The 74 children in the state Head Start program in Butler and Armstrong counties will enjoy an enhanced experience, thanks to a significant increase in state funding.

A recent news release from the state Department of Education said the increase will benefit the students who attend the program.

“Investing in early childhood education and expanding access to high-quality programs like the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program positively impacts families and children across the commonwealth,” said Eric Hagarty, acting state secretary of education.

Ken Rothert, financial director at Butler County Children’s Center, said Wednesday that the center received $644,000 in the last funding cycle.

Two weeks ago, the center received roughly $859,000.

“That’s an increase of about $215,000,” Rothert said.

Elisa Spadafora, CEO at Butler County Children’s Center, which is the administrator of the state and federal Head Start programs in the two counties, said the additional funds will be used in two ways.

One is to support staff in various ways, and the second is to improve the quality of programming for the 3- to 5-year-old children in the state Head Start program.

“We just received it two weeks ago, so we’re still in the planning stages,” Spadafora said.

The center received an increase of $18,000 in the last fiscal year state disbursement, which was used to increase the salaries of staff.

The center administers 12 Head Start locations in Butler County and six in Armstrong County.

A new location opened in the past few months at the intersection of South Chestnut Street and Shore Street in Butler.

Spadafora said Head Start programs are also available to students at home, and Early Head Start cares for babies and toddlers, newborn to three months.

The Head Start program promotes the school readiness of infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children from families with low income.

Gov. Tom Wolf praised the program in the education department’s news release.

“Education investment has been my top priority since I first considered running for this office,” Wolf said. “That priority, commitment and investment is nowhere more important that in its impact on Pennsylvania’s youngest citizens.”