WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have awarded $3,735,439 in grant funding to the State of Maine to continue to expand access to high-quality preschool for children from low-income families.

“Early childhood education is an investment in the future of our children,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “This funding will expand access to pre-K and help build a foundation for Maine children that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.”

The Preschool Development Grant program supports state efforts to create or enhance preschool programs in high-need communities, while building or improving infrastructure to better deliver preschool services. Maine is one of 18 states receiving funding through the Preschool Development Grant program.

This is the third year out of four that awards are given to states that are working with local communities to prepare the nation’s most vulnerable children for success in school and in life.

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