BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) -- A new study warns that Louisiana’s Early Childhood Education Fund (ECE Fund) might run out of money soon.

This fund matches local community dollars for early childhood programs. Lawmakers need to find ways to boost funding, according to Leaders for a Better Louisiana.

The fund, created in 2017, was first given $40 million in one-time state money in 2023. Since then, local communities have raised more money, supporting early childhood education and increasing demand for the fund.

Leaders for a Better Louisiana said current yearly revenues of $21 million might fall short of future needs, especially if more children join the programs.

According to the study: • If the number of children grows by 10% per year, the fund could run out by 2027-28. • If

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