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 This month, advocates and lawmakers celebrated the expansion of Alabama's high-quality, voluntary First Class Pre-K program with ribbon cutting celebrations in Autauga, Blount and Houston Counties. This year, an additional 122 First Class Pre-K classroom grants are allowing approximately 2,200 more four-year-olds to attend Alabama's nationally-recognized program. This year's pre-k expansion was made possible due to a $13 million increase in state investments for the program approved by the state legislature in Alabama's FY 2018 Education Trust Fund Budget, along with funding from year three of Alabama's four-year federal Preschool Development Grant.
 The ribbon cuttings were organized by advocates from the Alabama School Readiness Alliance. In 2012, the Alabama School Readiness Alliance's business-led Pre-K Task Force launched a ten-year campaign, now in its fifth year, to advocate for incremental increases in First Class Pre-K until the program is fully funded in the 2022-2023 school year. ASRA has estimated that the state would need to appropriate a total level of funding of $144 million to give every Alabama family the opportunity to voluntarily enroll their four-year-old in a First Class Pre-K classroom. The current level of funding is $77.5 million.
At each celebration, lawmakers expressed their support for First Class Pre-K expansion. "The legislature is responsible for making sound investments in education, and one of the wisest investments we can make is to ensure a strong foundation for students in high-quality pre-k," said State Senator Harri Anne Smith (SD-29) at the Houston County ribbon cutting event at Wicksburg High School. "The additional $13 million that the state legislature added this year only increases access to First Class Pre-K to 28 percent of four-year-olds across the state," said State Representative Donnie Chesteen (HD-87). "With all the great outcomes that we are seeing for those who are able to attend, it is important that we continue funding the First Class Pre-K program until all four-year-olds can attend."
 "It is so great to see these young ones getting connected with learning at such a young age," said Senator Clyde Chambliss (SD-30) at the Autauga county ribbon cutting at United Christian Church. "I have witnessed first-hand how pre-k is making a long lasting difference in their lives. Not only will these children be better off, but our state will be as well!" Chambliss' counterpart in the House, Representative Paul Beckman (HD-88), shared his support for the diverse delivery system of the First Class Pre-K program. "Families across Alabama deserve to enroll their children in a school setting consistent with their values, and I am glad to see the state offer grants for its nationally recognized high-quality pre-k program to a wide variety of providers," said the Representative. "As Alabama's First Class Pre-K program grows, I am glad to see more faith-based and licensed child care centers participate."
 "I am grateful for the opportunity to visit the new First Class Pre-K program at Appalachian Elementary School," said Senator Shay Shelnutt (SD-17). "This is the first of what I hope are many Alabama First Class Pre-K classrooms in the Blount County School system." Representative David Standridge (HD-34) also voiced his support at the Blount County event. "The state legislature has invested millions of dollars into expanding the Alabama First Class Pre-K program so that more families can have an opportunity to participate," said Representative Standridge. "Blount County has an even greater need for high-quality pre-k than much of the state, and I am happy to see a new classroom get started here."
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