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In This Issue
Family Registration Has Begun
Family registration for the 2024-25 Colorado Universal Preschool Program opened 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.
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.”
New Qualifying Factor
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 Council 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.”
New Resources for Providers
Based on your feedback we have added additional information to the Provider Handbook and Family Handbooks. This includes:
- New FAQ pages at the end of the Provider and Family Handbooks in response to your great questions and feedback. These pages include the following new resources:
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UPK Age Eligibility Lookup Tool to better support families in understanding their eligibility based on their child’s birthday and their school districts cutoff date. With additional information about 3-year-old eligibility.
- Pre-registration | Continuity of Care: New ‘how to’ video to show families how to navigate the pre-registration, continuity of care section of the registration form to ensure they match with their known provider.
More Resources:
For more information, visit the Universal Preschool Information Hub and subscribe for email updates.
(en español más abajo)
We are excited to share that Project Include, our initiative to help Colorado’s licensed child care programs make adaptations to better serve children with delays, disabilities, and differences, has released a new Universal Design and Inclusion Kit just for Infants! The Infant Kit can help you learn how to better support children under 12 months of age in your care.
Project Include (en español) offers all licensed child care programs in Colorado the opportunity to build more inclusive learning environments through simple modifications and adaptive equipment.
There is no cost or application to participate in Project Include – all Colorado licensed child care programs are eligible. Simply fill out this interest form (en español) to get started.
Interested programs will start by completing the Introduction to Universal Design training on the Colorado Shines Professional Development Information System (PDIS). After the training is complete, Project Include offers Universal Design and Inclusion Kits for programs to borrow and experiment with adaptive equipment. Each kit contains materials that can be used to make simple adaptations in early childhood environments to increase inclusion and participation by young children with delays and disabilities. The kits are focused on one of five developmental areas: Communication & Literacy, Behavior & Cognition, Fine & Gross Motor, Vision & Hearing, or Infants. The kits can be requested for loan and will be distributed throughout Colorado. All 5 Kits are now available for check-out.
In addition, Project Include offers:
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Video tutorials with explanations of how to use the tools in each kit
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Quick program support for brief questions and resources
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Customized coaching and materials support from our team of experts after completing the training and exploring a Universal Design and Inclusion Kit
Learn more and get started! (en español) Contact Projectinclude@ucdenver.edu with questions.
This project is a partnership between the Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering (CIDE) and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
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Nos alegra compartir que el Proyecto de Inclusión, nuestra iniciativa para ayudar a los programas de cuidado infantil con licencia de Colorado a realizar adaptaciones para apoyar mejor a los niños con retrasos, discapacidades y diferencias ha lanzado un nuevo Kit de Diseño Universal e Inclusión sólo para Infantes. El Kit para Infantes puede ayudarle a aprender a ayudar mejor a los niños menores de 12 meses a su cargo.
El Proyecto de Inclusión (in English) ofrece a todos los programas de cuidado infantil con licencia de Colorado la oportunidad de construir ambientes de aprendizaje más inclusivos a través de modificaciones fáciles y equipos adaptivos.
No hay ningún coste ni solicitud para participar en el Proyecto de Inclusión – todos los programas de cuidado infantil con licencia de Colorado son elegibles. Sólo tiene que rellenar el formulario de interés (in English) para empezar.
Los programas interesados comenzarán por completar el entrenamiento de Introducción al Diseño Universal en el Sistema de Información de Desarrollo Profesional de Colorado Shines (PDIS, por sus siglas en inglés). Después de terminar el entrenamiento, el Proyecto de Inclusión ofrece Kits de Diseño Universal e Inclusión para que los programas tomen prestado y experimenten con equipos adaptivos. Cada kit contiene materiales que pueden utilizarse para hacer adaptaciones sencillas en los ambientes de la primera infancia para aumentar la inclusión y la participación de los niños pequeños con retrasos y discapacidades. Los kits se centran en una de cinco áreas de desarrollo: Comunicación y Alfabetización, Comportamiento y Cognición, Motricidad Fina y Gruesa, Visión y Audición, o Infantes. Los kits pueden solicitarse en préstamo y se distribuirán por todo Colorado. Los 5 Kits ya están disponibles para pedir prestado.
Además, el Proyecto de Inclusión ofrece:
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Videos tutoriales para explicar cómo usar las herramientas de cada kit
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Apoyo a la brevedad para los programas para preguntas breves y ofrecer recursos
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Instrucción personalizada con apoyo de materiales proporcionados por nuestro equipo de expertos después de completar el entrenamiento y explorar un Kit de Diseño Universal e Inclusión
¡Aprenda más y empiece ahora! (in English) Contáctenos en Projectinclude@ucdenver.edu con cualquier pregunta.
Este proyecto es una asociación entre el Centro de Diseño e Ingeniería Inclusivos (CIDE, por sus siglas en inglés) y el Departamento de la Primera Infancia de Colorado.
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Spring Seedlings
Spring is the perfect opportunity to introduce children to gardening. This early introduction teaches valuable lessons and fosters a connection with nature. Read this month's Farm to Child Newsletter to learn the basics of starting seeds indoors and the many benefits of gardening with children.
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Coming Soon: Colorado Child Care Facility Survey
Your insights can shape the future of child care facilities in Colorado! Providers, keep an eye out for a survey link later this month. Please take some time to share your experiences and help reflect the opportunities and challenges you face in providing quality spaces for our children.
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CDEC Rulemaking Updates
Stakeholder Engagement Opportunities
The Division of Early Learning, Licensing, and Administration (DELLA) has recently held eight (8) stakeholder meetings to review all of the School Aged Child Care (SACC) rules to consider making revisions. This collaborative effort is part of DELLA's comprehensive rule review to determine if the rules should be continued in their current form, modified, or repealed consistent with the requirements of section 24-4-103.3, C.R.S. The proposed SACC rules (Redline Draft | Clean Draft) are posted on the Department’s Public Notices webpage, and are open for public comments. The deadline to submit written comments is Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
Next Rules Advisory Council (RAC) Meeting - March 8, 2024
In recap, the Rules Advisory Council (RAC) met on February 8, 2024, and voted in favor of the Department promulgating the proposed Colorado Universal Preschool Program (UPK) Quality Standards rules with suggested revisions from the RAC. These revisions included: 1) removing the ratios and groups sizes from rule section 4.109(A)(2), to align with the ratios and group sizes established in the Child Care Licensing rules; and 2) revising the professional development requirements to align with those of Child Care Licensing, and amending the frequency of one-time trainings in rule section 4.114. The recommendation for revisions to the professional development requirements were more of a concept rather than proposed rule language.
Thus, the Department has revised the professional development requirements to reflect the recommendation of the RAC, and decided to delay promulgation of this rule by one (1) month (originally planned for adoption on February 22nd) to provide the RAC and stakeholders an opportunity to review the revised rule language before adoption. The revised UPK Quality Standards rules will be emailed to stakeholders that have signed up to receive Rulemaking Notifications on March 8, 2024. The RAC will meet next Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., to review the revised professional development rule language and vote on a revised recommendation for the Executive Director to consider before the next public rulemaking hearing.
Next Public Rulemaking Hearing - March 28, 2024
During the next Public Rulemaking Hearing on March 28, 2024, at 12:00 p.m., the Executive Director will consider permanent adoption of the proposed UPK Quality Standards rules. This will be the last opportunity to submit written comments and testify before the final version of these rules are approved.
Please consult the CDEC Rule Tracker for the Department’s most up-to-date rulemaking information. If you have any questions regarding rulemaking, or would like to submit written comments, send us an email at: CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us.
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Mastering Your Business Essentials for Family Child Care Homes (East CO SBDC)
March 4th - March 25th | Monday Evenings 6:00 - 8:00 pm | Online | Free
Are you struggling to manage your child care home? Do you feel overwhelmed by the numerous decisions you have to make every day? Don’t worry! You can take charge of your business and turn it into a thriving success with the right strategies.
Join our comprehensive course to learn the essential skills and techniques that will help you effectively manage the operations, finances, and marketing of your home-based business. You’ll discover the core elements of a successful business model, the best financial practices for long-term fiscal success, and how to use marketing as a powerful communication tool to reach parents.
What to Expect
- Four online class sessions, including interactive group work, guest speakers, and discussions with subject matter experts.
- Assistance in identifying practical steps to start using new skills through confidential one-on-one consulting with certified SBDC consultants.
- Continuous feedback on your business plan and strategy during the course.
2024 Southern Colorado Early Childhood Business Conference
Join us for the 3rd Annual Southern Colorado Early Childhood Business Conference hosted by the Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center, Children First, Pueblo’s Early Childhood Council, and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
The Early Childhood Business Conference will offer information and resources for child care providers and child care businesses, and link them to helpful services offered by various local organizations. Attendees will be able to earn PDIS credit!
- Date and time: Saturday, April 27th, 9:00am - 3:00pm
- Where: In-person at the Pueblo Community College’s Student Center Building, 900 W. Orman Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81004
- Cost: Free
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NEW SPANISH-LANGUAGE Resources for Supporting Children and Families’ Transitions to Kindergarten
In 2021, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (then-Office of Early Childhood) partnered with the National P-3 Center and the Colorado Department of Education to develop briefs exploring practices that contribute to successful transitions to kindergarten for children and families. These resources provide strategies for early care and education programs and elementary schools in Colorado to implement and support smooth transitions to kindergarten.
We are now excited to share the Spanish-language versions of the following briefs:
This tool developed by the National P-3 Center provides a timeline and checklist of activities for early care and education programs and elementary schools to support transitions.
This work is responsive to Colorado Shines Brighter strategies 1.3.1 Transitions Toolkit and 1.3.2 Transitions Roadmap.
NUEVOS RECURSOS EN ESPAÑOL para apoyar a niños y familias en su transición al kindergarten
En 2021, el Departamento de la Primera Infancia de Colorado (anteriormente la Oficina de la Primera Infancia) se asoció con el National P-3 Center y el Departamento de Educación de Colorado para desarrollar recursos en los que se estudien prácticas que contribuyan a que las transiciones al kindergarten sean exitosas para los niños y las familias. Estos recursos ofrecen estrategias para que los programas de cuidado y educación infantil y las escuelas primarias en Colorado implementen y fomenten transiciones fluidas al kindergarten.
Nos complace compartir las versiones en español de los siguientes documentos:
Esta herramienta desarrollada por el National P-3 Center contiene una línea de tiempo y una lista de verificación de actividades para programas de cuidado y educación infantil y escuelas primarias con el fin de facilitar las transiciones.
Este trabajo responde a las estrategias 1.3.1 Kit de herramientas de transiciones y 1.3.2 Hoja de ruta de las transiciones de Colorado Shines Brighter.
It’s tax time!
Many Coloradans are eligible for tax credits like the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), but nearly a quarter of eligible people miss out. You do not need to make much money to get CTC or EITC, but you must file a federal tax return to receive these credits. And in 2024 only, eligible Coloradans can receive a TABOR refund of $800 or up to $1,600 for two qualifying individuals filing jointly!
Eligible Coloradans should file their state tax return by April 15th, 2024 to receive the refund. File your taxes securely and for free at:
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Stabilization Bonus Coming Soon!
For all providers who received the Stabilization Grants (starting January, 2022 through September, 2023), the state has additional funds available to be able to issue one more bonus payment. Stay tuned for more information!
Great news! The Health and Mental Health Grants that were available Fall 2022 are coming back and there may be additional grants reopening soon. Stay tuned for more information!
Monthly State TA Day
State TA day is a chance for CDEC and other Early Childhood Partners to connect with our Early Childhood Councils on new initiatives and activities going on throughout the CDEC.
If you missed it, our monthly State TA day call webinar can be found here! Check it out for CDEC initiatives that could benefit you today.
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NEW: Sign up here for emails, news, and updates on Colorado Universal Preschool!
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