FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear expanded his universal pre-K initiative on Tuesday, announcing that Franklin County Schools and Glasgow Independent Schools have joined the Team Kentucky Pre-K Pilot Program, bringing the total number of school districts in the program to four.

The full-day programs will begin in the 2026-2027 school year and serve as a first step toward providing every Kentucky child access to pre-K. Franklin County Schools and Glasgow join Robertson and Rockcastle counties, which were added to the program in May.

"Kentucky's children deserve the very best start, and Pre-K for All will deliver that and more by also helping parents save money, boosting our workforce and supporting businesses," Beshear said. "I am proud that, through this program and our Team Kentucky Early Learning Center, we're expanding access for nearly 3,000 children across our state."

Franklin County Superintendent Mark Kopp said the pilot will serve roughly 1,000 students over the next two years. Franklin County Public Schools is the largest school district in the pilot with more than 6,000 students and 15 schools, while Glasgow Independent School District serves 2,240 students.

Kopp noted that in Franklin County specifically, fewer than 40 percent of students are ready for kindergarten, stating that the pilot will help change that outcome. Beshear said he used federal funds that he has the flexibility to appropriate under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, allowing him to bypass Republican lawmakers who have refused to fund the expansion in the state budget.

The initiative has drawn broad support from stakeholders. More than 150 business owners, 93 school superintendents representing over half of Kentucky's school districts, 46 local and regional chambers of commerce, and other groups have sent letters of support to the General Assembly.

However, Republican leaders in Frankfort have questioned the cost of the pilots and whether the dollars could be spent to ease healthcare and social service cuts. When lawmakers pushed back, Beshear responded that federal law restricts the funds to pre-K purposes, not Medicaid or other services.