Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to get more of Chicago’s little kids into preschool.

The goal is to have 5,000 more 3- and 4-year-olds in preschool over the next three years. The expansion will start in the 2013-14 school year.

Emanuel said he’s putting $10 million from the city’s budget into early childhood programs.

“This investment in early childhood, in pre-K, is essential,” Emanuel said Friday

The money adds to what’s already provided by the state and federal governments and through Chicago Public Schools and the city’s Department of Family and Support Services.

This year, the state cut its preschool funding by more than $40 million.

The mayor also said Friday that he wants to improve the quality of preschools by creating a more competitive application process.

Next year, Emanuel says charter schools, churches and neighborhood groups can apply online for public money to run preschool programs.