File:  IHBIB - Primary/Preprimary Education

All district preschool programs shall comply with the rules established by the Department of Education and with rules for child care centers established by the Department of Human Services.  However, full-day kindergarten components of the district's preschool program are not required to comply with the Department of Human Services' rules regarding child care centers.

Children with Disabilities

In meeting its obligation to offer an individualized program for children with disabilities at age three, the district shall provide a special education preschool pro-gram at no cost to disabled students.

Colorado State Preschool Program

In addition, when the district receives funding from the state to do so, the district shall provide a preschool program as part of the Colorado Preschool Program for three-year old children [begins for the 2002-2003 school year] and four- and five-year-old children [for the 2001-2002 school year, only four- and five-year olds eligible to enroll in kindergarten the following year may participate in the preschool program] who lack learning readiness due to significant family risk factors, who are in need of language development or who are receiving services from the Colorado Department of Social Services as neglected or dependent children.  All enrolling three-year olds [three-year olds are eligible to enroll beginning in the 2002-2003 school year] must lack overall learning readiness that is attributable to at least three of the significant family risk factors.

Parents/guardians wishing to have their children participate in this program shall make application to the district.  Participants then shall be selected on the basis of greatest need.

Other Children Who Wish to Enroll on Tuition Basis

In an effort to offer a well-rounded and mainstream learning experience, the preschool program may be open on a tuition basis to students who are not disabled or eligible for the program because of the factors listed above.  The administration shall develop admission procedures that take into consideration space and staffing requirements.

Adopted:  January 2003

LEGAL REF.:  C.R.S. 22-28-101 et seq. (Colorado Preschool Program Act)

C.R.S. 22-20-101 et. seq. (Exceptional Children's Act)

C.R.S. 22-54-105(4) (At-risk funding)

C.R.S. 22-45-103(1)(g) (Preschool program fund)

C.R.S. 26-6-102 (1.5) (definition of child care center)

1 CCR 301-8, Rules 2220-R-1.00 et. seq. (Rules for the Administration of the Exceptional Children's Act)

CROSS REFS.:  BDFC*, Preschool Council

IHBA, Special Education/Programs for Handicapped/Disabled/Exceptional Students

NOTE:  If the district has incorporated a Head Start program as part of its preschool, this policy needs to be revised accordingly.

NOTE:  Pursuant to C.R.S. 22-28-106, the term "significant family risk factors" is defined to mean any of the following:

-  The child is eligible to receive free or reduced-cost lunch  pursuant to the National School Lunch Act
-  Homelessness of the child's family
-  An abusive adult residing in the home of the child
-  Drug or alcohol abuse in the child's family
-  Either parent of the child was less than eighteen years of age and unmarried at the time of the birth of the child
-  The child's parent or guardian has not successfully completed a high school education or its equivalent
-  Frequent relocation by the child's family to new residences
-  Poor social skills of the child

NOTE:  School districts participating in the Colorado Preschool Program must budget an amount equal to the district's per pupil operating revenues multiplied by the district's preschool enrollment.  This amount must be allocated to the preschool program fund and may be expended only to pay costs of providing preschool services directly to enrolled children (for example teacher and paraprofessional salaries and benefits, supplies, home visits, and the like).  Any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year must remain in the fund.