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⏰ There is still time to register for Colorado Universal Preschool for the 2024-25 School Year, expected to save families about $6,000 on average for high-quality preschool in their year before kindergarten. |
 Register or learn more at upk.Colorado.gov before July 3 to be entered into the 2nd student-to-provider matching round - featuring 2,000+ licensed, preschool providers across the state!
🗓 Families who registered by April 20 will be notified of matches on May 8, 2024.
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🎉 Shout-Out to the Inaugural Class of Colorado Universal Prechoolers finishing the program’s first year this month!
Please help us celebrate history in the making by sharing your messages, shout-outs, photos, and videos captured throughout the groundbreaking first year of Colorado Universal Preschool.
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Please share via bit.ly/Y1Celebration and on social media using #COPreK #COPrek #COPrekGrad #KindergartenReady! |
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Now Accepting Applications for the Rules Advisory Council (RAC)
Please Submit RAC Applications by May 2, 2024!
The Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC) is leading the search for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s (CDEC) advisors to serve on the Rules Advisory Council (RAC).
This fifteen (15) member Rules Advisory Council advises the CDEC Executive Director on developing rules to guide the functions, programs and services that the department oversees. The RAC represents a wide range of voices and perspectives from urban, suburban, and rural settings and who represent diversity in race, ethnicity, immigration status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, culture, and language.
Learn more about the RAC and what it means to be a member here (English | Spanish).
Currently, five (5) members’ terms will end on June 30, 2024; members currently serving are eligible for reappointment. These positions include representatives of school based programs, licensed family child care homes, county departments of human services, expertise in the funding and rules pertaining to children with disabilities, and parents / family members / caregivers of a child currently enrolled in an early childhood program.
Applications are due by May 2, 2024, to be considered for appointment on July 1, 2024! Applications will be held for two (2) years and considered for future vacancies.
Please share this opportunity with your networks! Access communications materials in English and Spanish here.
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Recently Adopted Rules
On March 28, 2024, the Executive Director adopted the proposed Quality Standards rules for the Colorado Universal Preschool Program (UPK). The adopted UPK Quality Standards rules will become effective on May 15, 2024.
(Adopted Redline | Adopted Clean)
Proposed Rules Under Consideration
Division of Early Learning, Licensing, and Administration (DELLA) - School Aged Child
Care (SACC) Rules: The proposed revisions to the SACC rules are in result of the comprehensive rule review conducted pursuant to section 24-4-103.3, C.R.S., to determine if the rules should be continued in their current form, modified, or repealed. The proposed SACC rules will be reviewed by the RAC County Subcommittee on May 2, 2024; by the Rules Advisory Council (RAC) on May 9, 2024; and open for discussion during the Public Rulemaking Hearing on May 16, 2024. (Redline Draft | Clean Draft)
Colorado Universal Preschool Program (UPK) Per-Child Rate and Funding Rules: The proposed revisions to the UPK Per-Child Rate and Funding rules provide technical updates to clarify existing rule definitions and establish approved expenses for overhead costs, as required by statute. The proposed UPK Per-Child Rate and Funding rules will be reviewed by the RAC County Subcommittee on May 2, 2024; by the Rules Advisory Council (RAC) on May 9, 2024; and considered for emergency adoption during the Public Rulemaking Hearing on May 16, 2024. (Redlined Draft | Clean Draft)
RAC County Subcommittee Meeting: Thursday, May 2, 2024, from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Rules Advisory Council (RAC) Meeting: Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Public Rulemaking Hearing: Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 12:00 p.m.
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
New PDG B-5 Evaluation Reports Available from Butler Institute for Families
New Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) Evaluation Reports Available from Butler Institute for Families
Evaluation is a key component of Colorado’s PDG B-5 Initiative. Butler Institute for Families at University of Denver served as the evaluator for the state’s 2020-2023 PDG B-5 Renewal Grant Initiative. Two new reports from this evaluation work are now available!
The 2023 Family Survey Results report includes findings from Colorado family input on the following questions:
- What current child care arrangements are families with children under six utilizing and why? How satisfied are families with their care arrangements?
- To what extent do families understand how to identify, select, and advocate for high-quality programming and services for their children? To what extent do local and state system partners support transitions between services?
- To what extent do families report quality interactions with their children?
- To what extent do families know how to find and use information on early childhood care and development services, parenting supports, transitions, and financial resources for accessing those services?
- How are families with children with special needs supported to access needed services?
In addition to responding to these questions, the findings speak to family interactions with PDG B-5 services and resources specifically. A high level overview of key findings is also available in this infographic. We hope you will take time to find out what Colorado families had to say!
The 2023 Implementation of PDG Strategies report includes details regarding how Colorado
implemented over 40 strategies through the 2020 - 2023 PDG B-5 Renewal Grant Initiative, in spite of challenges like the pandemic. Key findings include:
- More than 1,000 individuals dedicated time, energy, and perspectives to workgroups guiding PDG work.
- Over 65,000 licensed early childhood providers, 20,000 school-based educators and/or administrators, and over 15,000 friend, family, or neighbor informal child care providers were served through PDG activities.
- More than 70,000 individuals involved in the early childhood system completed at least one PDG-funded instructional course from over 75 hours of unique offerings in a revamped Professional Development Information System (PDIS).
- Almost 5,000 families were engaged in feedback forums, support groups, and other family offerings designed to gather input and provide resources to families with young children.
- More than 25,000 copies of physical resources such as child development guidelines, a school readiness handbook, and professional roadmaps were distributed, with online versions of most of these resources also available.
- Strategy leads overcame capacity and resource limitations to make real systems-level impacts by creating new products and services deemed necessary by the 2019 Needs Assessment to support the early childhood workforce.
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Reports on Two Key CDEC State Systems Building Efforts Now Available
The CDEC, Illuminate Colorado, and CDPHE are pleased to share the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant Non-Competing Continuation Progress Report covering the grant year 8/1/23 - 7/31/24. Colorado’s Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant (CO-ECCS): Health Integration Prenatal to Three Project advances the infrastructure, capacity, equity and sustainability of Colorado’s maternal and child health and early childhood systems of care to achieve the vision that “all children are valued, healthy and thriving and have equal access to services, supports and resources.”
The report provides a comprehensive picture of the CO-ECCS project and documentation of project activities and accomplishments in its third of five years of implementation. Thank you to the Project Team, co-chairs, and members of the CO-ECCS Working Group for all the hard work reflected in the report. You can find more information about the CO-ECCS Project and how to get involved here.
Curious what’s been going on with Colorado’s latest Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) Initiative? You can now review Colorado’s 2024 PDG B-5 Planning Grant Annual Program Progress Report to learn about the work completed in calendar year 2023 by PDG B-5 leads in the CDEC, CDPHE, and CDE, along with implementation partners across the state. The report begins with a table listing all grant strategies so you can easily search the report for the information you are most interested in. The goal of Colorado’s PDG B-5 Initiative is that families with children birth to five access quality early childhood services and supports resulting in children who are healthy, thriving and ready to enter kindergarten. Please send any questions or requests to be added to the PDG B-5 Initiative newsletter to: CDEC_PDG@state.co.us.
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Find Out What Colorado Families Need!
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) is excited to share an updated statewide early childhood Needs Assessment - the first for the state since 2019. The Colorado Birth through Five 2023 Needs Assessment was conducted by the Colorado Health Institute (CHI) and supported by the state’s PDG B-5 Planning Grant funding. To respond to research questions defined in the PDG B-5 application, CHI reviewed a wealth of available data and gathered additional information from parents, caregivers, early childhood professionals, business leaders, advocates, and other voices from communities across the state. Their research resulted in key findings that will be used to improve the early childhood system in the categories of family engagement, sustainability, workforce, availability, and quality.
PDG was charged with using the Needs Assessment to guide the development of the Statewide Early Childhood Strategic Plan. Together, both documents are intended to consider the changing needs of children and families due to the COVID-19 pandemic, propose and invest in strategies that will address those needs, enhance the quality of early childhood services for children in high-need communities, and support and strengthen the early childhood workforce. It is hoped that partners from all over the state will come together to collectively address the challenges identified in the final reports.
The CDEC looks forward to supporting local communities as they mobilize, build, and sustain equitable systems of inclusive and quality services so that all Colorado’s children, families, and early childhood professionals are valued, healthy and thriving.
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Preschool Development Grant Birth to 5 (PDG B-5) de Colorado, actualización de la evaluación de necesidades a nivel estatal
¡Descubra lo que necesitan las familias de Colorado!
El Departamento de Primera Infancia de Colorado (CDEC, por sus siglas en inglés) se complace en compartir y actualizar a nivel estatal la evaluación de necesidades de la primera infancia, la primera del estado desde 2019. La Evaluación de Necesidades desde el Nacimiento hasta los Cinco años de Colorado de 2023 se llevó a cabo por el Instituto de Salud de Colorado (CHI, por sus siglas en inglés) y recibió apoyo con los fondos estatales de la Subvención de Planificación del PDG B-5 Para responder las preguntas de investigación definidas en la aplicación del PDG B-5, el CHI revisó una gran cantidad de datos disponibles y recopiló información adicional de padres, madres, cuidadores, profesionales de primera infancia, líderes empresariales, representantes y otras voces de comunidades de todo el estado. Esta investigación tuvo como resultado hallazgos claves que serán usados para mejorar el sistema de primera infancia en las categorías de compromiso familiar, sostenibilidad, fuerza laborar, disponibilidad y calidad.
El PDG se encargó de usar la evaluación de necesidades para orientar el desarrollo del Plan Estratégico de Primera Infancia a Nivel Estatal. En conjunto, ambos documentos tienen por objeto considerar los cambios de las necesidades de los niños y familias debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, proponer e invertir en estrategias que puedan abordar estas necesidades, mejorar la calidad de los servicios de primera infancia para niños en comunidades muy necesitadas y apoyar y reforzar la fuerza laboral de primera infancia. Se espera que los colaboradores de todo el estado se reúnan para abordar de forma colectiva los desafíos identificados en los informes finales.
El CDEC espera poder ayudar a las comunidades locales a movilizarse, construir y adquirir sistemas equitativos de servicios inclusivos y de calidad para que todos los niños, familias y profesionales de primera infancia de Colorado sean valorados, estén sanos y prosperen.
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Jewish American Heritage Month
During the month of May, we proudly recognize Jewish American Heritage Month. Established by Presidential proclamation in 2006, and renewed every year since, JAHM provides an opportunity to celebrate and draw inspiration from the contributions that Jewish Americans have made.
Spread the word throughout the month with #MyJAHM! #JewishAmericanHeritageMonth
Easily highlight Jewish Americans in your learning environments with resources from our partners at @UnpackedEducation. Let’s celebrate diversity and foster understanding together!
Explore more at https://www.ajc.org/jahmlibrary
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Bright by Text
Get free, expert parenting tips by text. Bright by Text is there for anyone who cares for a child, from pregnancy through age 8: parents, parents-to-be, grandparents, babysitters, aunties/uncles, neighbors, friends, teachers, and more. Text COKIDS to 274448 or visit here: http://bbtxt.org/3uJnjDr.
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 In May, explore the world of pollinators and how to encourage children's curiosity about these important insects and animals. This month's Farm to Child newsletter offers educational information on pollinators, Colorado specific information as well as resources on how to engage children in hands-on learning.
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During Mental Health Awareness Month we recognize Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, May 5th to 11th, and Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 9th. This is an important reminder that healthy development starts early and provides children with a strong foundation – leading to greater health, learning, and life-long well-being. |
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Please join us in raising awareness about mental health this month by liking and sharing our social posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, and adding your comments to grow the online conversation. Please also share information about Colorado’s Early Childhood Mental Health Support Line. This resource is available at no cost to anyone across the state who cares for children under age six, providing callers with confidential support to better understand and care for the wellbeing of young children. Visit MentalHealthStartsEarly.com or call (833) ECMH-411 (833-326-4411).
9News Features Dr. Rosemarie Allen on Trauma-Informed Practices in Early Care and Learning
When young children experience trauma, it impacts their brain development, behavior, and mental health. Colorado’s new rules on universal preschool quality include a requirement for teachers to complete training on trauma-informed practices. This training helps teachers to recognize signs of trauma, create safe environments, and help children develop resilience skills such as recognizing and regulating their emotions. Thank you to Dr. Rosemarie Allen for sharing this important news on 9News!
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Early Childhood Mental Health Support Line Social Media Campaign
A new social media campaign is raising awareness about Colorado’s Early Childhood Mental Health Support Line. The Support Line is a no-cost, confidential resource for anyone who cares for children under six. It helps caregivers better understand and support the well-being of the young children in their care, including children who may currently be struggling.
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An experienced consultant is available to discuss needs, identify support resources, and provide a referral to a nearby Early Childhood Mental Health consultant. Be sure to like and share the campaign posts to help spread the word about this important resource! Visit MentalHealthStartsEarly.com or call (833) ECMH-411 (833-326-4411). |
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Early Insights for ECMH Consultation Program
The evaluation is being conducted by the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab and is anticipated in 2026. Early insights from the initial phases of evaluation work are shared in the recently released Evidence-Building Brief. To learn more, please contact Lisa Schlueter, Early Childhood Mental Health Unit Manager, at lisa.schlueter@state.co.us. For more on the stimulus-funded activities please visit CDEC’s new webpage: ColoradoECInvestments.com
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Colorado’s Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) is one of the key CDEC programs and activities that received stimulus funding to address pandemic-related needs and grow its reach. Investments include a program evaluation to build evidence on the extent to which ECMHC services provided to child care programs improve provider-child relationships, reduces teacher and director turnover, and reduces the stress and burnout of child care directors. |
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NEW CCDF Consumer Education Brochure for County Staff!
Through the Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five Renewal Grant and continuous quality improvement, we are pleased to introduce the newly updated CCDF Consumer Education brochure.
Who will use this?: This is a resource for county human services staff
When will it be used?: This is a tool county staff can use while working with families to sign up for or renew their CCCAP application in order to connect them with other programs/resources for which they may be eligible or interested.
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How can this best be leveraged?: This digital tool is formatted as a fillable PDF for counties to input local contact information where applicable; this way it can be customized based on local offerings.
Counties were trained on the use of this tool at the end of March and can begin using it immediately!
Fundamentals for Child Care Businesses (North Metro Denver SBDC)
May 9th - June 13th | Thursdays 6:00 - 8:00 pm | Online | Free
Attention Colorado Child Care Providers! Are you looking to improve your business practices to both better serve your customers and promote your business sustainability with increased revenues?
This course is a six-week program designed to help child care providers improve their business practices to both better serve their customers and promote their business sustainability with increased revenues. No prior business training is required, all are welcome! The class will meet online via Zoom, and participants are also invited to meet online one-on-one with an SBDC business consultant during and after the course for specific and continued training and support.
Led by Dora Esparza, North Metro Denver SBDC's Child Care Consultant, these Zoom sessions offer practical insights to boost your success.
Child care providers can earn professional development hours through the Professional Development Information System (PDIS) by attending all training sessions. Please note, a recorded option and follow up with the trainer are available if you have to miss a live class.
Register Now
This work is responsive to the Colorado Shines Brighter strategy 5.1.2 Business Practices.
NEW PDIS Course on Coaching for Inclusion
We are excited to announce a new eLearning course on the PDIS! Coaching for Inclusion and Belonging is a 1.5 hour course that delves into the crucial aspect of fostering belonging for all children within their learning communities. It equips coaches with effective strategies to support providers in creating a culture of belonging for all children and families. This course specifically focuses on the inclusion and sense of belonging for children diagnosed with disabilities and is scheduled for release in late April 2024. This course was developed in collaboration with coaches who attended our Building Belonging Community of Practice in the spring and summer of 2023. Their interactions and feedback with the material helped to shape the content and experiences used in this training. The Coaching for Inclusion and Belonging course was developed in partnership with the Positive Early Learning Experiences Center at the University of Denver and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
The free course is available in English and Spanish and counts towards ongoing professional development and Colorado Shines Level 2 hours.
This work is responsive to Colorado Shines Brighter strategy 6.1.5 Informed and Effective ECE for Children with Delays or Disabilities
LEADING EDGE For Center-Based Child Care Providers (Pikes Peak SBDC)
May 18th - June 29th | Saturdays 9:00am -12:00 pm | Online | Free
The Pikes Peak SBDC's LEADING EDGE™ for Childcare Providers is created to help both licensed child care providers (center-based) and start-ups. The program assists child care providers in strengthening business practices and the ever-changing landscape of the Colorado workforce.
In partnership with the Joint Initiatives and Early Connections, the Pikes Peak SBDC is hosting this 6-week impactful course with the goal of enhancing business owner skills.
This program is funded through a collaboration between the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and the Colorado SBDC network. A primary objective of this project is to strengthen the child care provider business model and enhance business owner skills so that these critically important services can continue to support our local economies.
Register here
This work is responsive to the Colorado Shines Brighter strategy 5.1.2 Business
Practices.
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