DEAR EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERS,

As Universal Pre-K (UPK) launches in Colorado, Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families, the Local Coordinating Organization for UPK, will be sharing weekly updates with our community. Below you will find sections offering information for early childhood programs and families. If you would like to invite anyone to subscribe, especially families you serve, please share our Subscribe to UPK Newsletter link.

At the bottom of this email, you will also find LCO contact information, links to our social platforms, and resources previously shared in communications. Miss a newsletter? Links to past UPK Newsletters are posted on our LCO-UPK Info Hub.

EL PASO COUNTY LCO OFFICE HOURS

Joint Initiatives will begin to offer OFFICE HOURS for providers to give you a chance to ask your UPK questions in real-time. The first one is today from 12:30 to 1:30 pm and will be repeated on Monday, January 30, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. For these first two, you will need to register here:

January 27: 12:30–1:30 pm

January 30: 6:30–7:30 pm

At the conclusion of each Monday Office Hour session, your UPK team will collect the questions and will commit to answering those in a document on the JI LCO-UPK Info Hub within 48 hours. Even if we don’t have an answer, your question will be on the list, and we will work with the state to get the answer!

OFFICE HOURS SAVE-THE-DATES

Office Hours will occur every Friday from 12:30 to 1:30 pm and every Monday from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, at least through February. After the January 27 and 30th sessions, you will no longer need to register to participate. You may join sessions HERE with the following:

Meeting ID: 830 276 0212

Passcode: 190753

One tap mobile: 719.359.4580

All Office Hour Sessions will be recorded and posted on the JI/UPK site.

NEW!

There is now a link on the front page of the JI website that will take you directly to the UPK resource page. Just go to Jointinitiatives.org and click on the “Learn More About Universal Pre-K” button!

YOUR LCO IS HERE TO HELP

Joint Initiatives is your local partner in UPK implementation. Please reach out to us with program questions and needs, and feel free to send families our way with questions as well. We are here to support your success and are thrilled that you are part of this exciting opportunity for children and families in our state.

• Early childhood programs may contact Nicole Furlan at nfurlan@jointinitiatives.org or 719.367.4363.
• Families with UPK questions or needing assistance with the UPK application may contact Andrew Drescher at UPK@jointinitiatives.org.

UPK RESOURCES, LINKS + INFORMATION

• Download CDEC UPK Flyer | English Flyer or Spanish Flyer
• Universal Pre-K Flyer for Providers HERE
• UPK Colorado Application Portal
• CDEC Provider Guide (for registering on portal)
• 1.13.23 UPK Colorado - Family Application Demo (loom.com)
• 1.13.23 UPK Colorado - Provider Search Demo (loom.com)
• CDEC Flyer for Families HERE
• LCO Flyer for Families HERE
• CDEC Website – Family FAQs
• For UPK hours eligibility, view the UPK Hours for Families Flyer.
• Sign up here to receive notifications from the Department of Early Childhood on specific Universal Preschool launch efforts and Rulemaking.
• Sign up HERE to be notified when draft rules are open for public comment.