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KEOKUK, IA. -- Kids in Iowa are getting a big head start on their education.

In 2007, the state started the Iowa Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for 4 year olds.

On Tuesday morning Iowa Lt. Governor  Patty Judge made an appearance at Hawthorn Elementary school in Keokuk to talk about the success of the program so far.

Statewide the program costs about 80 million dollars.

There are already about 13 thousand kids who are enrolled in it.

The goal of the program is to get the kids ready for kindergarten by teaching them basic skills like reading.

Judge says, "This is really a critical experience for children and their lifelong ability to learn. They go into kindergarten prepared at a level a few years ago was really unheard of."

The Lt. Governor says one great thing about the program is that it works hand in hand with other established programs in the state.

She says, "In some communities, we have operating a private preschool, the state program and head start programs, all three. When you combine all three of these programs, we are serving almost a hundred percent."

Despite it's approximately 80 million dollar price tag, Lt. Governor Judge says it is money well spent.

Judge says, "When you talk about  how you spend tax dollars, I don't think there is a much better investment that we can make here in Iowa than in our children."

So far 175 school districts in Iowa have been awarded grant funding to provide the program to kids in their districts.