Education leaders are calling it a good day for early childhood education.

Austin Public Schools is receiving $283,756 to fund 50 students in its early education programming. The funding comes as part of a new, state funded preschool program to help more than 3,300 4-year-olds attend preschool this upcoming school year.

“This is a huge step forward with the state of Minnesota,” Austin Community Education and Communications Director Amy Baskin said. “It’s great for Minnesota, for young kids and young families.”

Gov. Mark Dayton and his top education official announced Monday that 74 school districts and charter schools received funding to offer preschool. The state passed a scaled-back preschool program this year that targets impoverished school districts without existing early education options.

With Austin’s demographics, Baskin said the district knew they stood a good chance of receiving the funding.

“I’m thrilled with the funding,” Baskin said. “I’m thrilled that we have the opportunity to serve students that really need it.”

Austin Public Schools applied for funding for 82 students, as it has 32 full-day students and 50 part-timers, according to Baskin. Preschool classes are held at the Community Learning Center, Sumner Elementary and Woodson Kindergarten Center.

The district does not plan to expand its preschool program, as the funding is aimed at the rough number of students currently served.

While Baskin said the district still has to iron out many details about the funding, she’s happy to be able to share the good news during the district’s mass registration on Wednesday and Thursday.

Baskin spoke of the importance of early childhood eduction, and she mentioned that this move is a step and another tool taking Minnesota a little closer to the more robust offerings in Wisconsin and Iowa.

But Austin does have a good thing going on with pre-K programming, Baskin noted. Austin Public Schools serves only about 25 percent of community 4-year-old, and Austin has about seven other preschools serving students and families.

Plus, families are able to pay for bussing through the Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit, or SMART, and the United Way of Mower County offers preschool scholarships and helps pay for preschool aids on busses.

Baskin said Austin is lucky to have a strong preschool cooperative and to provide rich programming for families.

Along with Austin, Lyle Public Schools is receiving $163,770 to fund 35 students and Albert Lea Public Schools is receiving $818,959 to fund about 100 students.

While Austin, Lyle and Albert Lea received funding, not everyone was as lucky. Nearly 60 percent of the districts that applied for the funding were rejected once the Legislature’s $25 million dried up. Dayton says that demonstrates the need to expand and provide more funding.

The Democratic governor had originally pushed for a more expansive voluntary program but faced resistance in the Republican-controlled House, eventually securing a $25 million infusion.

Minnesota lawmakers also passed a statewide kindergarten program in 2013.