Preschool through Third-Grade

About Us

Mission:

We partner with educators and leaders to create seamless high-quality early learning environments for children birth through age eight. We strive for coherence and alignment throughout the P-12 system. 

Vision:

By focusing on strategic issues that support educational policies, the institutional capacity, and adult capabilities that support strong foundations we will promote ready systems that lead to high-quality early learning and literacy for all students preschool through third grade.​

Full Day Kindergarten News

CDE has sent informational letters to superintendents, fiscal leads, and Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) directors regarding implementation actions needed with respect to House Bill 19-1262 and House Bill 19-1055.  HB 19-1262 provides funding for full-day kindergarten should districts choose to offer it, and HB 19-1055 provides $25 million in formula-based grants related to conducting full-day kindergarten or preschool educational programs.

By Wednesday, June 12, CDE is asking superintendents to complete a survey from CDE that will serve a few purposes: completing required reporting to CDE on district plans for implementing full-day kindergarten, applying for the formula-based grant through HB 19-1005, and enabling CDE to assess the implementation needs across the state.   

In April, district CPP coordinators received information about a change to the use of Early Childhood At-Risk Enhancement (ECARE) Program positions contained within HB 19-1262.  ECARE positions that have been used to fund full-day kindergarten will now be used to provide preschool for additional at-risk preschoolers.  Districts will need to make their intentions known about these ECARE positions as a part of the CPP Annual Report due May 17th.

To learn more about full-day kindergarten, please visit our school readiness page. 

Questions

• For questions regarding CPP and ECARE, please contact Heidi McCaslin at 303.866.6720 or McCaslin_H@cde.state.co.us.  
• For questions regarding funding, please contact Tim Kahle at 303.866.6818 or Kahle_T@cde.state.co.us.