In Fall 2023, Colorado officially launched the Universal Preschool (UPK) Program. Every Colorado child is eligible for at least 15 hours of funded preschool the year before entering kindergarten. With the generous support of the Boettcher Foundation, Early Milestones Colorado (Early Milestones) conducted an interview series to understand the rural experience of Universal Preschool implementation.
Boettcher Catalyst Grant
Rural child care providers and families face unique barriers when participating in statewide programs. Some barriers include transportation, access to the internet and technology, lack of services, and systems that do not align to rural communities’ needs.
In Spring 2024, Early Milestones conducted 24 interviews with early childhood providers and Local Coordinating Organizations (LCOs) representing 32 counties with rural communities across the state. In each of the four rural LCO catchment areas, Early Milestones interviewed at least one Family Child Care Home (FCCH), Head Start grantee, school district, community-based center, and LCO.
Our report delves into the successes and challenges of Universal Preschool in rural Colorado and provides a set of recommendations for strengthening the program for rural communities in the years to come.
