The research on full-day kindergarten and its benefits are robust, from improving literacy skills, greater math and reading gains during the school year, and overall academic growth. In addition, children with developmental delays and special learning needs are able to be identified earlier and supported with appropriate interventions. Fully funding full-day kindergarten frees up more than 5,000 early learning slots currently used to support full-day kindergarten access for at-risk children. Only 24 percent of 4-year-olds in Colorado have access to state-funded preschool program and there are several thousand children on the state preschool wait list. Fully investing in full-day kindergarten allows Colorado to open up preschool access for children facing the most barriers to learning. It would bring an additional $15,710,612 to school districts within your legislative district once those districts reach full enrollment in a full-day program. Coupled with the proposed increases in Total Program and a decrease of $77 million in the budget stabilization factor as proposed in the January 15th Governor's Budget letter, the district would see a net increase in total program funding of $41,921,154.