The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) is offering a one-time financial opportunity to registered Universal Preschool providers this spring.
Any registered 2024-25 Universal Preschool provider who enters into a new Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) fiscal agreement with a county between January 1, 2024 and June 15, 2024 will be eligible to receive a one-time $2,000 bonus. Applications for the bonus will be sent directly to all eligible providers in March.
This funding is intended to increase CCCAP family access to additional low-cost hours of child care through their Colorado Universal Preschool provider. CCCAP providers are crucial partners in reducing barriers to child care for families that are homeless, working, searching for work, or in school. Providers work with county administrators to assist families find child care services that meet the needs of the family and support healthy development as well as school readiness.
CDEC has used smart policies and targeted support to ensure equitable access to quality care for CCCAP families throughout the state. CDEC is also committed to creating greater financial stability for child care providers. The Department has developed an alternative rate methodology that aligns reimbursement with the true cost of providing quality care, reimburses infant and toddler providers based on enrollment rather than attendance, and has lowered the maximum family co-pay from 14% to 10%.
CDEC is committed to building a strong, comprehensive birth-through-five early childhood system, and will continue expanding access to high-quality, whole-child and whole-family programs for all.
For additional information on eligibility and how to become a CCCAP provider, please read the FAQ.
Providers with questions about these incentives should contact their Local Coordinating Organization.