AUSTIN, Texas - The fight continues over pre-kindergarten funding.
On Thursday, business leaders and educators urged lawmakers to fully fund high quality pre-K through the state's recently established grant program.
The request comes after both the House and Senate tentatively decided to defund Governor Greg Abbott's signature program. Both chambers currently favor other options for how to spend pre-K dollars.
"Respectfully we call on the Texas Legislature to maintain the high quality grant program so we can build on the quality that we're seeing and we can finish what has been started," said Adrianna Cuellar-Rojas, president and CEO of United Ways of Texas.
The governor has called on lawmakers to double the funding the legislature gave the program two years ago.
The program sets aside grant money for districts that meet specific state standards, like teacher training and parent engagement.