Louisiana will receive nearly $8 million from a preschool development grant to improve early childhood education, according to a report in the Advocate.

While most of the funds are coming from the federal government, $800,000 is from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

The money must be spent by December of 2019, and can’t be used to open new slots for children. What it can do is help Louisiana communities set up new early childhood education centers, provide aid to families who do early childhood education on their own, and provide professional development materials and opportunities for educators.

It will also be used to help Louisiana launch a program designed to help child care sites share resources – including substitute teachers.

Thirteen states were awarded early childhood education grants this year.