HUNTSVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bob Riley has announced the locations of 107 new pre-kindergarten classes that will allow an additional 1,926 young Alabamians to enroll in the program.

The increase brings the number of students to 3,384. Alabama’s program has been rated as one of the best in the country but receives low marks for only serving about two percent of the states’ four-year-olds.

Riley called the fact that the number of children served has doubled in a year “a wonderful feat.”

Fifty classrooms will receive $45,000 Pre-K Excellence Grants that will enable classrooms to meet Alabama High Quality Pre-K standards.

The remaining 57 classrooms will receive Pre-K State Supported Slots of at least $45,000 and additional funding is based on the number of low and middle-income children being served.

Of the new recipients, 43 are public schools, 36 are private childcare programs, 25 are Head Start programs, and 3 are faith-based childcare programs.