Enroll your children in Colorado Universal Free Preschool Program

UPK COLORADO ALLOWS FAMILIES TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SETTING FOR THEIR CHILD, WHETHER IT IS IN A LICENSED COMMUNITY-BASED, SCHOOL-BASED OR HOME-BASED PRESCHOOL SETTING.

Newsroom El Comercio Colorado

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The application for the Universal Free Preschool (UPK) in Colorado will be available starting January 17. The application will be done through an electronic application portal. Starting in the fall of 2023, this preschool program will be open to all children ages 4 and younger. Enroll your children in Colorado Universal Free Preschool Program.

All 4-year-olds will be eligible for 10-15 hours of UPK per week in schools, churches, daycare centers, and even state-licensed homes. Some 4-year-olds will be eligible for 30 hours per week, and some 3-year-olds will be eligible for 10 hours.

The universal preschool program will replace the experimental program started in 2019. The previous program was only available to children from low-income families or who had other risk factors.

According to those in charge of the program, the children would be assigned to the participating providers that their parents have chosen. The providers can be a licensed community-based, a school-based, or a home-based preschool.

Selection criteria

According to Lisa Roy, executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, told Chalkbeat that the application system is not going to work “on a first-come, first-served basis.” That means early applicants will not automatically have priority over families who apply later.

Many children will also qualify for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP), Head Start, and other funding sources that can be added to UPK hours. In coordination with their preschool providers, families may also provide a copay for additional hours as needed.

The UPK will save families an average of $6,000 per year on childcare. Experts emphasize that preschool programs support children’s development and have social, academic, and economic benefits that follow children throughout their lives.