CO HB1262

Beginning in the 2019-20 budget year, kindergarten pupils are counted as full-time students for state funding purposes, compared to the previous half-time counting method.

School districts and charter schools cannot charge tuition for kindergarten enrollment but may charge standard fees applicable to other grades; if future legislation reverts to half-day counting, districts may charge tuition capped at 2018-19 full-day rates adjusted for inflation.

Districts that do not operate full-day kindergarten programs as of 2019-20 must develop a plan to potentially phase in full-day programs, considering facility needs, staffing, and prioritization of eligible students.

The state appropriates $182,911,699 for the 2019-20 fiscal year ($173,972,108 from general fund and $8,939,591 from state education fund) to implement full-day kindergarten funding, with an additional $25,094 for the office of early childhood.

Preschool positions can no longer be used to fund full-day kindergarten enrollment starting 2019-20, though districts may retain positions allocated in 2018-19 for half-day or full-day preschool enrollment.