Universal Preschool program coming to Pueblo schools this fall; registration now open
Applications are now open for Pueblo families to sign up for Universal Preschool Colorado — a state-funded preschool program. Schools in Pueblo School District 60 and Pueblo County School District 70 will be participating.
The upcoming fall semester will be the first that providers will participate in the program, which is open to Colorado children who turn 4 years old before Oct. 1. Colorado 4-year-olds are eligible for up to 15 hours of programming per week. However, some school districts may not offer 15 hours.
Children 4 years old with qualifying factors, including those pertaining to household income, an Individualized Education Plan, housing status, dual language learning and foster care, may be eligible for up to 30 hours of programming per week. Children 3 years old with qualifying factors also may apply for 10 hours of universal preschool programming per week.
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Children First will serve as the local coordinating organization of universal preschool for six southeastern Colorado counties, including Pueblo.
"For parents whose children have not been able to attend preschool in the past due to cost, this will give them an opportunity," said Angie Shehorn, director of Children First.
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood estimates the average family will save about $4,300 on child care each year through the program. Schools in both Pueblo school districts will be participating, and additional licensed providers in Pueblo County also are eligible.
“We’ve always promoted pre-k as being important for our kiddos — that readiness, providing that structure, those opportunities that staying at home may not have,” said Darlene Bermudez, Early Childhood Department Specialist at Pueblo D60.
Registration for universal preschool opened Jan. 17. The first window to apply will be open until Feb. 14. Applications may be completed online at upk.colorado.gov.
Pueblo D60 will offer a minimum of 15 hours per week at 14 schools: Baca Elementary, Belmont Elementary, Bessemer Academy, Beulah Heights Elementary, Bradford Elementary, Columbian Elementary, Goodnight Elementary, Haaff Elementary, Heritage Elementary, Highland Park Elementary, Irving Elementary, Minnequa Elementary, Paragon Early Learning Center and South Park Elementary.
The 14 schools will combine to offer 40 available preschool classrooms, with each classroom serving 15 to 16 students.
Pueblo D70 will offer a minimum 12 of hours per week at every neighborhood elementary school except the Beulah School of Natural Sciences. Children living in Beulah will have the option to attend universal preschool at another Pueblo D70 school, according to Cindy Keasling, preschool liaison for Pueblo D70.
“Beulah does not have a preschool. Most of those children either attend out here on the (St. Charles) Mesa or up in Rye,” she said.
With 10 Pueblo D70 schools hosting students in two, 16-student universal preschool sessions per day, each school will be able to serve 32 students each day.
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Participating students do not have to attend their neighborhood schools. Upon completing the universal preschool application, families will be matched with available providers, including those nearby and providers that are able to serve a child’s specific needs. Students also may attend universal preschool with a provider outside their district boundaries.
While July 1 is the official launch date of the program, 4-year-olds who turn 5 before Oct. 1 are currently not eligible for Universal Preschool in Pueblo districts.
Editors note: This article has been updated with a correction that Colorado 4-year-olds are eligible for up to 15 hours of programming per week. The story initially stated the children may be eligible "for a minimum of 10 to 15 hours of programming per week."
Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado universal preschool registration open in Pueblo
