Supporters of early childhood programs worried about funding from state

Some centers may be forced to close if cuts in state budget take effect

Reporter Jo Ingles Supporters of an early childhood program that provided preschool for low income three and four-year old children are worried about the future. Linda Neugabauer with the Columbus Montessori Education Center says state lawmakers have proposed budget cuts that could leave up to 4,000 preschoolers stranded in the middle of the summer. Click to Listen Other options: Realplayer / Windows Media / MP3 Download (0:11) Click to Listen Other options: Realplayer / Windows Media / MP3 Download (0:48)

"You want to prepare them for kindergarten, and yet you're going to kinda just put them out there God knows where for two months before they start kindergarten" Nuegebauer said.

Nuegebauer says that some early childhood education centers that have made a lot of spots for these children could be forced to close if the funding is pulled at the last minute. More than 12,000 children statewide participate in the program.