The president of the board overseeing Denver's new Preschool Program has a word of advice for parents: "Don't get greedy."

Of the $12 million collected from a sales tax increase that voters approved last November, the seven-member board has decided to spend $6 million to $8 million annually on tuition credits.

While 5 percent has to be used for administration, most of the remaining money will be spent on quality-improvement grants for preschool providers.

"We have a mandate that's twofold. One is to serve preschool 4-year-olds. The other is to improve the quality of preschool education," board President Gloria Higgins said this week.

"I'd hate for the families to get mad and say, 'Well, we voted for $12 million . . . and we're only getting $6 million to $8 million,' " she said. "They have to take into consideration that quality is just as important."

Up to 1,200 little ones will go to preschool this fall with the aid of the sales tax increase.

About 70 preschool providers representing 115 classrooms have been "rated or accredited" and are ready to accept kids, said Adele Phelan, interim executive director of the nonprofit administering the effort.

The program provides parents of 4-year-old children tuition credits to use at the participating preschool of their choice. The credits go directly to the preschool provider and are based on a family's income and the rating of the preschool they choose.

The program will serve up to 2,000 kids annually enrolled in all-day preschool - or 4,000 enrolled half-day - when fully operational next year.

A call center to help families with the application process is expected to be operating next week. More information is available at denverpreschoolprogram.org.

Preschool tuition

Denver parents with 4-year-old children can apply for tuition credits based on income and the rating of the preschool they choose. The lower the family income and the higher the rating of the preschool, the bigger the tuition credit.

• A single parent of one child who earns $13,690 annually or less and chooses a preschool with a two-star rating could receive $6,805 for full-day enrollment for a year.

• A family of four earning $20,650 annually or less who choose a preschool with a four-star rating could be eligible to receive up to $9,000 in tuition credits for a year.

• The tuition credit goes to the preschool provider. It may or may not cover the full cost of tuition, which is set by each preschool.

• Other public funding that families receive, such as Head Start instructional dollars, will be deducted from the tuition credit.

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099