Colorado

Overview of Pre-K Program-Colorado Preschool Program (CPP)

• Open to three- and four-year-old children whose families make up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level or who have one or more risk factors, such as homelessness, parental substance abuse, etc.
• Participation is voluntary for both families and school districts.
• School districts must apply to participate and are selected on the basis of which districts may be serving at risk populations.
• The number of children that can be served is capped by the State Legislature.
• Funded through the Colorado Public School Finance Formula.
• Funding is provided directly to school districts who can then allocate funding or subcontract to Head Start or other community-based child care providers.
• Administered under the Public School Finance Unit.

Brief History of Colorado’s Pre-K Program

• 1988 Colorado Preschool Program created by the Colorado General Assembly.
• 1992 General Assembly passes a bill to make Colorado Preschool Program a permanent program.
• 2006 State implements Results Matter, a system for collecting outcomes data for children in early childhood programs statewide.
• 2009 Program can serve 20,100 children and 169 out of 178 school districts participate.

Evaluations of Colorado’s Pre-K Program

Colorado Preschool Program Legislative Reports

Program Website

Colorado Preschool Program

Resource List

NIEER 2009 Yearbook Colorado Profile

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