SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A group outside Syracuse's City Hall is hoping pre-kindergarten will remain in the budget for next year.

Members of the Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse, better known as ACTS, rallied Thursday afternoon to draw attention to the importance of pre-kindergarten.

For the past couple of years, the city's pre-k program received $250,000. ACTS wants that money to increase this year and they want full-day pre-k made available to everyone.

"Lots of research has been done to prove that youngsters who go through quality pre-kindergarten programs learn to read faster, incarceration rates are down, graduation rates are increased," said Peter Knoblock.

Parents say not only does pre-k help give their children an educational edge, but it is also a more affordable option than daycare.