Early Childhood in Colorado
Supporting the Early Years
Early childhood is a critical time for children and families’ that lays the foundation for what is to come in life. The brain rapidly develops during this time period, with children constantly acquiring new knowledge and skills that will dramatically impact their life outcomes.
Unfortunately, the early years are also when families often have access to the least support, and children face the greatest barriers to opportunity. Therefore, access to high quality early childhood experiences is critical in providing kids the strong foundation they need to thrive.
Colorado’s Challenge
Currently, in Colorado, early childhood programs and services exist across multiple state agencies with various eligibility requirements and funding streams. This creates many challenges for parents and providers navigating these programs, threatening both quality and accessibility for thousands of kids. This fragmented structure of early childhood programs does not adequately serve children, families or providers.
“We have to create a seamless system, and we can’t do that with multiple funding sources coming at us with different requirements, different expectations, different outcomes, different philosophies. We have to come together and agree as a state and as communities on what we think is good, high quality, and then implement that.”
Diane Price, Early Connections Learning Centers, President & CEO
The Opportunity for Families & Providers
In spring 2021, the passage of House Bill 1304 gave Colorado the monumental opportunity to establish a cabinet-level Department of Early Childhood (DEC). The department will bring together the various early childhood authorities, programs, and funding streams, into a single early childhood system designed to give every child and their family access to better beginnings from birth, through kindergarten and beyond.
Colorado legislators have an opportunity to make this vision a reality through the passage of House Bill 22-1295, which reflects the Early Childhood Leadership Commission’s recommendations and transition plan for the new Department of Early Childhood.
Read the ECLC’s Recommendations
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