a problem with that.

There are substantial costs for infrastructure, for teachers, for transportation, you name it.

Not to mention if it's full day public pre-K.

The fact that center, private center, childcare centers all across the state would close their doors because it is the preschool and school age kids are the only ages that early childhood education providers generate any revenue with.

And these people are jumping on board the governor, judges, mayors without knowing what they're jumping on board for and what the cost might be associated with that.

And if if we're really going to get serious about this, we need to all get on the same page.

Senator Carroll said he's a strong proponent of early childhood education and 2024, he introduced a bill dubbed the Horizons Act.

The ambitious $300 million plan was intended to support Kentucky's child care industry.

Today, he said he's discussed the possibility of introducing the bill during the next legislative session.

The 2026 Kentucky General Assembly begins January 6th.