What is UPK
Colorado’s Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado is a state-funded, voluntary preschool program administered by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC). The program is designed to provide Colorado children with access to high-quality preschool in the year before they are eligible to enter kindergarten. UPK is delivered through a mixed-delivery system that includes participating preschool providers throughout Colorado.
UPK provides eligible children with state-funded preschool hours, with the amount of funding and hours available depending on the child’s age, eligibility, qualifying factors, provider availability, and available funding. Colorado describes UPK as a program intended to expand access to high-quality early learning while helping reduce the cost of preschool for families.
Families apply through the Colorado Universal Preschool application system, where they can identify and rank participating preschool providers. Once a family receives a match, the family works with the matched provider to complete the provider's enrollment and registration process. Say something interesting about your business here. http://upk.colorado.gov/
Important to Know
Little Blessings participates in Colorado's Universal Preschool (UPK) program. UPK is a state-funded, voluntary preschool program administered by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC). The program provides eligible Colorado children with access to preschool during the year before they are eligible to enter kindergarten. Families apply through the Colorado Universal Preschool system and may select participating preschool providers based on their family's needs and available program options. After a family receives a UPK match, the family completes the enrollment process with the matched provider.
How UPK Hours Work
Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) provides eligible children with a certain number of preschool hours that are funded through the UPK program.
At Little Blessings, families may choose from the UPK schedule options that are available at our school. The number of UPK hours your child receives is based on the UPK seat your family selects and is separate from the total number of hours your child may attend Little Blessings.
What does this mean?
For example, a child may have a UPK seat that provides 10 hours per week. Those 10 hours are the hours that are covered through the child's UPK funding.
A family may choose to have their child attend Little Blessings for additional hours beyond the UPK-funded hours. Any additional hours are not covered by the UPK seat and may be subject to Little Blessings' regular tuition and fees.
UPK Schedule Options at Little Blessings
At Little Blessings, our UPK options may include:
- 10-hour UPK seat: 2 days per week
- 15-hour UPK seat: 3 days per week
The specific days and schedule are based on the UPK placement and the availability of the classroom.
Little blessings and UPK
UPK Policies
1. Healthy Development & Child Screenings
To support your child's healthy development, our program [offers/coordinates access to/provides information on] voluntary developmental screening services. Please speak to Theresa Kepple, Tonia Paben or Delaney Peterson or email Littleblessingspdo@gmail.com for information on obtaining any of the following:
- Developmental or Health Screenings
- Vision, Hearing, or Dental Screenings
- Social-emotional, Cognitive, or Language Screenings
- Mental Health or Special Education Referrals
- Translation Services
2. Family and Community Engagement
We believe you are your child’s first and most important teacher. Our program is committed to partnering with you in the following ways:
- Language Support: We provide opportunities to utilize interpreters or other language resources as needed to ensure clear communication.
- Cultural Sharing: We invite and encourage you to share your home’s cultural and social practices within our classroom community.
- Goal Setting: We will partner with you to set individual learning and development goals for your child.
- Program Decision-Making: We offer opportunities for families and community partners to engage in our program's operational decision-making processes.
- Transitions: We will actively involve you in your child’s transitions between classrooms or when moving to a new school.
- Feedback: We value your perspective and provide opportunities for you to give feedback on the quality of program-family and program-staff interactions.
3. Annual CDEC Family Survey
Each spring, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) conducts an annual family survey. You will be notified of the opportunity to participate and share your experiences regarding your meaningful and culturally appropriate involvement in our program, as well as the healthy development supports provided.What's something exciting your business offers? Say it here.