NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- This could be the tightest budget in years for the state of Tennessee, and one of the big losers could be a program that's intended to help children be successful.

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For months, the governor has been pushing for a $25 million expansion to pre-K schooling. But Gov. Phil Bredesen's pet project may not survive a lean budget year, and children could get turned away.

"It is a tight year, but I think they'll see benefits in the long run," said pre-K teacher Tish Smedley.

The payoff to the expansion is better prepared and more successful students, but funding is the problem.

Sen. Randy McNally said that while in the past some Republicans have questioned the need to expand pre-K to children who aren't considered at-risk, he said now the concern is purely monetary.

Just the basics will be hard to cover with a budget shortfall that could reach $250 million.

"This year, we’ll get into decreasing some of the things that we had planned on doing," McNally said.

"It's not just baby-sitting; it is school. They are learning every moment they are here," said Smedley.

Metro is expecting an increase in pre-K registrations. But in order for children not to be turned away, Smedley said it's important that the state finds the money to add up to 18 classes in the district.

A decrease in sales tax revenues and federal funding for many state programs is behind the budget shortfall.

A representative for the governor said it is too early to know any funding decisions for sure but that no matter what, one of Bredesen’s top priorities remains education.