LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Access to early childhood education is still a challenge families face in several parts of Kentucky, but advocates say pre-K for all could move the needle in a big way for the state’s workforce.

According to the Kentucky Center for Statistics , over half of Kentucky kids aren’t “kindergarten ready,” meaning they don’t have the physical and emotional skills to develop a routine for school.

“I had a kindergarten teacher that was in my office the other day that had five students that showed up for kindergarten, not potty trained,” said Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., at his Nov. 20 Team Kentucky meeting. “How are you going to educate those kids at that point?”

To help fill that gap, Kentucky launched a pre-K for all advisory committee earlier this year and could soon roll out

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