Colorado residents can now enroll in the universal preschool program. Here’s how to apply.
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Chris Dillmann/Vail Daily
Enrollment for the 2026-27 universal preschool program is officially open, offering up to 15 hours of tuition-free preschool for children.
Enrollment opened Dec. 9 and the first round of matching will begin in February for children in the year before kindergarten. Families across the state who apply for the program save an average of $6,300 per year on free preschool, according to a news release from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
Colorado’s universal preschool program has served more than 87,000 children since launching in 2023, and helped the state move from 27th to third in national preschool enrollment. Approximately 70% of all age-eligible children are enrolled in the current program year, according to Dawn Odean, the state’s universal preschool director.
How to enroll
Families can apply at UPK.Colorado.Gov and follow these steps:
- Browse profiles of more than 2,000 licensed programs statewide
- Select preferred providers and submit by the deadlines
- Families will be notified to accept or decline a match.
- Complete registration directly with the provider. Families may also directly enroll with providers after matching rounds end as space is available.
Families can choose from diverse settings, such as home-based, school-based, or community-based options. To check eligibility based on their district’s kindergarten eligibility dates, families can use the program’s Age Eligibility Lookup Tool.
Key Enrollment Deadlines
- Dec. 9, 2025: Family registration opens
- Dec. 9, 2025: Pre-registration window starts
- Feb. 2, 2026: Matches for pre-registration shared with families
- Feb. 16, 2026: First matching round
- Feb. 25, 2026: First Round Matches shared with families
- March 16, 2026: Second matching round
- March 24, 2026: Second Round Matches shared with families
- April 1, 2026: Direct enrollment starts
For help with enrollment, families can visit Help.Upk.Colorado.Gov, email universalpreschool@state.co.us or call 303-866-5223.
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