Foundation for the Future
Early Childhood Education

• Experts in the classroom: We hire licensed early childhood teachers who are experts in child development and instructional strategies. Our classrooms also include well-trained paraprofessionals, Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists, and coaching from our Early Childhood Administrative Team. 
• Better ratios: D11 offers smaller class sizes with three staff members in the room. This means our students receive more individualized attention. 
• Premium environments: D11 provides top level furniture and materials to meet the highest quality standards.  
• Neighborhood Schools: Our preschool classrooms are located right in our elementary schools. Students get familiar with their school environment, school staff, and get to know the friends they will have in kindergarten.  
• Continuous Improvement: Each classroom has an assigned coach/mentor who supports the team with achieving the highest level of quality as measured by ECERS, the industry gold standard quality rating tool. 
• Standards-Based Curriculum: D11 uses a curriculum that aligns to state standards and helps students develop the foundational academic skills that will help them succeed in kindergarten and beyond. All routines are child-centered with students having the opportunity to playfully engage. We know that preschool-age students learn best through play, and it shows throughout our whole day. 
• Emphasis on skills that predict later success: D11 preschool helps students learn to regulate their bodies, their attention, and their emotions, how to negotiate, play with kindness and fairness, and how to advocate for their needs. 
• FREE! District 11 Preschool is free to attend!

Universal Preschool (UPK) offers free preschool to all children in Colorado in their year before kindergarten. For the 2024-25 school year, all children in their year before kindergarten (birthday Oct 2, 2019 - Oct. 1, 2020) are eligible for 15 hours of preschool per week.  All children who are 4 years old on or before October 1, 2024 are required to apply for Universal Preschool (click here to apply>>upk.colorado.gov). 

D11 offers free preschool for 3-year-olds for preschool.  Children who are 3 years old on or before October 1, 2024 do not need to apply for Universal Preschool, unless the child has an IEP.  Please go to our application page and find your pathway to preschool!

To apply for D11 preschool, families of 4-year-olds must complete both the statewide application and the D11 enrollment process. It’s easy! 

1. Visit https://upk.colorado.gov 

1. Make your provider choices and wait to hear back. All D11 preschool classrooms are listed in the system. You can select any school that meets your needs. Then, wait to hear from us.

1. Once you are accepted, the D11 Early Childhood office will reach out to you with the final steps in completing the enrollment process. 

Most of our elementary schools offer preschool.

• Adams Elementary
• Audubon Elementary
• Chipeta Elementary
• Columbia Elementary
• Edison Elementary
• Freedom Elementary
• Fremont Elementary
• Henry Elementary
• Howbert Elementary
• Jackson Elementary
• Keller Elementary
• King Elementary
• Madison Elementary
• Martinez Elementary
• Midland Elementary
• McAuliffe Elementary
• Monroe Elementary
• Penrose Elementary
• Queen Palmer Elementary
• Rogers Elementary
• Rudy Elementary
• Scott Elementary
• Stratton Elementary
• Taylor Elementary
• Trailblazer Elementary
• Twain Elementary
• West Elementary
• Wilson Elementary

No, you can choose any school you want. We encourage families to select several District 11 schools when applying. 

Yes. District 11 welcomes preschoolers from out of district, as space allows. You can select a D11 school when browsing options on the UPK website.

Age requirements for the 2024-2025 school year: 

Your child is considered a 4-year-old if their birthday is between October 2, 2019 and October 1, 2020 

Your child is considered a 3-year-old if their birthday is between October 2, 2020 and October 1, 2021

There are no developmental requirements for D11 preschool. Every child within the age range above is welcome! 

We can help! All children are welcome in D11 preschool, regardless of their skills or challenges. Our classrooms provide a full range of special education services for children who qualify. We can evaluate your child to determine if they are eligible for added services (such as speech, support with play skills, etc.). If you have any concerns about your child’s development, please call our Early Childhood Child Find office at 719-520-2542. You can learn more about Child Find on our Special Education page.

The UPK website will require proof of income in order to complete the application. Once you have been accepted in D11 preschool, that enrollment process will require: 

• Proof of Residence: Utility Bill (within last 3 months) or current lease 

• the photo ID of a parent or legal guardian

• Birth Certificate: scan and upload, or a copy of a passport 

• Immunization records 

• Physical/Well-Child Exam: must be within the last year and signed by a healthcare provider 

If you think preschool is a good next step for your child, he or she is ready! The goal of our preschool program is to help your child develop the foundational skills, in all areas of development, that will help them succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Our preschool team is ready to help with separation anxiety, potty training, social-emotional skills, and any other issues that might have you questioning your child’s readiness. Enrolling in preschool is a personal choice for each family. If you want your child to experience preschool, we will ensure that school is a joyful and successful experience for your child. 

Our preschool programs prioritize play-based learning. This means your child is learning academic, language, social-emotional, self-help, and motor skills in the context of activities that are rooted in play. Every preschool routine is playful and meaningful and allows for your child to be actively engaged rather than passively observing. Our preschool routine includes: 

1. First Circle: engaging in playful welcome routines and reading a story while emphasizing key learning targets. 

2. Small Group: hands-on learning of academic concepts in a small group. Each week, students work on math, literacy, fine motor (pre-writing), and social skills. 

3. Center Time: Children choose where to play, and adults support social skills and imbed academic concepts into their play. Our centers are carefully designed to be appealing to our students while giving them access to toys and materials that will support their language, literacy, math, social, and fine motor development. Children are not “left to play” during this time; our teachers know this time provides some of the best opportunities for instruction and support. 

4. Second Circle: targeted academic concept and music/movement 

5. Playground/Motor: Active play with adult support for motor development and social learning 

6. Snack: Family-style snack where teachers facilitate small-group conversation while children eat a healthy snack together. 

D11 preschool LOVES family involvement! There are take-home activities you can engage in with your child, volunteer opportunities, and field trips you can join. All preschool families are invited to parent-teacher conferences twice a year, and teachers are happy to schedule additional time for conversation whenever it’s needed. Some families also organize play groups with students from their preschool class. 

D11 is unable to provide transportation for most preschool-age students. Students must be picked up and dropped off by a parent or parent-approved adult caretaker each day. Very rarely, some students with Individualized Education Plans are offered transportation as a special education service. 

Nearly every elementary school offers preschool. If you are interested in a school that does not offer preschool, you can select a nearby school instead. 

You will receive official notification you of your acceptance when a seat becomes available for your child: 

• Four-year-olds (students whose 4th birthday falls on or before October 1) will be notified of a seat match by Universal Preschool.
• 3-year-olds (students whose 3rd birthday falls on or before October 1) are placed by the District 11 Early Childhood office. Once you have completed a District 11 Preschool application, your child will be placed on the wait list for your preferred school(s) and you will receive an email from Preschool@D11.org when a seat is available.

Individual schools do not have information about preschool placement. Please contact the Early Childhood office with your preschool questions at Preschool@D11.org or 719-520-2540!