THE COLORADO PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
The Colorado Preschool
Program was established by the Colorado General Assembly in 1988. As amended in
1992, the program was designed to serve "four- and five-year-old children who
lack overall readiness due to significant family factors ... and who would
benefit from participation in the state preschool program." The program is
funded through the state's basic school finance formula and funding is currently
capped at 9,050 children. Eight thousand and fifty of these slots support
children's participation in Pre-K programs and 1,000 of the slots support
children's participation in full day kindergarten programs. Children are
currently served in sites in 154 school districts in the state. Approximately
half of the participating school districts contract with Head Start or other
local preschool programs. The statute and rules governing this program mandate
local management and oversight by a broad-based district preschool council,
coordination with family support services, and a plan for parent involvement.
Eligibility for children to participate in the program is determined by criteria
that have been established by the state legislature and local district councils.
PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
Special education is a state
and federal mandated program for three-, four-, and five-year-old children who
meet state eligibility criteria of developmental delay. Every school
district, or special education administrative unit, provides special education
services, and currently over 6,063 children state-wide receive special education
preschool services. The program is funded through a combination of federal funds
(under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), state special education
funding, and the state's basic school finance formula. Services are provided
through school-based programs and under contracts with Head Start and other
local preschool programs. See the Special EducationEIS topic in this
Category for additional information on special needs programs.
For more
information about Colorado's Preschool Programs and to access the Colorado
Preschool Program Handbook or the Colorado Preschool Program Directory, click on
"Contacts/Links" at left.