UPK Program Updates
2025-26 UPK Timeline
Dec 17, 2024 – Feb 3, 2025 – Pre-registration application window for families requesting Continuity of Care, sibling attending or child of an employee placements. Registration through upk.colorado.gov open for all families through February 5, 2025.
Jan 4 – Feb 5, 2025 – In-person assistance with the family application during Help Sessions at Jefferson County Libraries.
Feb 3 – Feb 10, 2025 – Families must accept pre-registration matches.
Feb 10, 2025 – March 3, 2025 – First Matching Round
March 10-31, 2025 – Second Matching Round
April 1, 2025 – Direct Enrollment begins. Direct enrollment for non-IEP families is directly through providers.
Triad Bright Futures Provider Support Sessions 
Triad Bright Futures hosts UPK Provider Support Sessions on the third Wednesday of the month at 1:00pm. The next session will be Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 1:00pm via Zoom.
No need to register. We’ll support pre-registration and provide important updates from CDEC.
CDEC Office Hours & Recordings
Triad Bright Futures encourages all providers and AUs to attend CDEC Office Hours. Submit your questions in advance of upcoming office hours by clicking HERE.
- NEW!! Provider Agreement Office Hours
- Thursdays· 2:00 – 3:00pm, starting April 3
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/kgw-nxdy-pke Or dial: (US) +1 631-621-7555 PIN: 408 153 336#
- Thursdays· 2:00 – 3:00pm, starting April 3
- Community Provider office hours:
- School District office hours:
- 3rd Thursday of each month at 4pm (March 20, April 17, May 15, Jun 19): meet.google.com/jpw-svxi-qsv
- AU office hours:
- 2nd Tuesday of each month at 2pm (Apr 8, May 13, Jun 10): meet.google.com/vxn-siwg-zed
Provider Expenditure Reporting Resources
Expenditure Reporting FAQ
Expenditure Reporting Guidance
Expenditure reporting Template and tools
If you have additional questions about this process, you can email Enroll Metrix directly coupkpayments@metrixiq.com.
IEP Direct Enrollment Open Through End of 2024-25 School Year
IEP Direct Enrollment runs through the end of the 2024-25 school year.
Special Education Administrative Units (AUs) and school districts will request placement of students with IEPs. Providers will accept matches within 2 weeks of receiving a match. Families of a child with an IEP will have until 6/30/25 to accept their match. CDEC requests that they accept within two weeks.
Quality Standards Updates
The (UPK) quality standards include program requirements in Instructional Practice (IP), Healthy Development (HD), and Family & Community Engagement (FCE).
For updated information about quality standards, please see the newly revised Provider Handbook, pages 64-71. Note this document is live so be sure to consult the table of contents to confirm the correct pages.
Interested in Joining UPK as a Provider?
Providers can start registration and provide contact information for an Authorized Signer to be sent the Provider Agreement for signature. See this guide for instructions on completing your program setup form. If you have questions about provider agreements, please contact CDEC directly at cdec_procurement-contracts@state.co.us.
Tools to Promote Your UPK Program to Families
The materials in this shared folder are designed to help providers promote their program to families.
Resources include printable flyers that you can share with families to let them know that you are a participating UPK provider and how they can enroll their child. There are also emails that providers can customize and send to families.
(CDEC created a marketing toolkit for UPK providers and partners to promote UPK in multiple languages.)
Universal Preschool Handbooks & FAQ
Family Handbook 2024-25
Comprehensive information to help families understand the UPK program, sign their child up, and rank their providers of choice.
There are also answers to common questions, a tool to check age eligibility, and more.
Provider Handbook 2024-25
Check this link frequently for the most updated version of the UPK provider handbook. This is a live document and new information is added regularly.
Includes detailed instructions how to enroll, how the matching process works, answers to common questions, and more.
UPK Help Desk
The Triad Bright Futures Help Desk can help families and providers navigate the UPK portal, assist with reviewing rosters, and make requests to CDEC for seat adjustments.
The fastest way to get support is to submit an online ticket.
Need help with submitting a ticket? Here are how-to documents to guide you through it:
- Provider Help Ticket Guide
- Family Help Ticket Guide
- School District Help Ticket Guide
- Ayuda en español
If you cannot submit a ticket, you can email universalpreschool@state.co.us or call 303-866-5223. Please do not submit multiple requests for the same issue as it increases the volume of tickets and delays our ability to respond.