Full-day programs
Full-day programs offer children abundant opportunities for learning, play, and exploration. Children will be expected to develop their cognitive, social and emotional skills and learn by doing. Each child will emerge from the program enthusiastic about learning and ready to move on to the next grade level. Each day provides time for structured play as well as oral language development, thematic instruction (instruction that combines skills like drawing and reading to focus on one theme, like the family), cognitive and social development. Children will be able to work and play in small and large groups, both inside the classroom and outdoors. Children will have a rest period during the afternoon, snacks and a nutritious lunch.

The full-day program follows the school day and the DPS Board of Education approved calendar, Monday through Friday except for predetermined days for Parent Meetings and Professional Development. Specific hours of operation are determined by the individual school. Holidays and District Planning Days are determined by the district calendar but check with individual schools as there may be exceptions.

Half-day programs
Half-day programs offer the same opportunities for learning and play as full-day programs. As with full-day, children will begin to develop a lifelong love of learning, get ready for Kindergarten, and build their cognitive, emotional and social skills. Each day provides the same types of instruction as full-day. Classroom activities will focus on language development, thematic instruction (instruction that combines skills like drawing and reading to focus on one theme, like the family), cognitive and social development. Children can expect to work and play in both small and large groups, both inside the classroom and outdoors.

Half-day Early Childhood Education (ECE) classes follow the DPS Board of Education approved calendar and are 2 hours/40 minutes per day Monday through Friday except for predetermined days for Parent Meetings and Professional Development. Specific hours of operation are determined by the individual school. Holidays and District Planning Days are determined by the district calendar but check with individual schools as there may be exceptions.

DPS offers full-day and half-day programs for 4-year-olds or children in their last year before Kindergarten. Children must be 4 years old on or before October 1 of the year of enrollment to be eligible.

All programs offer:

• Adult to child ratio of no more than 1:10
• Highly trained, certified teachers and paraprofessionals in every classroom
• Colorado Shines rated classrooms
• A safe, nurturing environment
• A curriculum that focuses on play and school-readiness
• Classrooms equipped with state of the art play materials and modern furniture
• Snacks and lunch (depending on full-day or half-day offering)

DPS offers full-day and half-day programs for 3 year-olds at certain schools. In many of these programs, 3 year-olds are together in a classroom with 4-year-olds.

All programs offer:

• Adult to child ratio of no more than 1:10
• Highly trained, certified teachers and paraprofessionals in every classroom
• Colorado Shines rated classrooms
• A safe, nurturing environment
• A curriculum that focuses on play and school-readiness
• Classrooms equipped with state of the art play materials and modern furniture
• Snacks and lunch (depending on full-day or half-day offering).

Early Entrance to Kindergarten Assessment is a school based decision. Contact your school of preference to see if they offer Early Entrance.

Services for children with special needs ages 3-5 are available in DPS. For more information visit the Child Find website or contact Child Find at 720-423-1410.

Many schools across DPS offer native language Spanish instruction and a few offer dual language Spanish/English Instruction. These classrooms offer the same curriculum as English language classrooms, but are taught by a teacher who is certified to teach in Spanish. Find which schools offer Spanish instruction.

Four DPS schools offer a Montessori program whose multi-age classrooms include 3-, 4- and 5- year-olds. Montessori programs for 3-year-olds are half-day and follow the Maria Montessori Model. For children this age, this model focuses on introducing children to activities that instill care for themselves, others and their environment, allow them to explore their relationship to the physical environment, build language, gain knowledge of cultures and mathematics.
The following schools in DPS offer a Montessori program for 3- and 4-year-olds:

• Denison Montessori
• Garden Place Montessori
• Lincoln Montessori
• Sandoval Montessori

Here are links to additional information about Montessori Education:

• The Association Montessori Internationale
• North American Montessori Teachers’ Association
• American Montessori Society