An early learning nonprofit has awarded more than $13.1 million in grant money to child care and early learning providers around Indiana, to help them navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lilly Endowment is providing a $15.7 million grant to Indiana's largest early childhood education nonprofit to reinforce child care opportunities, especially for vulnerable children, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

WFYI's Eric Weddle spoke with Early Learning Indiana CEO Maureen Weber about caring for children under the age of 5 during the pandemic.

The state's largest early learning nonprofit says 2019 was a year of progress and should set up 2020 to be "transformative" for early learning providers and families looking for improved access.

The grant would support a statewide needs assessment, to better illustrate Indiana's pre-K and early learning landscape.

Early Learning Indiana reports that communication between early learning and elementary schools could help teachers improve use of time in the classroom.

A new report from the preschool advocacy organization, Early Learning Indiana, says the rule penalizes children whose parents can't work.

The awards were granted to early childhood school programs that demonstrate "a deep level of commitment and care for families."