Colorado has announced the start of enrollment for the state's new universal pre-K (UPK) preschool program.
“We are bringing high-quality preschool to Colorado kids, saving families thousands of dollars, and making sure Colorado students get a strong start in school," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a news release on the Governor's Office website. "With so many qualified providers registered for UPK, we are excited to open the family enrollment process Jan. 17, giving families the chance to select the best provider fit for their preschooler.”
The UPK program will allow pre-kindergarten students to take part in state-funded, half-day, voluntary preschool beginning in the 2023-24 school year, according to the release. Children ages 3 and older could qualify for 10 hours of preschool programming, and other children will qualify for all-day preschool.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis
| Colorado.gov/governor
The UPK program was created by House Bill 22-1295, which was introduced in March 2022 and became law April 25. The bill created the Department of Early Childhood and will transfer the authority to run a preschool program from the Department of Education to the Department of Early Childhood as of July 1, the release added.
Families will be able to log on to www.UPK.Colorado.Gov to begin the enrollment process on a rolling basis. There is no deadline to sign up. Space will be limited, however, so families are encouraged to sign up early. The process of matching students with teachers will begin in mid-February, the release said.
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