(1) (a) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(I) Rigorous research proves that full-day kindergarten is an effective way of improving a child's academic performance;

(II) Research shows that children who have academic success are less likely to drop out of school and more likely to graduate from high school and enter an institution of higher education, leading them to higher-paying jobs that provide for a strong economy in the state;

(III) Studies show that full-day kindergarten programs address achievement gap issues and promote student achievement;

(IV) All children in Colorado deserve the chance to attend a full day of kindergarten, as the benefits of full-day kindergarten continue throughout a child's educational experience and set the tone for future academic success.

(b) The general assembly further finds and declares that while the benefits of full-day kindergarten programs are evident, the general assembly may be unable to provide funding to allow every eligible child in the state to attend a full day of kindergarten. As a result, determining an approach to phase in full-day kindergarten programs is the first step toward potentially offering full-day kindergarten programs statewide. The development of a plan by each local board of education to phase in a full-day kindergarten program at the district level is essential to ensure that the appropriate mechanisms are in place to support and maintain high-quality, full-day kindergarten programs in Colorado.

(2) Each local board of education shall develop a plan to potentially phase in a full-day kindergarten program in the school district to be funded with state or local moneys provided specifically for such program. In developing the plan, each local board shall consider the following:

(a) Available space in existing school district facilities for a full-day kindergarten program;

(b) The need and cost of new school district facilities necessary to offer a full-day kindergarten program, including but not limited to, the cost associated with construction, acquisition, reconfiguration, or renovation of new or existing facilities;

(c) A method to identify the children who would most benefit from attending a full day of kindergarten, including but not limited to:

(I) Children who lack overall learning readiness due to significant family risk factors, who are in need of language development, or who are receiving services from the department of human services pursuant to article 5 of title 26, C.R.S., as neglected or dependent children;

(II) Children who are currently enrolled in the Colorado preschool program;

(III) Children who are eligible for free or reduced lunch; and

(IV) Children who are enrolling in an elementary school that is required to implement a priority improvement or turnaround plan pursuant to section 22-11-405 or 22-11-406, respectively, or is subject to restructuring pursuant to section 22-11-210;

(d) Professional development and staffing needs;

(e) A method to prioritize the children to be served by a full-day kindergarten program if state and local funding for the program is insufficient to allow every eligible child in the school district to attend a full day of kindergarten;

(f) A plan for parent and community outreach and enrollment processes; and

(g) The anticipated enrollment in a full-day kindergarten program, including the percentage of eligible children in the school district that will choose to enroll in the program.

(3) Each local board of education shall submit its plan to phase in a full-day kindergarten program to the department of education on or before February 1, 2008. Any school district that has developed a full-day kindergarten plan within the five years prior to May 9, 2007, may submit the previously developed plan to the department in lieu of developing a plan pursuant to this section.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to:

(a) Require a child to attend a full day of kindergarten;

(b) Prohibit a school district from offering a half-day kindergarten program; or

(c) Require a local board of education to implement the school district's plan to phase in a full-day kindergarten program without state funding for the program.