School leaders are on edge as state lawmakers consider scaling back funding for prekindergarten.

The program, funded entirely by the Georgia Lottery, serves 180 children in Gainesville and 120 in Hall County. But lottery money is no longer keeping up with education costs.

Forecasts indicate a nearly $320 million shortfall for pre-K and HOPE Scholarship expenses for 2012, both funded by the lottery. Gov. Nathan Deal has proposed cutting nearly $20 million from the pre-K program this year.

Lawmakers also are weighing options such as making state pre-K income-based. Currently, the program is free and voluntary for all 4-year-olds.

Hall County and Gainesville school systems staff say it's too soon to tell if the programs will be impacted this year.

"We can only wait and see what the state decides," said Connie Davis, director of pre-K and day care for Gainesville City Schools.

Gainesville has moved back pre-K registration from January to March, when officials expect to have more information about state funding.

Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield is also waiting.

"There's a realization that there's not enough money to continue doing what we've done in the past," he said.

If the cuts are drastic, Schofield said he would favor the district providing a full service program to fewer students rather than pay only a partial cost for the same number of students.

Under state law, systems are not required to provide pre-K programs, but officials in both systems noted the importance of early learning.

Alaina Morris, pre-K teacher at Wood's Mill Academy in Gainesville, said her students practice numbers, the alphabet and early reading skills.

"It can help with their social development such as learning how to use the school restroom or the procedures for walking in a line," Morris said.

She said pre-K is also important for English language learners.

"A majority of my classroom is Spanish speaking and they pick up English very quickly at this age," she said. "By the first grade, they are very successful."

The pre-k programs in Hall County are language immersion programs. Four-year-olds can study Spanish or Mandarin Chinese.

World Language Academy kindergarten teacher Alfredo Hernandez said pre-K provides a good transition to his immersion classroom.

"There's a time in the beginning where students adjust and you see some boys and girls struggle," Hernandez said. "If they have some background in Spanish or are native speakers, they raise their hand more or offer to translate more for others."

Early learning is important to parents, too, evidenced by high demand for the programs.

Carrie Woodcock, a pre-K coordinator for Hall County, said the waiting list for Hall County is more than 100 names long.

Gainesville school board member David Syfan said he hopes lawmakers realize the program's value.

"It does help in the early achievement of kids," Syfan said. "In the pre-K, they get exposed to the alphabet, classroom behavior and what it means to be in school. They're ready to go when they hit kindergarten and first grade."