(COLORADO SPRINGS) — On Tuesday, April 29, Colorado Springs School District 11 (D11) announced a new low-cost extended care option for 4-year-olds.

D11’s preschool programs are free for eligible families, and the district said its new option couldn’t come at a more critical time, as El Paso County has implemented a Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) enrollment freeze.

“We know our families have been asking for it for a long time. The typical preschool schedule doesn’t work very well for families who are working full-time jobs,” said Sarah Carlson, the Director of Early Childhood Education for D11. “And so we’re so excited that we can finally offer this extended care option to our families.”

At an open house on Tuesday, families got to meet with teachers, tour classrooms, and learn more about half-day and full-day options, as well as locations and scholarship support.

The program will begin in August of 2025.