Apply now for Colorado’s free universal preschool Colorado Department of Early Childhood Colorado families continue shaping history, with more than 19,000 applications already submitted for Colorado Universal Preschool’s 2025-2026 enrollment.
This nationally recognized program provides up to 15 hours of free, high-quality preschool weekly for children in their pre-kindergarten year, with additional hours available for qualifying families.
“Free preschool is saving Coloradans an average of $6,100 every year while giving students the best possible start. We are thrilled that so many families have already signed up for the next school year to better prepare their child for success,” said Gov. Jared Polis. “Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program is transforming lives and has propelled Colorado from 27th to seventh in preschool enrollment across the nation,” said Dr. Lisa Roy, executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. “With over 85,600 children served in just two years, now is the time for all eligible families to apply for the upcoming school year.”
Key enrollment deadlines
Families can apply at UPK.Colorado.gov
• Feb. 5: First family-provider matching round deadline. Families applying by this date increase their chances of securing a top-choice preschool.
• March 5: Final matching round deadline. After this, families can directly enroll with providers as space allows.
Colorado’s innovative enrollment process provides multiple pathways, including preregistration, general registration and direct enrollment.
Families can choose from diverse settings — home-based, school-based or community-based — to find the best fit for their child. Families can check to see when they are eligible based on their district’s kindergarten eligibility dates using the Age Eligibility Lookup Tool.
Program Director Dawn Odean said, “With one in three eligible children enrolled for the upcoming year and a history of matching 90 percent of families with their first or second choice, it’s exciting to see that our continuous improvement and strong partnerships across the state are delivering real results for families.”
How to Apply
Families can easily apply onlinand explore resources at UPK.Colorado.gov.
For support:
• Visit: Help.Upk.Colorado.gov
• Email: universalpreschool@state.co.us.
• Call: (303) 866-5223 (Monday–Friday, 8am to 8pm) Interpreters are available in more than 100 languages.