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Colorado’s $344 million universal preschool program is popular among families, but some providers say they are still working on issues that make it difficult for families to secure seats or preschoolers to maintain themselves financially.
Some kindergarten directors want more access to the state’s preschool registration system. Others want to be paid by the state before the kids walk into the classroom – less than a month later. Some providers also want more wiggle room in preschool classes, with the state capping by 2026 by most preschool classes.
These are a few sticky points after the Universal Preschooler launches a year and a half. State lawmakers have proposed a bill that addresses these and other issues, but are killed at the request of one of its sponsors. The bill will cost more than one million dollars next year, and the state faces a $1 billion budget gap.
Barbara Kirkmeyer, a Weld County Republican who sponsored the bill, said she believes the bill would improve customer service in the Global Preschool program but did not want to commit the money, called the fiscal note, which would require the bill.
“I think if I came up with a bill that had such a fiscal note, I think I would be a little hypocritical,” she said.
The original version of Senate Bill 25-119 echoed some inquiries in 2023 against Global Preschool lawsuits filed by several school districts. Last summer, the judge dismissed the lawsuit.
Opponents of the bill say any significant changes to the general preschool program are too early because the assessment of the preschool program is underway. Heather Tritten, president and CEO of Colorado Children’s Campaign, urged lawmakers to wait until the assessment is released in November to make changes.
Even before lawmakers killed the bill, they drastically downplayed the bill at a February hearing, suggesting how many state officials are still refining in a new plan.
Dawn Alexander, head of the Early Childhood Education Association who supports the bill, said her group will continue to advocate for changes in early childhood through early childhood Colorado and may consider pushing legislation in 2026.
Some preschoolers want to change the ratio, class rules
The General Preschool Program, one of Governor Jared Polis’ signature priorities, was launched in fall 2023 to provide kindergartens with 10 to 30 free preschool hours for children the year before. Currently, it recruits about 42,000 Colorado 4-year-olds — 65% of the state’s age group.
Shortly after the program was launched, the general preschool program should allow debate on class size and employee-student ratios.
Currently, all state-licensed preschool classes can allow up to 24 children aged 4 (as long as there is enough square feet) to a staff ratio for every 12 students. However, preschoolers participating in the General Program will be in the next two-year phase stages – the upper limit of class size for 22 students in the 2025-26 academic year and the upper limit of 1 to 11 ratios for 2025-26 academic year and the upper limit of 20 students and the upper limit of 1 to 10 ratios for 20 students.
There is one major exception to these final restrictions. General preschool providers that earn one of the highest two ratings (level 4 or 5) on the state’s Colorado-based premium rating system will be allowed to have 24-year-olds age groups with an employee-student ratio of 1 to 12. One of three ratings for most general preschool providers.
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