ATLANTA (AP) The state Department of Early Care and Learning is starting a Chinese language program for the 4-year-olds enrolled in the state's free pre-kindergarten classes.

Holly Robinson, commissioner of the department, said Georgia has the first lottery-funded pre-K program in the country to offer Mandarin Chinese classes. The program will provide daily Mandarin Chinese instruction and teach children about Chinese culture.

The state is partnering with the Confucius Institute at Kennesaw State University, which is part of a larger network of similar institutes across the country.

Through lottery ticket sales, Georgia provides free pre-kindergarten to 82,000 children in the state.

On the Net:

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning: http://decal.ga.gov/

Confucius Institute at Kennesaw State University: http://www.kennesaw.edu/confuciusinstitute/

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