Updates & Resources

Early Childhood Transtion & Universal Preschool Updates

Colorado Universal Preschool Provider Profile Set Up is Live!

Preschool providers can now apply to participate in the Colorado Universal Preschool program for the school year 2024-25. To begin, providers can access the online portal to set up programs, create public profiles, and provide contact information for an Authorized Signer to be sent the Provider Agreement for signature.

This is required for both new and returning providers. This process is crucial to ensure your program can be viewed and potentially selected by families in the 2024-25 school year.

The Provider Program Set Up Form must be completed by February 16, 2024. Start the process today!

The 2024-25 Universal Preschool Family Application Opens Soon!

All families can apply to Colorado Universal Preschool starting February 29th! The general application will be open to all families.

As a reminder, the new 2024-25 enrollment process includes three distinct timelines for enrolling families in high-quality preschool across the state. The streamlined process has been developed based on feedback from providers, families, and other stakeholders and designed to reduce matching delays, lessen providers’ administrative burden, and increase equitable family access to funding for high-quality preschool programming available throughout Colorado.

From February 29th to March  28th, only those families that meet the continuity of care, employee, or sibling priority criteria outlined in our pre-registration enrollment guidelines will be matched to providers.

The first general matching round for families will take place in April, with the following matching round to take place in July.

Resources & Support

  • Program Website: Review the estimated enrollment timeline on the website. More information and resources are expected in the coming weeks. For additional support, find your Local Coordinating Organization contact information.
  • Have more questions or need help with Universal Preschool Colorado? Contact us using this short form or call 303-866-5223.

Universal Preschool Screening and Referral Grant 

From February 29th to March  28th, only those families that meet the continuity of care, employee, or sibling priority criteria outlined in our pre-registration enrollment guidelines will be matched to providers.

The first general matching round for families will take place in April, with the following matching round to take place in July.

Resources & Support

  • Program Website: Review the estimated enrollment timeline on the website. More information and resources are expected in the coming weeks. For additional support, find your Local Coordinating Organization contact information.
  • Have more questions or need help with Universal Preschool Colorado? Contact us using this short form or call 303-866-5223.

Become a Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Advisor!

We are recruiting passionate people to support Colorado’s early childhood programs as a Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care (BFCC) Advisor. BFCC Advisors support programs through the process of obtaining Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Recognition. Advisors receive support, training, and a stipend for serving in this important role. Click here for more information about this vital program.

 

The Right Mix to Support Social-Emotional Health in Early Childhood

Guidance document for community-based organizations to strengthen their selection of available social-emotional health supports.

The guide is for Early Childhood Councils, Family Resource Centers, and other community-based organizations. It is also for child care professionals and program administrators who want to improve the support they provide for children’s social-emotional health. Use this guide as part of a comprehensive process for evaluating and strengthening early childhood mental health services and resources in your community.

Guide

New Business Guides
For Early Care and Education Providers

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood is excited to share two new resources: 

These guides offer family child care home providers and child care centers, as well as those interested in expanding or starting new programs, a collection of resources to strengthen their small businesses. Early care and education providers are essential to the children and families they serve, their communities, and our state. The Business Guides were developed, through stakeholder focus groups, to make the business side of providing early care and education services easier. 

The I Matter program can connect you with a therapist for up to 6 free virtual counseling sessions (some in-person appointments available, too) that are completely confidential. Talking with someone can make you feel better. To start, click on “Youth” below to take a short survey. Be as honest as possible: your answers will help match you with the right therapist.

  • If you’re 11 or younger, your parent or guardian must fill out the survey with you.
  • Parents, seeking support for your child is not a sign of failure—it’s a sign of strength.