UPK Program Updates 2024-25

UPK Timeline

Oct 15, 2024- Nov 15, 2024* – Program setup forms uploaded to the Provider Portal. Forms entered after November 15 will be uploaded in January 2025.

*The due date for program setup forms has been extended by CDEC!

Dec 17, 2024 – Feb 3, 2025 – Pre-registration application window for families requesting Continuity of Care placements, sibling attending or child of an employee. Registration through upk.colorado.gov open for all families through February 5, 2025.

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.

Next Triad Bright Futures Provider Support Session

The next Triad Bright Futures Provider Support Session will be Wednesday, December 4 at 1pm via Zoom. We’ll review important updates from CDEC and discuss provider registration. Click HERE to join. No need to register.

We will host open office hours in advance of pre-registration on Friday, December 11 at 1pm.

  • November 8, 2024 slide deck is HERE. The link to the video recording is at the end of the presentation.
  • October 11, 2024 slide deck is available HERE. The link to the video recording is at the end of the presentation.

 

Provider Expenditure Statements for Year 1

Be sure to gather financial information around how your business spent UPK payments you received in Year 1 so you can complete a provider expenditure statement that will be requested by and due to CDEC by December 15th (note, the date has been extended). This is a requirement in the Provider Agreement. CDEC will be providing office hours to assist providers in completing this requirement, which we will post on this page as soon as we have that information

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 57-64. Note this document is live so be sure to consult the table of contents to confirm the correct pages.

Important Quality Standards Action Items for Providers

These phased action items are meant to help providers meet the UPK quality standards that will be phased in starting July 1, 2024.

Have and implement policies and procedures (on their website or handbook distributed to families) which ensure:

  • The use of interpreters or other language resources to effectively communicate in families’ home language;
  • Seeking input from participating families on priorities, interests, home routines, and cultural and social practices;
  • Engaging with families on goals which inform the provider’s interactions and instruction with children, including with multilingual learners;
  • Engaging families and community partners in decision-making on preschool operations;
  • Involving families in the transition of children into and out of the Preschool Program, including the transition into Kindergarten;
  • Ensuring the quality of program-family and program-staff interactions.
  • Additionally, there is a requirement to notify families of the opportunity to participate in an annual Family Survey conducted by CDEC.

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

  • Preschool providers will not be required to submit documentation to demonstrate compliance.
  • Information gathered in the 2024-25 school year will not be used for determination of compliance.

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.

Submit a Ticket

Need help with submitting a ticket? Here are how-to documents to guide you through it: 

If you cannot submit a ticket, you can email upk@triadbrightfutures.org or call 720-449-7960.