
Five-year-old pre kindergartner Marcus Singletary looks on during a Pre-K Day ceremony at the State Capitol in Atlanta, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. Prekindergarten advocates gathered at the Gold Dome to push for more early education for Georgia's children, the same day that Gov. Nathan Deal proposed making the program half-day. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Gov. Nathan Deal proposed the cut last week under a plan to help rein in costs for programs funded by the Georgia Lottery, which are facing massive shortfalls if changes aren't made.
Deal has proposed shortening the pre-k day from six and a half hours to four hours. He said schools can eliminate naps and lunchtime for students to make sure they get more time in the classroom.
The scaled-back program would make 5,000 more slots available, which would slash through half the state's 10,000-student waiting list for pre-k classes.




