Indiana’s Preschool Voucher Cuts Threaten Access for Thousands of Families
Today, I want to talk about something that should be sounding alarms across Indiana — a major and deeply concerning decision impacting thousands of working families across the state. Indiana is drastically slashing its preschool voucher program, On My Way Pre-K , by nearly 60% , reducing the number of children served from over 6,000 to just 2,500 for the upcoming school year.
Think about that for a second — thousands of 4-year-olds who previously had access to quality early childhood education will now be left out. For many families, this program was their only chance to provide preschool education before kindergarten. This isn’t just about numbers — this is about real children, real parents, and real futures.
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The cuts come after the expiration of temporary federal pandemic aid, which had helped expand early childhood programs statewide. Lawmakers decided not to continue funding at previous levels. And now, due to budget decisions and revised eligibility rules, only families where a parent is working, in school, or in job training can qualify. Parents who are actively looking for work? They’re out. And if someone loses their job during the school year? That part remains uncertain.
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration claims this move is about sustainability — that the program had grown beyond its financial means. But advocates say it's a massive step backward after years of progress in building up access to early education.
The funding gap is real. The state is backing away from using Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) dollars to support preschool vouchers, and the reimbursement rate for providers is dropping significantly — from over $300 a week to just under $150. This change could force preschools to pass costs onto families who can’t afford it, or worse, close their doors altogether.
And what does this mean for working parents? Many will be forced to reduce their hours, quit jobs, or turn to public benefits just to survive. It’s not only a blow to early childhood education — it’s a hit to our economy. High-quality preschool is infrastructure. It’s as essential as roads and broadband if we want Indiana’s future to thrive.
We’re talking about children’s first experiences with learning, the foundation for everything that follows. Cutting off access now risks widening the opportunity gap — especially for low-income families who already face so many barriers.
This isn’t just a policy change. It’s a warning sign. And it’s up to us — community members, educators, parents, and policymakers — to push for a solution that doesn’t leave our youngest learners behind.
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