HOPE Toledo is waiting for much of its pledged $20 million investment to increase children’s access to pre-kindergarten education, but that hasn’t stopped the nonprofit from moving forward with expansion plans. 

Officials announced that the group plans to add 14 more pre-school providers by the start of the 2022-23 school year, expanding its total roster from 10 to 24. Elisa Huss-Hage, Hope Toledo’s director of early childhood education, said schools have already been pre-approved for the added provider spots, but still must complete training and finish meeting criteria in the coming months before being granted full approval to accept pre-school students through its Pre-K Demonstration Project.