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 a link to our LCO-UPK Info Hub on JI's website, LCO contact information, links to our social platforms, and resources previously shared in communications.

EL PASO COUNTY LCO OFFICE HOURS

Your LCO will be hosting office hours for early childhood programs to ask questions. Click on your preferred day/time to register.

January 30: 6:30–7:30 pm

February 3: 12:30–1:30 pm

PROVIDER AGREEMENT UPDATE

Due to the recent challenges LCOs and providers are facing when signing the Provider Agreement within the UPK Colorado Application Portal, providers can now be published in the system if an agreement has not been signed. All you need to do is register, create a profile, and submit the registration form in the UPK Colorado application system. Your LCO will contact you to determine when you desire for your program to be “published” and made visible for families. More information will be provided as your LCO receives updates from the CDEC. For more on registering in the application portal, download the CDEC Provider Guide (page 23).

HOW MANY UPK HOURS DO FAMILIES QUALIFY FOR?

Families applying for UPK are eligible for hours based on their child's age and qualifying factors. For details, download and share this UPK Hours Flyer.

APPLICATION AND MATCHING

Family UPK enrollment has started, and as of yesterday, there were more than 14,000 applications created for UPK services statewide. This LCO Flyer for Families includes UPK information flyer for families still planning to enroll in UPK. For families to have their application matched in the first round, the submission deadline is February 14.  This is NOT a first-come, first-served system.  No matching will begin until February 15, and all families submitting applications for 4-year-olds will be matched in the first round. Here are the details of the matching timeline:

• February 10: The state requests that providers confirm the number of UPK seats in their profile.
• February 14: Providers make any last-minute changes to their profiles.  Families submit applications to be included in the first round of matching
• February 15: First round of matches are run by the state and are sent to providers
• February 16-March 16: Providers will review their matches and decline when needed.  Families who are declined by a provider will go back into the pool to be matched again.
• March 17-March 31: Families are notified of their match and will be asked to accept or decline their match.

WHAT IF I HAVE A 3-YEAR-OLD CHILD?

To be eligible for 10 hours of free preschool, a 3-year-old must have at least one eligibility factor.  Click here to see those eligibility factors.  UPK 3-year-old services will be managed by school districts, who may choose to contract with community providers to offer services for 3-year-olds.  Families with 3-year-olds may bypass the UPK system and go directly to a provider to enroll their child but will not be provided with the 10 hours of free preschool.

LEARN MORE!

Families can find more information about UPK, links to the family application, and contact information for the UPK Team at JI in this LCO Flyer for Families.

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
• 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.
• Universal Pre-K Flyer for Providers HERE
• CDEC Flyer for Families HERE
• LCO Flyer for Families HERE
• CDEC Website – Family FAQs