Gov: Alabama to add more than 100 pre-K classrooms in fall

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education will add 107 pre-K classrooms in 33 counties this fall, the office of Gov. Kay Ivey announced Monday.

Ivey's office said in a statement that the new classrooms will expand the state's voluntary kindergarten program to reach nearly 19,000 children in more than 1,000 classes in 67 counties. The program serves 32 percent of eligible four-year-olds in the state.

Ada Wyhe, spokeswoman for Alabama's early childhood education department, calculated that "full statewide access" would serve about 70 percent of eligible 4-year-olds because participation in the program is voluntary.