All Families Can Register Beginning February 29, 2024
DENVER — Family registration for the 2024-25 Colorado Universal Preschool Program opens on February 29th, 2024. All children in Colorado can register for up to 15 hours per week of funding for high-quality preschool in their year before kindergarten, and many may be eligible for additional hours based on qualifying factors.
“The second year of free universal preschool is almost open for enrollment! And we’ve made a number of improvements to build on the strong success of the first year, which propelled Colorado from 26th in preschool enrollment to 8th,” said Governor Jared Polis.
This year, the department has established a new qualifying factor for "children in poverty," identified as children living at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG). This factor will expand the eligibility of children experiencing poverty to receive funding for full-day preschool, or 30 hours per week. More information on qualifying factors is available here.
“The additional hours of preschool provide crucial support to Colorado’s most vulnerable preschool-aged children,” said Dr. Lisa Roy, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. “We’re grateful to the Rules Advisory Committee members who promoted this factor. Smart policies like these get us closer and closer to ensuring every child in Colorado is valued, healthy, and thriving.”
Families can choose to work with a variety of preschool providers through Colorado’s innovative mixed-delivery model. This year, more than 2,000 providers have applied to participate in the program this coming school year – nearly 150 more than in the 2023-24 school year.
“We’re listening and learning from our community, and implementing what benefits families and providers most,” said Dawn Odean, Universal Preschool Director. “We’re especially grateful for the new and returning providers committed to offering high-quality education throughout Colorado.”
An improved enrollment process for universal preschool is also in place for the upcoming school year, based on feedback from providers, families, and other stakeholders. The process outlined below expands provider capabilities within the online registration system, and increases equitable family access to high-quality preschool programming available throughout the state.
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Pre-Registration: Families can pre-register with a known provider to continue care for a child currently enrolled, with a sibling currently enrolled, or with a parent or guardian currently employed with a Universal Preschool provider through March 28, 2024.
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Family Matching: Families who are seeking preschool programs with a new provider can register and browse providers starting February 29 at UPK.Colorado.Gov. Families will be matched with one of their top 10 preferred providers in April and July.
In July, after the matching rounds end, families can work directly with a Universal Preschool provider to enroll, as space allows, through the end of the school year. All families can see if they qualify for additional hours, subject to available funding, throughout the enrollment process.
The Universal Preschool Program works closely with the Colorado Department of Education, school districts and Special Education Administrative Units (AUs) across the state to support any preschool aged child with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to receive guaranteed funding aligned to the student’s IEP.
For more information, visit the Universal Preschool Information Hub and subscribe for email updates.
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