Families Receive Round 2 Matches by June 2: Make sure to accept/decline your offer!
Timeline for Round 2 Matching from CDEC:
May 17: Last day for families to submit applications and edits
May 18-19: BridgeCare run DAA (match) and analysis
May 19: Match Results to providers by 5pm
May 19-26: Provider Review
May 30-31: CDEC review declines
June 1-8: Family Review and Acceptance Period
UPK Matching Resources
Families:
- Round 2 matches will be sent to families by Friday June 2nd. CDEC will contact you directly by email or text with final results and instructions on how to accept/decline your match. If you do not take action on your match you will automatically go back into Round 3 for matching. Please make sure you accept your match by June 8th or you may lose your placement!
- This is a copy of the letter sent to families with matching information. Please see these instructions from CDEC about how you will accept or decline a match. Note these instructions are only in English, so please reach out to our help desk and request a bilingual team member if you need assistance.
- The CDEC Help Desk can assist with login issues and unlock applications so that you can add or update your choices for Round 3. Contact them at: cdec_upkcolorado@state.co.us or 303-866-5223.
- Triad Bright Futures Help Desk team can provide comprehensive match support. Please know that we are experiencing a very high call/email volume and we will respond as quickly as possible. Reach us at:
Providers:
- Please make sure to contact families and remind them to accept or decline their match offers or they may lose their placement!
- CDEC has asked that providers NOT change roster statuses to “Enrolled” until further notice. They need to add a form to this functionality that should be ready in the next week. Check back here for updates and keep a list of those students whom you’ve enrolled until this functionality is available. If you’ve already clicked Enrolled, there’s no need to contact Triad Bright Futures. CDEC will correct these at a later time.
- All seat adjustments and new provider requests have been submitted to CDEC and we are awaiting word of completion. We hope they will be completed in time for Round 3. If you are new provider wishing to be added for Round 3 and have not been in touch with Triad Bright Futures, please contact the Help Desk to get started.
Third Round Match:
The third round of UPK application matching (applications submitted after May 17) is to be determined by CDEC and may be the beginning of a rolling match process. Round 3 will likely start shortly after Round 2 ends, June 8th. Triad Bright Futures will work with providers who wish to join UPK for subsequent rounds, and new providers will be published soon. Check back here for updates.
Families that participate in CCCAP should also complete the UPK application!
CCCAP and UPK work together for Colorado families! Even if a family already participates in CCCAP, they should also apply for UPK Colorado to maximize their benefits! Signing up for UPK allows families that participate in CCCAP to:
- Get the maximum number of hours of child care each week
- Reduce or eliminate parent fees
More information about CCCAP and UPK
Did you receive a letter about your child’s UPK placement?
If your child is on an IEP and you received a letter from the CDEC about your child’s placements through UPK, please know that Administrative Units within your local school district are currently working to ensure that your child is placed with a provider that can meet their IEP needs.
MATCHING VIDEOS & FAQ DOCUMENTS
These videos from CDEC, in English and Spanish, explain how the matching process works.
Download a PDF with answers to common questions about UPK.
Are you a preschool provider that wants to join UPK?
Please complete your profile in the UPK Colorado portal and contact the Triad Bright Futures Help Desk for next steps:
upk@triadbrightfutures.org
Note that your profile will not be published in the portal and visible to families until the first match round is completed. All providers must have a signed provider agreement in place by June 30, 2023 to be a UPK provider for the 2023-24 school year.
How UPK intersects with IEP, SPED, and Early Intervention
Click below to download an information sheet on how Universal Preschool intersects with preschool special education, Early Intervention, and the IEP.
Can families still sign up for UPK for the 2023-24 year?
YES! Families that applied before February 24 are part of the first round of applications to be matched with their chosen providers. After February 24, applications will continue to be accepted and matched with providers on a rolling basis throughout the year.
How the UPK Matching Process Works
Families are matched to a preschool provider by the BridgeCare website application using criteria created by CDEC to reflect family choice, eligibility, and weighted priorities. The match criteria give added weight to family choice that creates continuity of care (chances for children to lengthen continuous participation in a program and enjoy stable relationships with caregivers), has siblings in the same program, or has a parent employed by the provider.
Family Applications Submitted: Family applications submitted before February 24 were included in the first round of matches; applications are accepted on a rolling basis and matched with providers throughout the year.
Providers Review Matches: Providers are notified of the preliminary match and have an opportunity to review and confirm their matches. Some preschool providers will require specific information from families to show their program requirements are met. This might include requirements for co-op program volunteer hours, language, faith, employer, or IEP. Providers can only decline a match based on specific criteria (see decline list). Providers have 30 days to review and confirm their matches.
Families Notified of Match: Families are notified of their match and asked to accept or decline.
Once Families Accept a Match: When families accept they are referred to the matched provider to complete enrollment.
If Families Decline a Match: If families decline, their application will be re-run in the next match, expected to be late May.
Tuition Credit Clarification
CDEC wants to highlight to all providers that as part of UPK Colorado a provider may not charge families above the tuition credit for UPK hours.