Colorado Preschool Program

COVID-19 and Preschool Through 3rd Grade Education

CDE's Preschool Through 3rd Grade (P-3) Office has gathered resources to help answer questions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to our early learners in Preschool Through 3rd Grade during the Stay-At-Home orders and the suspension of in-person learning. The Opening of School 2020-21 resources were prepared as a supplement to the CDE 20-21 School Year Toolkit.

FAQs and P-3 Guidance
During COVID -19

Opening of School 2020-21
Preschool Through 3rd Grade

Preschool Team Key Message Intentional consistent high quality early learning experiences for every child

About the Colorado Preschool Program

The Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) is a state-funded early childhood education program administered by the Colorado Department of Education. Each year the General Assembly provides funding for up to 29,360 children considered to be at-risk for later school failure to attend half- or full-day preschool. CPP is managed by local school districts and their preschool advisory councils. Each participating school district is given a predetermined number of half-day positions to serve eligible children. These positions are used to serve preschoolers in either half- or full-day programs in school district settings, local childcare centers, community preschools or Head Start programs.

News

2020 CPP Legislative Report Released

In this year’s report, you can read about the positive impact the Colorado Preschool Program has had on our youngest students throughout the state during the 2018-19 school year.

School District Child Care and Licensing Monitoring

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) worked collaboratively with school district representatives to simplify the licensing process and identify areas where onsite monitoring by CDHS licensing staff could be expedited. As a result, school districts have the opportunity to submit district-wide documentation to CDHS regarding compliance with specific health and safety requirements in order to streamline the individual site inspection process conducted by licensing.

School District Child Care Licensing - Letter and Form (PDF)
View the School District and Licensing Monitoring Submission Guide and the School District and Licensing Monitoring Document.
View the list of Licensing Supervisors that includes contact information and the geographic area they supervise. CDHS licensing supervisors will review the documentation you provide. Once reviewed and accepted as evidence of compliance with the specific health and safety standards outlined, they will update the CDHS licensing tracking system showing approval. This approval will remain in place as long as the school district continues to supply the required documentation annually.

STAY INFORMED: Visit CDE’s COVID-19 Resources for Schools page