Pima County Approves Low-Income Preschool Scholarships

TUCSON, AZ — The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve more than $10 million in funding to help low-income families receive preschool scholarships.

The funding, which includes up to $10 million in county funds in addition to almost $3 million from cities, towns and other partners, will result in more than 1,200 scholarships for local children, the county said.

The plan begins on July 1, launching a partnership between eight school districts and Pima Community College to offer free preschool to 480 children.

Additionally, the measure includes a partnership with Arizona's First Things First agency, with 560 scholarships offered at various school districts, centers and home-based providers.

The county will also partner with Child-Parent Centers to offer extended day Head Start preschool programs to more than 200 children at 11 locations across the region, the county said.

The scholarship funding is open to Pima County families with children between the age of 3-5 that aren't in kindergarten.

Additionally, qualifying households must make 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or less, the county said.

“Successful communities support the education of their children, and I’m proud to be part of a community that is giving our children the best possible chance for success through this program,” County Supervisor Rex Scott said in a statement. “The data is undeniable – early education works. Children who benefit from early education on average do better in school throughout their careers, are more likely to graduate from high school and earn higher wages after graduation.”

A portion of the funding is meant to establish a three-year implementation plan with an established organization to develop an ongoing preschool scholarship plan that will be regulated by a multi-departmental team, the county said.