(AP) — School and teacher associations are supporting a push for early childhood education in Nebraska.

The Education Committee heard testimony Tuesday on a series of bills relating to early childhood education.

Sen. Kate Sullivan of Cedar Rapids, Chairwoman of the committee, has introduced a bill that would allocate an additional $4.6 million for early childhood education grants for next year.

Lawmakers included $3.6 million budget for early childhood education grants in the state’s two-year budget last year.

Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha has introduced a bill that would provide $400,000 for the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska over the next two years.