It's game time for early education in Colorado, as families now have the chance to enroll their kids in the Universal Preschool Program for the 2025-26 school year. Following a noon kickoff yesterday, the state is giving the green light on applications. The promise? Up to 15 hours of free preschool every week for kids the year before kindergarten kicks in. And for families that meet certain criteria, even more hours are up for grabs, saving families an average of $6,100 according to the Colorado Governor's Office.
Describing the big leap forward, Governor Jared Polis said, "In addition to saving families an average of $6,100, recent research shows how state-funded universal preschool programs help parents stay in the workforce, access more paid child care hours, and earn up to 20% more each year." Not just a financial lifeboat, the program is credited with setting young learners up on a success trajectory while beefing up the state's economy.
Wondering how to get your little one signed up? Just head to UPK.Colorado.Gov and take a look at over 2,000 licensed programs. Make your pick and get your application in by the deadlines, February 3 for the preliminary round if you've got siblings already enrolled or some family working there, February 5 for the first matching round, and March 5 for those making it to the final round. Notification times will vary, but by March 31, all families should have their matches confirmed.
As detailed by the Colorado Governor's Office, Dr. Lisa Roy, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood's Executive Director, spelled it out: "High-quality preschool opportunities strengthen families and drive our communities forward." With close to seven out of ten eligible four-year-olds in Colorado, 68.7% to be precise, already participating, the program isn't resting on its laurels, boasting enhancements like expanded hours for families in need, applications in 11 languages, and specialized pathways for the more than 8,000 preschoolers with IEPs.
For those families still navigating enrollment for the 2024-25 school year, there’s no need to panic. The state reminds families they can still hop aboard and get their kids enrolled, all the way till the school year's end. With a new centralized contact center in the works for 2025-26, help in over 100 languages will be just a call or click away, ensuring everyone’s on the same page, or classroom register, as it were. With an approach that keeps evolving based on feedback, Colorado's latest educational initiative promises to iron out any kinks, securing its reputation as an early education trailblazer.
