San Antonio city leaders are considering a proposal to reauthorize funding for Pre-K 4 SA, a tuition-free early childhood education program, in the upcoming November midterm election. The program, which was started under former Mayor Julián Castro, is set to see its first class of enrollees graduate from high school next year.

Reauthorization Proposal

The proposal, which is supported by four city council members, would extend funding for the program for 20 years, allowing for more long-term planning. However, not everyone is comfortable with skipping the regular check-ins to greenlight the program for such a long period.

San Antonio is facing a budget deficit, and some are concerned that the program could be at risk of cuts in the future. The city council is set to vote on the proposal this week, with the deadline to add items to the November ballot being Monday.

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is also asking the council to call a vote on the city’s portion of the new Spurs arena funding. The city’s budget deficit and potential spending cuts have raised concerns about the future of the program.

Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.