FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Brendan Daly, [email protected], (202) 794-1580

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 1, 2019) – Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) CEO Mark Shriver today applauded the Colorado state legislature for overwhelmingly approving HB 1262, legislation that fully funds full-day kindergarten across the state. The House voted final approval last night.

Governor Jared Polis, a strong advocate for full-day-K, is expected to sign the bill later this week to allocate nearly $184 million through the school finance formula for full-day kindergarten for all 178 school districts in the state, including some school districts that will begin to offer full-day K this fall.

“There is no better way to invest Colorado’s resources than in the care and education of our littlest learners, Shriver said. “This legislation is a crucial step forward in ensuring that more kids in Colorado will have access to high-quality kindergarten and get a strong start in life.”

Shriver said that studies have shown that students who attend full-day kindergarten enter first grade better prepared to learn, show lasting gains in academic achievement, are more likely to graduate high school and are less likely to engage in crime – saving the state money in the long run.

Full-day K funding means that Colorado families will no longer face the burden of tuition, which in some districts costs more than $4,500 a year. The funding will free up resources for school districts that previously spent on full-day K, allowing them to address other needs.

An organization that supports efforts to prioritize access to high-quality early childhood education across the country, SCAN worked with the Full-Day Kindergarten Now coalition to mobilize policymakers and advocates across the state on behalf of full-day K. SCAN volunteers attended town hall meetings with legislators, testified before the House and Senate committees on full-day K, submitted petitions signed by more than 600 Coloradans to every member of the state House and wrote hundreds of postcards to the state Senate.

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Save the Children Action Network is the political voice for kids. We believe that every child deserves the best start in life. That’s why we’re building bipartisan will and voter support to make sure every child in the U.S. has access to high-quality early learning and that children around the world survive and thrive. By investing in kids and holding leaders accountable, we are helping kids from birth to age five survive and thrive. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.