An Update from the Denver Preschool Program

Summer 2010

Click below to download and view the PDF versions of the latest DPP newsletter:

• DPP Summer 2010 Newsletter (English)
• DPP Summer 2010 Newsletter (Spanish)

Click aquí para Español

Dear Parents,

The Denver Preschool Program (DPP) would like to thank you for letting us play a small role in your child’s education. We take our role seriously, which makes it very difficult when we need to communicate program changes.

We have all been subject in some manner to the effects of the recent economic decline. The Denver Preschool Program is no different. In 2009, sales tax revenues were down 15% from original estimates projected the year before. This, coupled with several other critical factors has forced us to make some difficult budget decisions in order to maintain the program’s sustainability and its intent to improve the overall educational success of Denver’s children.

DPP has made the difficult decision to discontinue all tuition credit funding for the summer months of June, July, and August. You will soon be receiving a letter in the mail that is specific to your situation, but we wanted to alert you to this situation as soon as possible.

If you have any questions at all, you may contact our offices at (303) 595-4DPP.

We are truly sorry for the timing and nature of this announcement. We understand the impact that this will have on families. Again, we appreciate your participation in the Denver Preschool Program.

Sincerely

James Mejía
CEO, Denver Preschool Program

Let’s Read!

The Denver Preschool Program (DPP) and the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) have announced the selection for Preschool One Book, One Denver 2010. Beginning April 14, 2010, many of Denver’s preschoolers will begin reading “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle.

This marks the second consecutive year that DPP and DOCA have hosted a citywide book club for young children. As in 2009, this year’s effort will include public readings by Mayor John Hickenlooper and other local celebrities, on-­‐site readings at several DPP enrolled preschools, and book donations to DPP classrooms.

The 2010 program will last 14 days and conclude on Wednesday, April 28.

“We’re very fortunate to have the Kaplan Early Learning Company and the Piton Foundation’s support for Preschool One Book, One Denver 2010,” says James Mejia, DPP chief executive officer. “Thanks to their generous contributions, we are able to distribute 1,200 copies of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ free to DPP classrooms.”

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” was first published in 1969. Since then, it’s been a perennial favorite of parents and children alike. More than 30 million copies of the book have been sold, and the story has been translated into 20 languages.

Mejia says Denver’s early education community was instrumental in selecting this year’s book. First, members of DPP’s advisory board created a list of potential selections.

“We then took those options to the field,” Mejia says. “More than 150 quality-­‐rated preschool providers participate in DPP, so we were able to ask proven early education experts for their recommendations. The providers cast their votes, and they selected ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar.’

“As a father of three young children, and as an adult who’s read this book aloud many times, I can say this is a marvelous choice,” Mejia adds.

Preschool One Book, One Denver 2010 details are being finalized now.

A complete calendar of events will be posted on the DPP Web site (www.dpp.org) in the next few days.

An Update from the Denver Preschool Program

January 2010

Click here to download and view the PDF version of the newsletter.

Achieving access to high-quality preschool for Denver’s children

Annual Report to the Community – 2009

Click here to download and view the PDF version of the annual report.

An Update from the Denver Preschool Program

October 2009

Click here to download and view the PDF version of the newsletter.

Inspire Preschool Signs on as Milestone Preschool, Expanding Families’ Options for High‐Quality Preschool in Denver

With the addition of Inspire Preschool, Denver Preschool Program (DPP) has reached another milestone in its efforts to make quality early childhood education available to all Denver families. The addition of Inspire Preschool boosts DPP’s growing network of preschools to 150 providers.

The significance of this achievement reaches well beyond the 150th milestone, pointing to the strides DPP has made in increasing access to quality preschool in Denver: With 150 providers now participating in DPP, families seeking to enroll in DPP can choose from more than 250 preschool sites across the city. These 250‐plus sites offer more than 550 classrooms, each of which is focused on delivering high‐quality preschool education to Denver’s children. Furthermore, DPP has enrolled 85 percent of the city’s eligible preschool “centers” – the provider types with the most capacity to serve Denver families.

Additional providers that recently have enrolled in DPP include Cachitos Day Care Home, Children’s House of Stapleton and Notre Dame Early Learning Center. Including Inspire Preschool, this short list of DPP providers represents the diversity of quality preschool available through DPP – ensuring each family is able to choose the type of program that meets their needs.

“Increasing provider enrollment is essential to our goal of making quality preschool available to every family in Denver, and DPP is proud to welcome Inspire Preschool into the continually expanding program,” said James Mejía, chief executive officer for DPP. “Before DPP, half of our preschool providers had never participated in any kind of quality improvement process. Today, DPP providers boast an average rating of three out of four stars – which means children enrolled in DPP preschools are receiving a quality education that will better prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.”

Participation in DPP is open to all provider types: for‐profit, non‐profit, public and private providers. Preschool providers participating in DPP must agree to participate in DPP’s qualityrating system, and subsequently are eligible to receive quality‐improvement grants that can be used for classroom materials and supplies, professional development and coaching. In this way, DPP enhances the quality of the preschool experience for all children in the classroom.

"Having just opened the doors of our exciting new preschool program, we are thrilled to be part of DPP. We are a unique, play‐based part‐time program that embraces the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education of all children, including children with special needs," remarked Katie Thompson and Sharon Prairie, co‐directors of Inspire Preschool. "We intend to use the quality improvement dollars provided to us by DPP to enhance the ‘hundred languages of children’ by purchasing a light table for our children to creatively explore the wonders of light and shadow. We also intend to purchase materials to enhance math and science experiences including large incline blocks, pendulums, gears and pulleys."