QUICK links + communications
For families
Family Quick Links
- ENGLISH: Jointinitiatives.org/UPKFamilies
- ESPAÑOL: Jointinitiatives.org/UPKFamilias
- UPK Family Handbook
- Email UPK@jointinitiatives.org (Please include the child’s name as it appears on the application, parent name, and the specific assistance needed.)
- Call the state help desk at 303.866.5223 or JI at 719.630.0927 (press 4)
- Submit a web ticket HERE.
For Providers
Provider Quick Links
- Visit the CDEC UPK web page HERE.
- E-mail UPK@jointinitiatives.org and be specific about the assistance needed
- E-mail nglt@mac.com with more complex requests
- Call Noreen at 719-338-7223
THE UPK PROVIDER HANDBOOK IS YOUR FRIEND!
- The UPK Provider Handbook is kept up to date by CDEC and can always be found HERE. If you have a question, the provider handbook is a great place to start!
Recent UPK Communications
This section is designed to give providers quick access to memos and communications from CDEC, MetrixIQ or BridgeCare.
▶ Reminders and links for important tasks and timelines are in this December 2025 Provider Update HERE. Please read carefully.
FUNDING + PAYMENTS
- MEMO: Four-Year-old Preschool Services Funding and Payments (8.1.25 to 5.15.26)
- UPK Payments 101: This is an explanation of how UPK payments are made and the reconcilliation process.
- UPDATED! MEMO: Payment Reconciliation Requirements | 12.2.25
- MEMO: Metrix Message to Providers on Payments
- Three-Year-Old Preschool Program Guidance | 10.15.25
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
- CDEC Reporting Office Hours- Follow Up
- Final Provider Reporting Email HERE (with strike throughs removing expenditure memo)(11.26.25)
Contains Expenditure Reporting Guidelines and Timelines
- Notes on selecting job roles in PDIS profiles:
- If a classroom lead teacher works within a classroom that serves any UPK funded students, they will choose the UPK Lead Teacher job role selected along with any additional job roles that fit their role and responsibilities
- Also, “UPK Lead Teacher” has been added as a job role for FCCH programs just last week. So, if they serve any UPK funded students they can choose that role as well.
- Notes on selecting job roles in PDIS profiles:
CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS
Rates + Registration + Timelines
2025-26 UPK SCHOOL YEAR + Rate INFORMATION
▶ 2025-26 UPK Calendar can be viewed HERE.
▶2025-26 UPK Rate Increases for Providers – Full Memo
- Part-Day (10 hours per week; providers must offer a minimum of 360 hours per school year): $4826.51 or $482.65 per month
- Half-Day (15 hours per week; providers must offer a minimum of 450 hours per school year): $6085.60 or $608.56 per month
- Full-day (30 hours per week; providers must offer a minimum of 900 hours per school year): $10,807.18 or $1,080.71 per month.
2025-26 UPK REGISTRATION FOR PROVIDERS (Thru April 2026)
- Provider Registration: UPK Registration for providers has started and is ongoing. If you are not currently a UPK provider but wish to become one, please reach out to Noreen (nglt@mac.com or at 719-338-7223) to get more information about the registration process.
- Seat Adjustments for 2025-26: If you need to increase your seats for 2025-26, you can do that on your own by following the instructions in the Provider Handbook. Any seat reductions need to be submitted to Noreen at nglt@mac.com.
2025-26 UPK REGISTRATION FOR FAMILIES (ThrU MAy 2026)
General Family Registration
- Non-IEP children/families are able to enroll for UPK through May of 2026 through the direct enrollment process. Instructions for direct enrollment are included in the provider handbook.
IEP Registration
- December 2024 through the end of the 2025-26 school year: As families whose children have IEPs submit their applications starting in December, they are assigned to an AU. Starting in January 2025, the AU can place the student into a program using the Program ID through the AU Portal.
- March 2025 through the end of the 2025–26 school year: Special Education Administrative Units (AUs) and school districts will request placement of students in accordance with their IEPs and CDEC will support direct upload of those identified placements. Providers will accept matches within 2 weeks of receiving a match; families will have until the start of the school year to accept matches.
Please see the UPK calendar linked above for more information about specific dates.
2026-27 school year INFORMATION
2026-27 UPK Timeline – See full information HERE and key dates below.
- February 16, 2026: First matching round
- March 16, 2026: Second matching round
- April 1, 2026: Direct enrollment starts
Provider Sign Up for 2026-27 year is open!
- 2026-27 Provider Guide – Program Setup Form HERE
- NEW! Provider Onboarding Guide: Step by Step Guide to Becoming a UPK Provider
- Quality Standards for Providers (July 1, 2026)
- Universal Preschool 2026-27 Calendar Submission Information HERE
- 2026-27 Calendar Submission Form HERE
- MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS REQUIRED PER PROGRAM PER YEAR
- When you are planning your calendar for the 2026-27 year, please use the guidance on Page 7 of the Provider Handbook as the minimum number of hours that you must offer per program.
- MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS REQUIRED PER PROGRAM PER YEAR
quality standards
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) has released the Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado Quality Standards designed to ensure that preschool services are both high quality to prepare children for kindergarten and accessible throughout the state across various provider types and program settings, including school-based, community-based, and home-based settings. The UPK Quality Standards reflect statutory requirements, incorporate findings from comprehensive reviews of 26 national and Colorado-specific standards, and include input and feedback from Families, Providers, School Districts, Early Childhood Councils, and Early Childhood Community Members.
Providers will begin to implement the UPK Quality Standards beginning July 1, 2026. The standards include four areas: Healthy Development, Family and Community Engagement, Instructional Practice and Workforce Qualifications/Professional Development. CDEC has developed a Resource Bank to offer foundation tools to support preschool sin implementing the Colorado Universal Preschool quality standards, which are embedded in Universal Preschool rules. The Resource Bank is available in the PDIS, making it easy for you to access what you need to support high-quality early learning. You don’t even have to log in!
The Colorado Universal Preschool Resource Bank is your go-to hub for tools, templates, self-assessments, and guidance to support high-quality early education across the state. (In the next section, you’ll also find briefs on the Standards from Early Milestones.)
RESOURCE BANK INCLUDES:
- Alignment with Universal Preschool Rules on Quality Standards: Resources are tailored to help you understand and meet program expectations.
- Practical Tools: From checklists to policy templates, resources can simplify your day-to-day responsibilities.
- Continuous Growth: The Resource Bank will expand over time, so keep an eye out for new tools that will appear in the Featured section.
MORE ABOUT THE STANDARDS
Four recent briefs from Early Milestones on the Quality Standards.
UPK roundtables for providers
Roundtable | March 11 at either 11 am or 6 pm.
Meeting ID: 378 961 7902; Passcode: UPK
These sessions keep early childhood providers informed about guidance from the Colorado Department of Education (CDEC), provide time for Q+A, and provide expert business consultation and training. Roundtables for previous months are in the Resources section at the bottom of the page. You can also access all Roundtable videos for centers, family child care, and school districts on JI’s YouTube channel PLAYLIST.
ROUNDTABLE RECORDINGS/SLIDES
UPK updates + resources
Past Newsletters + Updates
This section contains past UPK Updates which contain information shared by Noreen Landis-Tyson in direct emails.
CDEC OFFICE HOURS + RESOURCES
CDEC OFFICE HOURS
- 1st Tuesday of each month at 6 pm
- Meeting Link HERE or dial: (US) +1 929-277-6759 PIN: 201 173 708#
Still need additional assistance?
Please contact Noreen Landis-Tyson at nglt@mac.com or call 719.338.7223.
marketing
your program
Keep your profile up to date!
JI’s webinar/roundtable to support providers in setting up their profiles to attract as many families as possible is now available. If you need one-on-one assistance to address any points covered in the presentation, please contact Noreen at nglt@mac.com or 719-338-7223.
▶View Marketing Training Presentation Slides HERE
There is also a section in the Provider Handbook on Marketing your program that begins on page 66. You can find the Provider Handbook HERE.
UPK FLYERS AVAILABLE:
JI has created flyers that can be used to hand out to parents. You can download the flyer HERE (in English and Spanish) and print copies as needed. If you would like copies delivered to your program for your use, please contact us and we will deliver them to you.