Apply Now for Colorado’s Free Universal Preschool: Early February Deadlines for 2025-26 Enrollment

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DENVER ~ As Colorado families continue to shape history, the state's Universal Preschool Program has received an overwhelming response with over 19,000 applications already submitted for the 2025-26 enrollment. This program, which has gained national recognition, offers up to 15 hours of free, high-quality preschool weekly for children in their pre-kindergarten year. Additional hours are also available for qualifying families.

Governor Jared Polis expressed his excitement about the success of the program, stating that "free preschool is saving Coloradans an average of $6,100 every year while giving students the best possible start." He also encouraged more families to sign up for the upcoming school year to better prepare their child for success.

Dr. Lisa Roy, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, highlighted the impact of this program on the state's preschool enrollment. "Colorado's Universal Preschool Program is transforming lives and has propelled Colorado from 27th to 7th in preschool enrollment across the nation," she said. "With over 85,600 children served in just two years, now is the time for all eligible families to apply for the upcoming school year."

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To ensure a smooth enrollment process, there are key deadlines that families should be aware of. The first family-to-provider matching round deadline is on February 5th. Families who apply by this date increase their chances of securing a top-choice preschool. The pre-registration deadline for families continuing care with a participating provider or with a sibling enrolled or employed by a provider is on February 3rd. The final matching round deadline is on March 5th after which families can directly enroll with providers as space allows.

Colorado's innovative enrollment process offers multiple pathways including pre-registration, general registration, and direct enrollment. Families can choose from diverse settings such as home-based, school-based or community-based programs to find the best fit for their child. To determine eligibility based on their district's kindergarten eligibility dates, families can use the Age Eligibility Lookup Tool.

Program Director Dawn Odean expressed her excitement about the program's success, stating that "with one in three eligible children enrolled for the upcoming year and a history of matching 90% of families with their first or second choice, it's exciting to see that our continuous improvement and strong partnerships across the state are delivering real results for families."

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Families interested in applying for the Universal Preschool Program can easily do so online at UPK.Colorado.Gov. The website also offers resources to help families navigate the enrollment process. For additional support, families can visit Help.Upk.Colorado.Gov, email universalpreschool@state.co.us or call 303-866-5223 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. MST). Interpreters are available in over 100 languages.

Dr. Lisa Roy emphasized the critical role of early education in Colorado's future, stating that "investing in high-quality early education is one of the most impactful steps we can take." She also highlighted the importance of preschool in building essential skills for lifelong success, from early literacy to social-emotional growth. She urged Colorado families to not wait and apply today to give their child the best possible start in this nationally celebrated program.

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