The state budget was finally passed on Friday. And now money will start flowing once again to day cares across the state. That's good news for many pre-schoolers who had no place to go to school. WFMZ's Joscelyn Moes has the story.

   
>> REPORTER: For weeks this classroom has sat empty with toys untouched. But that's about to change now that lawmakers in Harrisburg have passed a budget. 

>> JANE ERVIN: We're anxious to move forward and do the right thing for kids in the Valley. 

>> REPORTER: Jane Ervin is head of the Community Services for Children.. based in Allentown. Because of the budget battle the organization couldn't open 12 of its classrooms leaving more than 200 kids with no place to go. Community Services was also forced to furlough 40-some employees and cut hours for dozens more. 

>> JANE ERVIN: Now with the passage of this budget we will have the opportunity to reopen those 12 classrooms that never opened. We will enroll 233 children that are waiting for their opportunity to be in pre-k bring back most of the employees that we had to furlough. 

>> REPORTER: The organization expects to receive the same amount of state funding as it did last year. Ervin says classrooms should be up and running within a couple weeks.

>> REPORTER: Other day cares across the region are celebrating an end to the impasse. Operation Smart Start in Pen Argyl was left in limbo. It relies on state money for 30 to 40% of operational costs.. and many parents who send their kids here rely on state subsidies. 

>> NICOLE RUTT: Our families that we have here they really have to work. The do not have an option to stay home or to have family care. 

>> REPORTER: The center was forced to cut hours for employees to keep things going. Parents even chipped and bought supplies Operation Smart Start hopes to start receiving funding within the next couple of weeks.

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