Dubuque- The start of the new school year is getting closer and closer every day.
For some families this will be the first time sending their little ones off to school.

The state is now funding free four-year-old preschool in many communities.
It includes ten hours of schooling per week.
But some pre-schools are having a hard time filling the free classes.
Being able to offer free preschool to four-year-olds is huge for teachers like Trisha Blaser.
Blaser said, "We are offering two and a half hours four days per week."

The state says the free program is open to anyone in Iowa who is four-years-old by September 15th, no matter the family's income level.

Blaser is shocked more Dubuque parents haven't signed their little ones up for the free classes.

Blaser said, "Early childhood education is the key to the early success in schools."

Working Mom, Brooke Ellis has two kids in daycare at the YMCA. At first she was confused about the logistics. How would her four-year-old attend pre-school for only two and a half hours per day, while she is at work for eight hours per day?

"They do the preschool stuff and then he would go into the day-care part of it. Then I would just pick him up after work."

Blaser thinks the low-enrollment is a result of confusion mixed with parents not knowing the free-preschool is available.

That's why the staff here at the Dubuque "Y" is making this huge sign to advertise in the window.

Blaser said, "Arts and creative activities, sensory activities, fine and gross motor skills, working with writing and pre-reading skills."

Besides, Blaser says, who wouldn't want to make ice-cream and play with trains while they still can.