Inside a classroom as Colorado's preschool program debuts

Details: The $322 million program that rolled out this month offers 10 hours of tuition-free preschool to most 4-year-olds statewide and up to 30 hours for some.

• As many as 40,000 children are expected to participate.

Zoom in: Inside Denver's Auraria Early Learning Center, 13 kids sat on a rug as teachers played a "would you rather" game and read a story about a dinosaur's first day of school.

• The worries in the classroom involved missing home and heat cutting short outdoor playtime.
• A little girl said her favorite part of preschool is "using scissors," particularly a purple glittery pair.

What they're saying: The center's director, Emily Nelson, acknowledged the challenges and empty seats she hoped to fill. But she said she's pleased so far — and so are parents, who saw monthly full-day tuition at Auraria drop from $1,531 to $921 under the state-sponsored program.

• "I feel good with where we're at," she said.