Colorado § 26.5-4-203 - Definitions.

§ 26.5-4-203. Definitions.

As used in this part 2, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Additional preschool services" means hours of preschool services provided to a child in the year preceding enrollment in kindergarten that are in addition to the universal preschool services the child receives.

(2) "Charter school" means a charter school that is:

(a) A district charter school authorized pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of title 22, an institute charter school authorized pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22, or a charter school authorized by the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind pursuant to section 22-80-102 (4)(b);

(b) Authorized in its charter contract to provide preschool services; and

(c) Licensed pursuant to part 3 of article 5 of this title 26.5 to operate as a preschool provider.

(3) "Children with disabilities" has the same meaning as provided in section 22-20-103.

(4) "Colorado universal preschool program" or "preschool program" means the program established within the department pursuant to section 26.5-4-204, and includes all participating preschool providers.

(5) Repealed.

(5.5) "Early childhood council" means an early childhood council identified or established locally in communities throughout the state pursuant to section 26.5-2-203.

(6) "ECEA" means the "Exceptional Children's Educational Act", article 20 of title 22, and its implementing rules.

(7) "Eligible child" means a child who is eligible to receive preschool services as provided in section 26.5-4-204 (3).

(8) "IDEA" means the federal "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act", 20 U.S.C. sec. 1400 et seq., as amended, and its implementing regulations.

(9) "Individualized education program" has the same meaning as provided in section 22-20-103.

(10) "Inflation" means the annual percentage change in the United States department of labor bureau of labor statistics consumer price index for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood for all items paid by all urban consumers, or its applicable successor index.

(11) Repealed.

(12) "Mixed delivery system" means a system for delivering preschool services through a combination of school- and community-based preschool providers, which include family child care homes, child care centers, and head start agencies, that are funded by a combination of public and private money.

(13) "Parent" has the same meaning as provided in section 22-20-103.

(14) "Preschool provider" means any of the following entities that are licensed pursuant to part 3 of article 5 of this title 26.5:

(a) A family child care home, as defined in section 26.5-5-303;

(b) A child care center, as defined in section 26.5-5-303;

(c) A school district licensed to operate as a public preschool provider;

(d) A charter school licensed to operate as a public preschool provider; or

(e) A head start program.

(15) "Qualifying factor" means a child or family circumstance, as identified by department rule pursuant to section 26.5-4-204 (4)(a)(II), that may negatively impact a child's cognitive, academic, social, physical, or behavioral health or development.

(16) "School district" means a school district organized pursuant to article 30 of title 22 that provides preschool services and is licensed pursuant to part 3 of article 5 of this title 26.5 as a preschool provider; or a board of cooperative services organized pursuant to article 5 of title 22 that provides preschool services and is licensed pursuant to part 3 of article 5 of this title 26.5 as a preschool provider.

(17) "Universal preschool services" means ten hours of preschool services per week made available, at no charge, to children in the state during the school year preceding the school year in which a child is eligible to enroll in kindergarten.

Source: L. 2022: Entire article added, (HB 22-1295), ch. 123, p. 688, § 3, effective July 1. L. 2026: (5.5) added, (SB 26-019), ch. 104, p. 425, § 17, effective May 5; (5) and (11) repealed, (SB 26-019), ch. 104, p. 425, § 17, effective July 1.