PRESS RELEASE
Colorado Invests $5 Million Grant to Transform Early Childhood Education System
Department of Early Childhood Releases Final Report on PDG B-5 Initiative Impact
DENVER (October 29, 2025) — The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) released its final report on the impact of the Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) Initiative. The $4,831,588 federal award, which ran from December 31, 2022 to March 31, 2025, supported innovations that address longstanding gaps in early childhood education and care. Colorado’s PDG B-5 Initiative prioritized equitable access to early childhood services, workforce development, system coordination, family engagement, and emerging challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The PDG B-5 Initiative has been critical in moving Colorado closer to a seamless, high-quality early childhood system that ensures all children are ready to thrive when they enter kindergarten,” said Dr. Lisa Roy, Executive Director of the CDEC. “This grant has allowed us to innovate, address service gaps, and provide meaningful support to families and early childhood professionals across the state.”
The final report highlights the key accomplishments and strategies that have strengthened Colorado’s early childhood system over the course of the grant, some of which include:
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Landmark Assessment Completed: The first comprehensive Needs Assessment of Colorado's early childhood system since 2019 identified the sector's top 20 needs.
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Strategic Plan Launched: A new Statewide Early Childhood Strategic Plan, developed with extensive community input, including focus groups, meetings with partner organizations, interviews, and surveys, now guides efforts to meet the identified needs.
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Tribal Advisory Council Formed: A 12-member Tribal Advisory Council was established to enhance support for tribal families within the early childhood system.
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Workforce Support Expanded: An early childhood teacher recruitment page with over 4,000 subscribers was launched, and $272,000 was distributed to support 32 Family Child Care Home operators and 24 assistants in accessing health care, paid time off, and other essential benefits.
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Local Initiatives Funded: 14 local cross-sector teams received grants, facilitation support, and professional development to create plans that support families with infants and toddlers.
Ashley Wilson, participant of PDG B-5 initiatives and Director of the Archuleta County Public Health Department and Chair of the Early Childhood Council of Archuleta County, said, “If we can support families to have better interactions, to have better social support, to have better economic support, we create a stage that propels kids forward and that sets them up in life…”
The CDEC implemented the PDG B-5 Initiative in collaboration with the Early Childhood Leadership Commission and key partners, including the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and a broad network of early childhood organizations, interest holders, and families.
Cheryl Gould, owner of Rocky Mountain Children’s Discovery Center and participant of PDG B-5 initiatives, said, “The hope lies in those who have the passion for early childhood. All of us in this community, and the early childhood council, and with the CDEC - we’re on the ground fighting for us. That’s where the hope is.”
Many valuable tools and resources were developed through the state’s iterations of the PDG B-5 grant and are available for use. Find more information and view the final report here.
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