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The Legacy Vision is working to give guaranteed full-time preschool and guaranteed promise scholarships to every child.
Guaranteed preschool gives kids the social, emotional, and learning skills they need to thrive. Full-time preschool also gives parents the peace of mind and flexibility they need to provide for their families.
We know that 90% of brain development in our children happens before the age of 5, which is when our formal K-12 education system begins. Research shows that preschool promotes school success, leads to better jobs and even prevents crime in the long-term.
We also know that early child care and preschool opportunities are out of reach financially for most families, are hard to find in many communities, or both. Opportunity for preschool means better and more opportunities for families and is the foundation for a strong local economy.
Universal Preschool is a policy that gives all families with preschool-aged children the opportunity to voluntarily enroll their child in a publicly-funded pre-kindergarten care and education program.
Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado ensures that every child in the year before they are eligible for kindergarten is eligible for half-day (15 hours), state-funded, voluntary preschool beginning in the 2023-24 school year. Three-year-olds with qualifying factors are eligible for part-time (10 hours) preschool programming. Families of children in the year before they are eligible for
kindergarten with certain qualifying factors are eligible for an additional 15 hours stacked on top of the half-day programming, bringing those children to full-day programming (30 hours).
UPK Colorado allows families to choose the right setting for their child, whether it is in a licensed community-based, school-based or home-based preschool setting.
Most families want and need full-day, full-year preschool, often with before and after care. The Legacy Vision would fund the difference between what families are provided from the state of Colorado and a full-day, full-year preschool experience of 40 hours a week, plus before and after care, for 12 months a year.
Colorado is focused on ensuring all preschools are high-quality through its Colorado Shines quality rating and improvement system. Licensed child care and early education providers are assessed in five areas, then given a composite score from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best. This score creates a foundation from which early childhood care and education providers can improve the quality of the services to better serve children and their families.
Preschool generally refers to children of ages 3 and 4. Prekindergarten generally refers to four-year-olds, since children are generally four in the year before they begin kindergarten. Daycare refers to care provided for children ages 0-3.
Every child in the year before they are eligible for kindergarten (generall four-year-old children), and three-year-olds with qualifying factors are eligible.
There are many states, cities, and school districts that have established Universal Preschool successfully. An example closest to home is the Denver Preschool Program, which has a significant positive impact on families and children who participate. The city of San Antonio, Texas, and state of Oklahoma are other examples out of many in a national movement to see all young children and their families have the opportunity for a high-quality preschool of their family’s choice, and to be prepared for a successful education.
Guaranteed preschool and promise scholarships are free to parents.
Guaranteed promise scholarships provide students more college options and higher earnings – without debt. Promise Scholarships pay for tuition and include a support system of college coaches.
A college education leads to higher earnings and increased job security for students, which benefits not only the student but their families, their dependents, and our greater community. It also provides options for students to pursue their interests, impact society, and experience greater life satisfaction.
Saving for college tuition is out of reach for many young adults and their families, and many students who are burdened by student loans have a harder time accessing the opportunities a degree was meant to help them achieve. Opportunities for guaranteed college scholarships, along with supportive mentorship, lead to flourishing families and strong local workforce and economy.
Pikes Peak State College’s promise of full on-campus tuition, fees, books, and academic support for qualifying graduates from Harrison School District 2, Atlas Prep High School, and James Irwin Charter High School.
The Dakota Promise supports academic persistence through resources and opportunities that create meaningful relationships and inspire success through attainable life-changing education.
The Dakota Promise was originally created in 2019 as a partnership between Pikes Peak State College, The Dakota Foundation, Harrison School District 2, the Harrison School District Foundation, and The Legacy Institute. The Legacy Vision would support the funding of this program for years to come so that participation for families can be guaranteed.
PPSC promises to cover the on-campus tuition, fees, and books for all students in the Dakota Promise Program.
These costs are covered through a combination of federal grants, state grants, and college scholarships. You will not have to pay back these grants and scholarships.
No, there are no citizenship requirements to be eligible for the Dakota Promise Program.
Yes! Each Dakota Promise Scholar has a dedicated coach. Students meet with their coach at least three times per semester.
Pikes Peak State College’s Dakota promise provides full on-campus tuition, fees, books, and academic support for qualifying graduates from Harrison School District 2, Atlas Prep High School, and James Irwin Charter High School in Colorado Springs.
We will continue to update this page with more information on how to get involved. In the meantime feel free to contact us via email if you have something to contribute: info [at] springslegacy.org.