For Immediate Release: March 25, 2008

Contact: Brandy Radey, (303) 672-4355

DENVER-- March 25, 2008 -- Since the beginning of the year, the Denver Preschool Program (DPP), which increases access to quality early childhood education programs for all City and County of Denver children in their last year of preschool before kindergarten, already has received more than 1,100 applications from families seeking to enroll their children in a preschool program offered by eligible providers. This is the largest number of family applications obtained in a six-week period of time since the program’s launch in fall 2007. Additionally during this time period, DPP has added more than 145 classrooms to its growing list of available preschool programs.

DPP provides parents with a tuition credit to use at any licensed preschool participating in DPP’s quality improvement system, based on their family income, household size and quality rating of the provider. Participation in the DPP program is open to all provider types: for-profit, non-profit, public and private providers.

"We’re spreading the word about DPP so every family in Denver with children in their last year of preschool before kindergarten knows they can receive a tuition credit for their child’s education," said James Mejia, chief executive officer for DPP. "The acceleration in enrollment is a true testament to parents’ understanding of the importance of preschool education, as well as its increased affordability in our community, which DPP makes possible."

Local Denver parents and recent DPP enrollees Eric and Kim Pruitt stated, "For many years we thought preschool was simply a luxury we wouldn’t be able to afford. But now, with help from the Denver Preschool Program, we’re sending our first-born to one of the city’s best programs. With full tuition credits covering the full cost of preschool, we can ensure that our daughter is ready for a lifetime of learning."

More than 40 years of research shows that early childhood education provides significant educational and social benefits for children, families and communities. Almost 80 percent of brain development occurs before the age of five. Therefore, having children attend a preschool education program is crucial to their development and ability to grasp basic and fundamental skills early in order to be prepared to learn when they enter kindergarten. In Colorado, kindergarten teachers report that one-third of children come to school unprepared to learn, a trend DPP would like to halt through increasing access to affordable, quality preschool programs for every child in Denver.

About Denver Preschool Program
The Denver Preschool Program is the result of a ballot initiative approved by Denver residents in November 2006. The initiative recognizes the importance of quality early childhood educational opportunities for all City and County of Denver children by setting aside one-twelfth of one percent of sales tax revenues for improvement grants for preschool providers and tuition credits that families may use at the preschool of their choice. It is open and voluntary for all Denver children in the last year of preschool before kindergarten and includes all licensed preschool providers who agree to participate in its quality improvement system. For additional information on the program or to learn how to get involved, visit www.dpp.org