Expanded preschool program received 12,000 applications

BY ERICA BREUNLIN THE COLORADO SUN

Close to 12,000 applicants signed up for the state’s expanded preschool program Tuesday, the rst day parents could enroll their child ahead of the program’s start this fall.

e number of applications is a promising sign for the new program and is prompting state o cials to rethink the number of children who will enroll.

“We’re pleasantly surprised,” said Lisa Roy, executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. “It exceeded our expectations for the rst day. We think it’s an excellent indicator of family interest” in the state’s expanded preschool program, known as “universal preschool.” e department originally projected about 30,000 kids would opt into the state program during its rst year, about half the number of kids who will be eligible, Chalkbeat Colorado rst reported. State o cials largely based that estimate on enrollment numbers across the country and from the Denver preschool program, Roy said.

“Colorado is giving us an indicator that our initial projections are lower than what the uptake will be,” she said. “And that’s exciting. We have the funding. We need to make sure that … by the fall we have the seats available, and based on the provider uptake, we look like we’re in really great shape.” e rst round of applications for families closes Feb. 14, but the expanded preschool program is not rst come, rst served. Instead, the department will evaluate all families’ applications at the same time and use an analytics system that will consider a variety of factors when matching families to preschool settings — including home-based, center-based and school-based programs. ose factors include transportation, whether families want a full day of preschool and whether a program is listed as a family’s rst choice. When applying, parents and caregivers can select up to ve preschool programs, ranking their preferred programs starting with their top choice. e application is available in

So far, 1,477 child care providers have submitted forms to o er services through the preschool program, with another nearly 1,000 forms that providers have started but not yet submitted, according to the department. Based on the number of providers who plan to participate in the program, 60,000 slots are available for kids, nearly double the department’s initial expectation, said Melissa Mares, director of early childhood initiatives for the Colorado Children’s Campaign.

English, Spanish and Arabic and takes no more than 15 minutes to complete, Mares said, adding that the state has created the application by asking, “how can we best take (the) burden o of families?” e state’s newly expanded preschool program was made possible by Colorado taxpayers in 2020, when voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition EE, which raised taxes on cigarettes and other products containing nicotine partly to fund more preschool for Colorado kids. e program “will save families at least $6,000 a year and give every child the best possible start in life,” Polis said during his speech.

All 4-year-olds in the state will be eligible for at least 15 hours of free preschool per week — close to a half day of care. Additionally, some 3-year-olds will qualify for 10 hours of free preschool per week, including those with a disability, from low-income families, facing housing insecurity, learning English or living in foster care.

Providing free hours of preschool to families has been a major goal of Gov. Jared Polis, who has championed early childhood education since he rst ran for governor. Polis touted the launch of the application window for expanded preschool during his State of the State address Tuesday.

Department of Early Childhood spokesperson Hope Shuler noted that preschool applications swelled during and after Polis’ address. e department’s website encountered few technology challenges amid the urry of applications, running slowly the rst 15 minutes of the day but then resolved and managed the intake of applications, she said. e department will likely launch a second round of applications for families and possibly a third, depending on the ow of applications.

If the majority of eligible children have applied by the end of the rst or second round, Roy said, “we’ll adapt as needed.”

Meanwhile, the department is also focused on establishing academic standards, assessments and curriculum support for all types of preschool providers, she noted, while also approving curriculum that some providers already use.

“We have a lot to do before fall,” Roy said, “but we plan on having many of the important areas that were identi ed by the statute in place before the summer comes.” is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun. com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media. from press releases expressing regret about the incident, but never taking responsibility.

“So they could, for example, come out and make a more, you know, say sorry, this is a real and full apology for what happened, which is a terrible abdication of their duty and a crime with law enforcement, people are committing crime and then covering it up,” Simon said.

“No one said sorry,” Sally said, tearfully.

On Oct. 26 2022, the Fifth Judicial District Court announced the case would be presented to a Grand Jury.

During that time of year, Simon and Sally remember trick-or-treating with Christian and his sisters.

“ ey would take up pillowcases, and the pillowcases would be full. And actually what they used to love doing, because he liked kind of sorting and stu – I think that was his logical brain – they loved trading,” Sally remembered.

On Nov. 23 2022, the Grand Jury brought down indictments against Buen and Gould, who were both subsequently let go from the Sheri ’s department.

In Novembers past, the Glass family had tried their hand at the American holiday of anksgiving, mainly just feasting on turkey as a family. Simon and Sally remember Christian and a girlfriend cooking dinner for them one year, but this year there was hardly an appetite with news of an impending court date.

On Dec. 4 2022, the former deputies appeared in court as defendants for the rst time. Both were out on bond, and the hearing was to approve travel over the holidays for the defen- dants to see their family. e Glass family explained to the judge that they too would love to spend time with their family over Christmas, but said the actions of the defendants made that impossible. e judge granted the defendants travel.

One Christmas years ago, Christian had to work on Christmas day at Starbucks. His family decided to come surprise him at work, and had Christmas dinner at the co ee shop.

“We actually went down on Christmas,” Sally said. “Because we wanted to be with him.” e family now clings to memories like these, as they will be unable to make new ones with their son.

Simon remembers the family ordering all sorts of seasonal drinks and treats while Christian worked behind the counter. Christian’s sel ess spirit shined through even at his barista job, his parents said, as he worried about creating too much work for his coworkers.

“He felt bad for the people he was working with because we all came in and ordered all these drinks and stu ,” Sally said.

On Jan. 4, 2023, the Douglas County Sheri ’s Department released an investigation into the body camera footage of Christian’s murder. e department found Buen’s actions to be unjusti ed.

Seeing another agency call out the actions of the o cers involved in Christian’s murder was important to the parents.

“So it’s the rst time that another agency has come out and said this is wrong. And … it’d be nice if the Clear Creek county department came out and said…” Simon trailed o .

Jan. 30, 2023 will be the next time the Glass family sees the former deputies in court. e hearing will be held at the Clear Creek County Courthouse at 11 a.m. and is open to the public.

(Planned Development), and Amending the Official Zoning Maps of the City of Arvada, Colorado, Parcel of Land West of Urban Street and South of West 58th Avenue.

CB23-004, An Ordinance Rezoning Certain Land Within the City of Arvada, Ralston Gardens, from RN-7.5 (Residential Neighborhood 7,500) to MX-N (Mixed-Use Neighborhood), and Amending the Official Zoning Maps of the City of Arvada, Colorado, Parcel of Land Located at the Southeast Corner of Ralston Road and Garrison Street, Formerly Known as 5790 Garrison Street.

Legal Notice No. 415570

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Public Notice

The following ordinance was adopted by the City Council of the City of Arvada on second reading following the public hearing held on January 23, 2023:

Ordinance #4834 An Ordinance Amending Section 30-4 of the Arvada City Code Pertaining to Council Districts.

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Legal Notice No. 415569

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