HB22-1295 established the Colorado Universal Preschool Program. Do not duplicate what is already in effect! There is not unlimited funds available to spend for whatever pet projects City Council decides to implement! Again Ms. Strom has silenced our voices by shutting down online public comments.

Hello, This Amber Varwig My family was a Lakewood Headstart family. I would like to share what that program meant to my family's success, and why I believe you should absolutely ensure the continuation of it's wonderful and life changing services. I have 3 little boys, and am a single mom. I had taken care of my mom for years, for less than $500/month. Borrowing money every month and barely scraping by, I was lucky enough to land my boys a spot in Lakewood Early Headstart, which makes home visits to monitor and developmentally stimulate young children, to prepare them for a lifetime of learning. They connected my family with diapers, clothing, strollers, food, and resources that would not have been available to me otherwise. It saved me a lot of money I could put toward my family, my children had things they needed. My children were able to have specific aspects of their physical and developmental growth followed to ensure they would be Kinder Ready, but socialized and under the guidance of an IEP, if appropriate. As we transitioned to preK, my children made advancements I can only credit to Headstart. My son is on the spectrum, ASD2. His interviewer stated she would have rated him a 3 from my stories before his year started in school, months before, and I could credit Headstart with providing him with the services he needed so early in life! Can you imagine how it felt, to hear that? I'm tearing up, as I write. Imagine if we could provide this kind of support to ALL of our nation's kids! I am now making *much* more money, and I credit Headstart with giving me what I needed to pursue that. Thank you, Headstart! The staff was informed, inclusive, accepting and loving. Mses Whitney, Chantel, Angie, and Karwa are some of the most amazing and professional educators I've ever had the honor to meet, and I'm proud that they taught my children, and provided them with love, skills, and support, while supporting community outreach, school involvement, and familial growth, with no judgements. I think it will not be lost on council what a unicorn of an organization I am describing. We should be proud and excited to offer this organization's services to our children, and we should protect it, as it supports working parents, some barely scraping by as it is, by giving them a safe and healthy place for their children to eat, sleep, play, learn, and grow. Some sites offer extended-day for the parents who must travel or work full time. All children are fed Breakfast, lunch, and a snack. What would some of have given to know our kid was covered, or that we were in school? Think of the money it saves the families, and other resources! What an amazing gift to Lakewood right? Why wouldn't we want to protect something that's worked this well, for years? How would we replace the resources the community has come to depend on? Wouldn't that deplete already strained resources? For those saying it duplicates services, or that we haven't the money because of our new friends- Isn't this exactly what putting your citizens, your children, your future!- above others, looks like? Who would have a problem with this?

Since passing the Colorado Universal Preschool Program isn’t this a duplication of services? What impact do you anticipate the homeless/immigrant rising population to have on this program? Here’s what we the voters passed. “In the 2022 Legislative Session, HB22-1295 established the Colorado Universal Preschool Program to offer voluntary, high-quality universal preschool to every Colorado child in the year before kindergarten. The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) is charged with operating the program to enable families to choose from a mixed-delivery system of high-quality preschool settings, including licensed community-based programs, school-based programs, and licensed home providers. High-quality preschool has demonstrated positive outcomes for children and families in the short and long-term. How Does it Work? All children in Colorado can register for up to 15 hours of free, high-quality preschool in their year before kindergarten through Colorado’s Universal Pre-K (UPK) Program. Families may qualify for more hours based on a number of qualifying factors.” Lower income is a qualifying factor.