LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln Public Schools could lose federal funding for its preschool programs, if it doesn’t make a big change soon.

Federal officials have told the district it will need to expand its half-day preschool programs in elementary schools to full-day programs, if it wants to keep its federal funding.

District officials say the schools currently can teach 1,200 students using the half-day system. That number would be cut in half if the schools move to full-day preschool.

The funding change is set to begin in the 2017-18 school year.

Lincoln Public Schools officials say they hope to have a decision on which way to go by August.