Federal officials have awarded a $17.5 million grant to Tennessee to expand preschool services. A statement from the U.S. Education Department on Wednesday says Tennessee is one of 13 states receiving funding from the Preschool Development Grants program to expand services. Five other states received grants for preschool development.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said expanding access to quality preschool "is critically important" to ensuring the future success of children. Duncan says that states receiving the grants will serve as models for expanding preschool to all 4-