Two Carbon County education centers will receive over $500,000 in state funding for their pre-kindergarten programs.

On Wednesday, state Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne/Carbon/Monroe), announced that the Jim Thorpe Area School District will receive $145,200 and Pathstone Corporation will receive $369,420.The money comes from part of an $84.5 million investment in pre-kindergarten programs that announced yesterday by the state."There is nothing more important than a quality education and this funding will ensure that young kids in Luzerne County and Carbon County have every chance to succeed inside and outside of the classroom," Yudichak said. "Pre-K Counts continues to prove its worth to Pennsylvania's children and I am proud that we were able to increase this line item in another difficult budget year."Pre-K Counts provides half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten services to Pennsylvania children who are between age three and the beginning age of kindergarten; at risk of facing challenges in school; living in families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($67,050 for a family of four); and who may be English language learners or have disabilities or developmental delays.In addition to Jim Thorpe and Pathstone, eight schools in Luzerne County also received funding, including:• Bloom Early Education Center, Inc.: $133,620;• Child Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania: $156,140;• Greater Nanticoke Area School District: $148,580;• Hazleton Area School District: $1,084,480;• Hildebrandt Learning Centers, LLC: $298,680;• King's College: $147,343;• Luzerne County Head Start, Inc.: $990,360;• Rainbow Hill School: $117,000.