8 Colo. Code Regs. § 1404-1-4.110

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 10, May 30, 2024

Section 8 CCR 1404-1-4.110 - PROVIDER MATCHING CRITERIA

A. Eligible preschool providers may utilize the following programmatic preferences to the deferred acceptance algorithm component of the matching process:

1. Faith-based providers granting preference to members of their congregation;

2. Cooperative preschool providers requiring participation in the cooperative;

3. School districts maintaining enrollment consistent with their established boundaries;

4. Participating preschool providers reserving placements for a student(s) with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to ensure conformity with obligations incurred pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. section 1400 (2004), or the Exceptional Children's Education Act, Article 20 of Title 22, C.R.S.;

5. Head Start programs' adhering to any applicable federal law requirements including eligibility requirements;

6. Participating preschool providers granting preference to an eligible child of one (1) of their employees;

7. Participating preschool providers granting preference to an eligible child to ensure continuity-of-care for that child;

8. Participating preschool providers granting preference to an eligible child to keep siblings similarly located;

9. Participating preschool providers granting preference to an eligible child who is multilingual, to ensure proper delivery of services to that child.

10. Participating preschool providers may grant preference to an eligible child based: on the child and/or family being a part of a specific community; having specific competencies or interests; having a specific relationship to the provider, provider's employees, students, or their families; receiving specific public assistance benefits; or participating in a specific activity. Participating preschool providers seeking to utilize this preference, must ensure:

a. That the specific community, competencies or interests, relationship, public assistance benefit, or activity being required of children and/or families who attend, is a requirement of all participating children and/or families.

b. That implementation of requiring the specific community, competencies or interests, relationship, public assistance benefit, or activity does not conflict with any other provision of the Colorado Universal Preschool Program statutes at sections 26.5-4-201 through 26.5-4-211, C.R.S., nor with any other applicable law or regulation.

c. Examples of approved preferences include, but are not limited to: participating preschool providers who require a focus in a certain knowledge area (such as science, technology, engineering, and math ("STEM")); providers who serve families with a family member who works or attends school at a specific site(s) or location(s); providers who serve families within a specific geographical catchment area; providers who require a certain amount of volunteering or participation by the participating family; providers who require certain vaccinations for the health and safety of its staff and students; and providers who serve families who are receiving a specific public assistance benefit(s) such as housing assistance.

B. In utilizing these programmatic preferences, eligible preschool providers must still comply with rule section 4.109(B).

8 CCR 1404-1-4.110

47 CR 08, April 25, 2024, effective 5/15/2024