The purpose of the District Preschool Program is to provide a high quality early childhood experience for your child in a safe, supportive and stimulating environment where children develop and progress through a developmentally appropriate curriculum. Our focus is to prepare children for Kindergarten, providing students a curriculum that promotes learning through intentional learning opportunities during the day supporting social and academic progress.

The District’s preschool standards (what we expect children to learn) are aligned with Colorado’s preschool academic standards, the Colorado Early Learning and Developmental Guidelines, and Kindergarten Standards. These standards and objectives set out a series of learning readiness. These standards describe what children should understand and be able to do as a result of their preschool experience.

Preschool teachers use the Creative Curriculum® for Preschool, a research based preschool curriculum, to create an environment that supports learning through play in a variety of interest centers, i.e. blocks, dramatic play, science/discovery, art, technology, library/quiet area, etc. This curriculum also helps teachers develop appropriate small and large group activities to enhance child growth in the classroom. Progress is observed and documented in the following developmental and academic content areas: Cognitive, Language, Social/Emotional, Physical, Literacy, Math, and Science.

Admission & Registration

Children with special needs/disabilities will be administratively placed through the Early Childhood Department in collaboration with the Special Education & Child Find Departments. All other children, Universal Preschool (UPK) eligible four-year old’s, three-year old’s before Oct. 1 on an IEP, tuition based and scholarship students are placed through the Early Childhood Department who will work as close as possible with parents for placements. Please check our preschool website for application and registration procedures.

Tuition children typically are admitted on a first come, first serve basis in the Spring; however, procedures may vary depending on the needs of the school community. If there are tuition openings, applications are on-going throughout the school year. You may not enroll a child in more than one district preschool or one classroom (a.m. / p.m.).

State and District policies require that we have your child’s file complete with all the forms and information needed before they may attend preschool.

This is a list of what is required:

• Preschool Registration Form including:
• Emergency contacts, authorized adults to pick up child, a photo/video release, doctor/dentist information, St Vrain Health Form, and proof of residency.
• Emergency Information Card (kept by Health Clerk).
• A copy of your child’s Birth Certificate.
• Immunization Record (must be compliant before they can start preschool).*
• A “General Health Appraisal Form” is required by Colorado State Law in order to attend preschool. It must be completed and signed by a medical provider annually, stating that your child is healthy enough to attend preschool. If this document is not stating that your child is healthy enough to attend preschool (due within 30 days after the start of school and annually thereafter). If the document is not presented to the school it may affect your child’s attendance.
• A St. Vrain Health Form is a requirement of the school district.

*Parents will be notified if there is any child in your preschool class who is not immunized due to acceptable exemptions per state law. Confidentiality will be maintained. Identities will not be shared.

Tuition-paying students only:
The tuition agreement states that you understand the tuition policy and procedures, including no tuition refunds due to (but not limited to) unforeseen emergencies or inclement weather delays or closures, and must be signed on or before your child’s first day of preschool. We strongly suggest that families DO NOT prepay tuition.

For parents that claim preschool as a deduction on income tax forms, the District Tax I.D. number is 84-6014380. Tuition receipts are available upon request.

Tuition Rates for the 2025-2026 school year:

• 5 half-day classes (M-F a.m. or p.m.) – $592.00
• 2nd half of full day (M-F) –$708.00
• Full Day (M-F) – $1,342.00

The St. Vrain Valley School District has 25 preschool programs located in elementary schools and Spark! Discovery Preschool serving children three and four years of age. Children must be three and four years of age on or before October 1st of the current year to be registered. Children with disabilities must be served by age three, therefore they may be enrolled throughout the year at their 3rd birthday.

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) offers free preschool programming for all in district four-year-old children who will enter kindergarten the following school year. Eligible children must be 4 years old on or before Oct. 1 of the school year in which they are enrolling and may receive between 10 and 15 hours of preschool programming per week.

Funding is also available for some three-year-old children with qualifying factors. Families of three-year-old children should submit a district preschool application. Families of eligible four-year-old children must complete both the district preschool application and the Universal Preschool Colorado (UPK) parent application linked below.

Four-year-old children with qualifying factors may be considered for additional UPK funding to access full-day preschool programming if additional hours become available. Supporting documentation is required to verify qualifying factors.

Should you have questions about Universal Preschool, please reach out to our local coordinating Local Coordinating Organization, the Early Childhood Council of Boulder County, at 720-548-3987.
https://upk.colorado.gov/

St. Vrain Valley Schools preschools work collaboratively with the Special Education Department in the assessment, identification and programming of children with disabilities. We partner with families, special education staff and classroom teachers to determine the best program and supports for each child based on their individual needs.

If you have concerns about your child’s development, please speak with your child’s teacher.

The Translation and Interpretation Services Liaisons support our schools’ and departments’ efforts to communicate with families who speak or prefer other languages. To request translation and/or interpretation services, please contact your school’s main office. Click here for contact information for all schools.

Please visit the Translation and Interpretation Services website for more information.

District transportation is not provided for preschool programs unless it is determined to be a related service for children with disabilities and addressed through the Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or special education administrative placement.

Consistent daily attendance is expected of your student to achieve optimal educational benefits. Missing school sets students back in their learning, and children learn best with consistency. Parents are expected to make all efforts to have their students at school each day with the exception of illness or a family emergency. Attendance is tracked and monitored for student’s continuation in the preschool program.

As part of the preschool enrollment process, preschool students have the opportunity to participate in voluntary developmental and health screenings. These screenings help staff better understand each student’s strengths and provide valuable information to support individual learning and developmental needs.

Parent/guardian consent is required prior to participation in any screening. Screening results are confidential and shared only with families to support each student’s growth and success. If concerns are identified, families will be provided with information regarding available resources and support services.

Developmental Screenings

New preschool students have the opportunity to participate in developmental screenings that may include social-emotional, cognitive, and language development.

Annual Vision, Hearing, and Dental Screenings

Preschool students have the opportunity to participate in annual vision, hearing, and dental screenings. Vision and hearing screenings are provided through the St. Vrain Valley Schools Health Services Department, and dental screenings are provided in partnership with the Sunshine Club.

General Health Appraisal

A General Health Appraisal Form completed by your child’s health care provider is required for all preschool students in accordance with Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) licensing requirements. The General Health Appraisal Form can be found in the Parent/Guardian Forms section.

Within 30 calendar days of admission, and within 30 calendar days following the expiration of a previous health statement, parents/guardians must submit a statement of the student’s current health status or written verification of a scheduled appointment with a health care provider. The health statement must be signed and dated by a health care provider who has examined the student within the previous 12 months and must include the date of the next recommended visit.

Children attending preschool are generally expected to be toilet trained, while recognizing that occasional accidents are a normal part of development. In the event of a toileting accident, staff will assist the student with changing, and soiled clothing will be sent home.

Parents/guardians must provide an extra set of clothing for their student each day in case of accidents. Extra clothing must be placed directly in the student’s backpack and may not be sent in a Ziploc bag, plastic bag, or any other separate bag to ensure it is readily accessible when needed.

If a student experiences ongoing toileting accidents, the preschool team will collaborate with the family to determine appropriate supports and discuss the student’s individual needs and continued success in the program.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with disabilities will not be excluded from District preschool programs due to a lack of successful toilet training. Diapering will be conducted in accordance with state health department and child care licensing requirements.

• 1 Box (10 ct.) Washable Colored Broad Tip Markers
• 4 Glue Sticks
• 1 Tray of Washable Watercolors
• 1 Box (16 ct) Crayons
• 2 Cans (3 or 4oz) of Play-Doh
• Box of Tissue (optional classroom donation)

Our aim is to promote a positive learning environment where all students can succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Our preschool classrooms utilize positive behavior supports and developmentally appropriate behavior guidance as supported with our social emotional curriculum, Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS). If you have any questions regarding these guidelines, please ask your child’s teacher. In challenging situations, teachers will use positive guidance, redirection, and logical/natural consequences.

Teaching staff will teach desired classroom expectations. Students will also be taught appropriate ways to express their needs and manage their emotions. Instructional and/or environmental changes along with individual student accommodations will be made in hopes to deescalate undesirable behaviors If a child displays a pattern of negative behavior or has a serious behavior, a meeting will take place with parents to colaborate and discuss next steps and as deemed appropriate, a Child Behavior Plan will be developed. The district has Early Childhood Coaches for supporting children and faculty in such situations. The district also employs behavior consultants or other specialists as needed, who may be asked to collaborate with the staff and parents.

Classroom teaching staff will ensure that each parent/guardian signs in their child upon arrival and departure from the classroom daily. Teachers will continuously monitor the presence of children throughout the preschool day in the classroom, on the playground, and on field trips. Children will have their name to face head count taken before and after each transition. Please assist them by following the school’s procedures at all times:

1. An authorized adult, 18 years or older, must sign children in and out of the classroom; children can be left after the teacher knows of his/her presence. The sign-out portion of the log and facility is checked at the end of each day before it is closed and vacated.
   
2. Authorized persons not known to the staff by sight will be required to provide a photo I.D. before the child will be released to them. Children will not be released to any person who has not been authorized in writing by the parent/guardian. Please notify the teacher of any changes in persons authorized to pick up your child.

It is critical for young children to come to school on time and be picked up on time. All parents must provide three emergency contact persons on their lists with current phone numbers and addresses.

1. Parents may not list themselves or their spouse as an emergency contact, nor should they list a distant relative. Contacts must be people who would be available to pick up a child in the event of an emergency. Persons picking up children must be 18 years of age or older.
   
2. School staff will attempt to make immediate contact with the parent. If the parent cannot get to school within a reasonable length of time, the staff and parent will discuss child pick-up.
   
3. If no contact is made with the parent, the school staff will call the emergency contacts immediately and involve the principal’s office. If necessary, the school staff will notify the Director of Early Childhood Education.
   
4. If all of the above steps have been exhausted and approximately 1 hour or more has passed, the school staff will then call the local law enforcement for assistance in locating the parents.
   

The preschool class will go outside daily for outdoor learning and physical development. In the case of severe, inclement or excessively hot weather conditions, the school principal will cancel or limit outdoor play and teachers will provide alternate activities inside the school.

Understanding the importance of applying sunscreen to assist in limiting children’s exposure to harmful UV rays. St. Vrain Preschool Programs will apply Rocky Mountain Sunscreen SPF 30 to all children prior to sun exposure on exposed skin, to include but not limited to the face, top of ears, nose, bare shoulders, arms and legs during the day before going outside for recess, as directed on the sunscreen label. Reapplication will occur in full day programs. Please refer to the attached Parent/Guardian Sunscreen Permission Form for specific guidelines and opt out options.

Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather each day. Any child that is well enough to attend school will be considered well enough to go outside.

Please do not send toys or money with your child. All personal belongings should be labeled with your child’s name.

St. Vrain Valley Schools preschool programs are supported by the Health Services Department, which promotes student health and well-being through collaboration with families, school staff, and community partners to support student success and engagement.

The Health Services team includes registered nurses who support school buildings by addressing student health needs, including illness, injuries, chronic health conditions, and other medical concerns.

Health clerks are present in school buildings and provide student health support under the guidance of a registered nurse. Health clerks receive training and delegation from a school registered nurse to administer medications and provide care for specific health needs, including asthma, severe allergies, seizure disorders, and diabetes, in accordance with 8 CCR 1402-1.

If your student has a medical condition or requires specialized health support, such as asthma, severe allergies, seizures, or diabetes, please contact your school nurse to discuss your student’s health needs and develop an appropriate care plan.

Illness

Management of common communicable diseases will be in accordance with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) or local public health department guidelines. A student who exhibits symptoms of a readily-transmissible communicable disease, including a fever, vomiting, diarrhea etc may be temporarily excluded from school attendance. 

Please follow the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) How Sick is Too Sick? (Spanish) guidance document for return-to-school criteria. Students should remain home for at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, as outlined in current public health guidance.

Students who become ill while at school may be referred to the school health clerk for assessment and may be sent home. Parents/guardians or individuals designated on the student’s emergency medical authorization form will be notified if a student needs to be picked up from school, in accordance with SVVSD Policy JLCC.

If a student is injured at school, appropriate first aid will be provided. The injured area may be cleaned with soap and water, and a bandage may be applied as needed. Parents/guardians will be notified when deemed necessary.

Medication of any kind may not be applied to a wound without written authorization from a health care provider with prescriptive authority and parent/guardian consent (see Medication section).

If an injury is serious, 911 will be contacted immediately, and the parent/guardian or individual designated on the student’s emergency medical authorization form will be notified.

If emergency contacts cannot be reached, the principal and/or preschool teacher will make decisions regarding emergency medical care for the student.

Medication Administration

In accordance with Colorado state regulations, District policy, and the Colorado Nurse Practice Act, school personnel may administer medication to students only when administration cannot reasonably be accomplished outside of school hours. Medication, other than medical marijuana, may only be administered by school personnel who have received training and delegation from a district school nurse, in accordance with SVVSD Policy JLCD and 8 CCR 1402-1.

Prescription and Emergency Medications

Students requiring prescription or emergency medications, including medications for severe allergic reactions, asthma, seizures, or diabetes management, should contact the school nurse prior to attendance to develop an appropriate health care plan and ensure all required forms and medications are in place. Health care plans and required medical forms are available on the St. Vrain Valley Schools Health Services webpage.

Prescription and emergency medications will be stored and administered according to the student’s individual health care plan, health care provider orders, and District procedures.

Routine and Over-the-Counter Medications

Families are encouraged to administer routine and over-the-counter medications at home whenever possible. School personnel may administer routine prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medications only when administration cannot reasonably be accomplished outside of school hours.

Home remedies, homeopathic medications, vitamins, supplements, and cough drops may not be administered to students in preschool programs.

Medication Storage and Labeling

All medications must be provided in their original labeled containers. Prescription medications must be provided in the original pharmacy-labeled container. Nonprescription (over-the-counter) medications must be provided in the original manufacturer’s container and labeled with the student’s first and last name.

All medications will be stored in the school health office and administered by school personnel who have received training and delegation from a district school nurse.

Medication Administration and Renewal

All medications (prescription and over-the-counter) require a completed Permission to Medicate form, which must be renewed annually. The Permission to Medicate form can be found here: Health Services Forms.

In the event that the school must be closed due to an emergency before the normal dismissal time necessitating canceling preschool early, every attempt will be made to communicate with parents as early as possible at their home phone, work phone, and through their emergency contact numbers. It is imperative that emergency contact numbers be up-to-date and not be the same number as the parent’s phone numbers.

Please be aware that in some emergencies the school phones may be temporarily out of service. If this happens, contact might be made from another phone. Our first priority in any emergency situation is the safety of the children.

In the event of a delayed start, morning classes will be canceled. Please refer to school procedures regarding delayed starts or closures. Should an unforeseen emergency or inclement weather necessitate a delayed start or closure, tuition payments remain the same with no refunds granted. Should there be more than six closures affecting a particular classroom, make up day(s) will be provided for each day past the sixth.

stvra.in/closures

Preschool will participate in late start days along with the rest of the school. On these days, the full-day preschool session will begin 2.5 hours later than usual. There will be no school for students enrolled in the AM session, and PM session students will attend at their regular start time.

Fire, Tornado, and Lockdown

All drill procedures are posted in the preschool classroom by the door. If you would like a more detailed description of the procedures, please talk with your child’s teacher or Principal. Preschools will participate in practice drills throughout the year.

Evacuation

Emergency procedures in the case of an off-site evacuation are posted by the classroom door. In case of an actual emergency, parents may be asked to pick up their children at an off-site location. Please talk to your child’s teacher about the designated off-site evacuation location.

Lost Child Procedure

Children are actively supervised during preschool; however, in the unlikely event a child is missing, the following emergency plan is put into effect:

• A thorough search of the school is conducted
• After ten minutes, parents/guardians and the police will be contacted
• The staff will start to search the area surrounding the school

We have an open-door policy at our preschools. If you would like to schedule a visit, please talk to your child’s teacher. Visitors must sign the visitor’s log in the school’s main office when entering the school with a visitor’s identification badge issued to you at this time. This badge must be visibly worn at all times. Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the classroom or on field trips.

Volunteers will be accompanied by staff at all times. A volunteer training will be provided for those volunteering on a consistent basis.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are held twice a year to discuss child’s behavior, progress, and social and physical needs to include next step goals for promoting learning in the classroom and at home. Each preschool will have a procedure for assigning times for conferences. Individualized conferences may held at any time during the year at the request of the parent or the teacher.

Field trips may be planned throughout the year as a part of the curriculum. The times of the field trip may be different from the regular preschool day. Notices with all information will be sent out before a field trip is taken. The preschool policy on field trips is as follows:

• A permission slip signed by a parent/guardian is required for each field trip.
• The staff to child ratio must be maintained at all times and children will be actively supervised for the entire field trip.
• All field trips for every class will be on a District School Bus, unless the destination is within a safe walking distance.
• Parents who have other children will need to talk to the teacher about the preschool’s policy on bringing siblings on the trip.
• The District preschool will pay for the bus, however, parents may be asked to pay the entrance fee (if applicable).

Staff is required to bring a copy of the Emergency Card for each child on the trip. A list of all the children and staff on the field trip will also be kept at the office.

Late Arrival for Field Trips

The field trip time and place will be posted on the classroom door on the day of the field trip. If a parent arrives with a child after the class has left and would like to meet the preschool class at the field trip location, the parent/guardian should inform the school office. Supervision or transportation will not be provided by any of the other school staff. If the parent/guardian is unable to meet the class at the field trip destination, the child will have to stay with the parent/guardian for the day.

Bus Safety for Field Trips

The bus driver will review bus safety with the children before the bus departs for the field trip. Children are expected to stay in their seats at all times and use quiet voices. At a railroad crossing, the bus will come to a complete stop and the passengers will remain silent while the bus driver stops, looks and listens. Incase of an emergency on the bus, the adult closest to the emergency door, may have to open that door. Please talk with your child at home on how to stay safe on the bus.

Occasionally, the preschool class may watch a television program or video only as a special
learning activity that enhances the curriculum. The viewing material will always carry a “G” rating.

Our district will provide healthy nutritious snacks daily for preschool students. Please inform your teacher of any specific dietary needs of your student. Please do not send individual snacks with your child, as all snacks will be provided by the district to ensure consistency and accommodate dietary restrictions.

The district requires the completion of the Free and Reduced Lunch application regardless of income. The application will be provided by your teacher. Parents must also sign in and out to include time of student drop-off/pick-up daily for compliance of the food program.

Children in preschool programs that live in an elementary school attendance area are guaranteed a place in their elementary school kindergarten program. Preschool children from outside the attendance area are not guaranteed a place in the elementary school’s kindergarten. Parents must fill out an open enrollment application if they wish their child to attend kindergarten outside of their attendance area.

Student Retention
Conversations about concerns regarding a student’s progress and achievement should
typically begin in January. The district does not encourage retention at the preschool level believing in the opportunities full day kindergarten provides, accepting students with the ready school philosophy. Any concerns regarding the consideration of retention by either the parent require more than one meeting to discuss considerations and need to involve the Principal and Director of Early Childhood Education. Using input from parents and teachers and a body of evidence, the final decision regarding retention is up to building principal.

The following may be contacted if there is a complaint regarding the preschool:

1. The preschool teacher
2. The building Principal
3. The District Early Childhood Director
4. The Colorado Department of Human Services, Child Care Division at (303) 866-5958, X1575 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203
5. Colorado Department of Education (CDE) for children with disabilities

If child abuse is suspected, it must be reported to
the following agency:

Colorado Department of Human Services
Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Public
Awareness Campaign
1-844-CO-4-KIDS or 1-844-264-5437

Boulder County Social Services:
303-441-1240

All staff within elementary schools/preschool programs are mandated reporters.

If you plan to withdraw your child from preschool, please give a written two weeks notice to the preschool staff. Children are often on a waiting list. Our greatest wish is that the preschool experience will be a happy time for your family and your child. In the unlikely event that it becomes necessary to remove your child from the program, a conference with the teacher, principal and parent/guardian will take place before any final decisions are made.

Reasons for dismissal may include:

• Non-payment of tuition (for tuition paying students)
• Required paperwork not up to date
• If your child is absent from preschool for more than two weeks consecutively and no notice has been given to the school or preschool staff

• 2026-2027 Preschool Calendar (Spanish)

The following forms must be filled out by parents/guardians and submitted to the school office:

• Emergency Medical Authorization (Spanish)
• Walking Field Trip Permission Slip (Spanish)
• Parent/Guardian Sunscreen Permission Form (Spanish)
• General Health Appraisal Form (Spanish)
• Handbook Acknowledgement Form (Spanish)