DENVER — Gov. Jared Polis' (D-Colorado) first promise after taking office was to start full-day kindergarten covered by state tax dollars and on Tuesday he did that by signing a bill to provide access to all students across the state.
The Colorado State Senate unanimously voted in late April to send a bill funding universal full-day kindergarten in Colorado to Gov. Polis’ desk.
HB19-1262 was one of the Democrat’s promises for his first year in office, and he was given $185 million by the Joint Budget Committee to pay for it.
The plan will go into effect next fall. The idea was first floated by Rep. Jim Wilson (R-Salida) and Rep. Barbara McLachlan (D-Durango) but it failed last year.
Polis said in March this plan will allow districts to make their own adjustments toward full-day kindergarten, but he said with this bill, the money will be there.
Opponents have argued full-day kindergarten should be a decision made by local school boards rather than at the state level.
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