If the Columbia County school system eliminates or scales back its prekindergarten program, there is no guarantee the private sector would absorb the system's 320 pre-K pupils, a state pre-K official said Thursday.

"We only give Georgia pre-K (programs) to licensed centers," said Mary Mazarky, the pre-K program director for Bright From the Start, which oversees the lottery-funded program.

She spent almost two hours answering questions and discussing pre-K issues with school board members and administrators Thursday.

School officials have been wrestling with the idea of scrapping or reducing the system's pre-K program for two years. The issue returned to the forefront earlier this spring after parents complained about unfair pre-K lottery results at River Ridge Elementary School.

School administrators said more than 900 children attend public or private pre-K classes in Columbia County, and about 1,500 kindergartners enroll in the public schools each year.

Board member Mike Sleeper asked Ms. Mazarky if pupils from public or private pre-K programs fare better in public schools.

"It depends on the program. ... I think both, in their own way, do a good job," Ms. Mazarky said.

After the meeting, Mr. Sleeper said he would like to expand the public program to include at least one pre-K classroom in every elementary school. Currently, all of the elementary schools except Stevens Creek, Blue Ridge and Riverside have pre-K programs.

Mr. Sleeper also said a number of kindergarten, first- and second-grade teachers have told him pupils who complete public pre-K programs are better prepared socially and academically for the Columbia County system.

"I think the data will support what these teachers are telling me. I think the kids who went through a public program are better prepared," Mr. Sleeper said.

Ms. Mazarky also said teacher qualifications are the only difference between public and private pre-K programs.

An associate's degree is the minimum requirement for a lead teacher in private pre-K programs, she said. Otherwise, the funding, monitoring, expectations and curriculum standards are the same.

Board member Wayne Bridges, who raised the issue of eliminating or scaling back public pre-K classes last month, said he is not against the program.

"My concern is it sometimes doesn't get to the child that I think needs that program," he said.

Ms. Mazarky said Georgia offers a universal pre-K program, which means that age and residence, not family income level, determine a child's eligibility for the program.

Regina Buccafusco, the school board chairwoman, took issue with calling the program universal.

"The fact that we have to have a lottery for seats shows that it's not a universal program," she said.

Ms. Mazarky said Bright From the Start would support any decision the school system makes.

"I still don't know where I'm going with it, truthfully. It's tough to justify keeping it in the public schools," Mrs. Buccafusco said.

After the meeting, however, she said the school system should keep pre-K programs in some parts of the county. She said the board will continue its discussions and seek more input from local and state administrators.