PRESS RELEASE
Colorado Department of Early Childhood Named Winner for Colorado Technology Association’s 2025 Project of the Year
Denver, CO – February 20, 2025 – The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) has won the prestigious 2025 APEX Project of the Year award by the Colorado Technology Association. This recognition honors CDEC’s innovative use of technology to simplify access to early childhood services for families and providers statewide.
“We are honored to receive this award, which underscores our commitment to leveraging technology to simplify and expand access to critical early childhood services,” said Stephanie Beasley, Deputy Executive Director at CDEC. “This achievement reflects our dedication to ensuring families and providers have the tools they need to support children’s development and well-being.”
Dr. Lisa Roy, Executive Director of CDEC, added, “This recognition is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. By working alongside our community partners and technology experts, we are breaking down barriers to ensure every child in Colorado has the opportunity to thrive.”
The award highlights CDEC’s collaborative approach to addressing complex challenges and its commitment to equitable early childhood access. Central to this achievement are two transformative initiatives:
- Early Childhood Integrated Data System, a centralized platform that integrates early childhood program data, equipping leaders with secure analytics to drive informed decisions that enhance access, equity, and outcomes for children and families.
- Raising Colorado Kids is a new family focused platform platform that serves as a one-stop shop for families in Colorado to find services and benefits, check applications for the Universal Preschool and Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP), and access critical resources to determine a large variety of benefits for which they may be eligible. Created in partnership with BridgeCare, the platform increases transparency and access to important information that helps families connect to resources critical to create an environment for a child to thrive. The site, RaisingColoradoKids.com, is gathering feedback from early users and preparing for a statewide media campaign.
The winners were announced at the Colorado Technology Association’s Tech Summit and APEX Awards on February 20, 2025.
Since its inception, the Raising Colorado Kids project has improved efficiency, reduced administrative burdens, and increased transparency for families navigating early childhood services. The project enhances the state’s ability to track service usage, analyze outcomes, and identify resource gaps. Together, these tools provide a foundation for long-term improvements in Colorado’s early childhood system.
CDEC’s project also highlights the success of its collaborative model, which blends agile methodology, human-centered design, and stakeholder responsiveness to address community needs.
CDEC partnered with the Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA) to coordinate third-party suppliers and drive technology deployments. Duane Tucker, Customer Success Director at SIPA, emphasized the power of public-private partnerships and CDEC’s strategic approach to managing complex, interdependent projects. “CDEC’s thorough and holistic project plan allowed them to execute multiple interdependent projects in parallel. CDEC successfully navigated these complexities by developing a robust project strategy roadmap that engaged both government and private sector partners,” Tucker said.
Strong public-private partnerships were key to ensuring these systems were built efficiently and sustainably. CDEC collaborated with the Governor’s Office of Information Technology, which oversaw system implementation and continues to offer technical expertise and support. Private sector partners, including Propeller, Slalom, Salesforce, and Gartner helped accelerate implementation and ensure these solutions effectively serve families statewide.
“Strong public-private partnerships enable government agencies to move faster, make smarter decisions, and build solutions that truly meet the needs of the communities they serve,” said Allison Torpey, Denver Managing Director at Propeller, a consulting partner on the project. “By combining public sector leadership with private sector expertise, we can develop technology-driven systems that are not only effective today but also adaptable for the future."
“CDEC joined top innovators, changemakers, and industry leaders at the Colorado Tech Summit,” noted Dr. Lisa Roy, “The department extends its gratitude to the dedicated team members, state agencies, and public-private partners who made this achievement possible.”
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