Associated Press - July 11, 2009 7:45 PM ET

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The State Board of Education has approved more than $1 million for six new or expanded early childhood education programs.

The grants will allow Nebraska schools to create programs for about 260 at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds.

These grants are intended to improve educational equity across Nebraska by providing increased access to early childhood education pre-kindergarten programs.

The grants approved last month go to:

Diller-Odell Public Schools, $125,000;

Educational Service Unit 5 for Deshler Public Schools and Thayer Central Schools, $250,000;

Gibbon Public Schools, $75,000;

Grand Island Public Schools, $375,000;

Lincoln Public Schools, $186,000;

And Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools, $75,000.

On the Net:

Early education grants: http://www.nde.state.ne.us/ECH/ECH.html

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