Are you a Mile High Mama (or papa/other amazing caregiver) residing within the City and County of Denver? If so, and if you have a 4-year-old enrolled in preschool, or ready for preschool, read on to learn how the Denver Preschool Program helps residents find and pay for quality preschool.
Every child deserves the chance to benefit from positive early childhood experiences, including preschool. But as valuable as quality preschool is, it can represent a significant cost for many Denver families. For some, that expense may consume up to 40% of a family’s income.
Since 2006, the Denver Preschool Program (DPP) has helped Denver families find and pay for quality preschool programs, regardless of a household’s income, neighborhood, or immigration status.
“By the age of five, 90 percent of a child’s brain has developed, making early childhood education an investment in our kids at the most critical time of their lives,” said Elsa Holguín, president and CEO of Denver Preschool Program. “This makes choosing a preschool for our early learners an opportunity to begin their formal academic journey and lay a foundation for a lifetime of success.”
A DPP evaluation completed in 2013 revealed that 90% of kids who attended preschool showed up ready for kindergarten. And that success continued into elementary school, where 61% of preschool kids earned passing reading scores—compared to just 50% of kids who didn’t attend preschool.
“We know that preschool and quality early childhood education provide young children the chance to further develop their social, emotional and interpersonal skills that will last them a lifetime,” said Holguín. “That’s why we want all families in the City and County of Denver with young children to know about the benefits available to them through DPP. We urge Denver families to check out our tuition calculator tools so DPP can help them pay for preschool.”
Children who attend an early childhood education program are more prepared for kindergarten, which leads to:
- Stronger early language, literacy, and math skills
- Higher likelihood of graduating high school
- Increased probability of attending college
- A better chance at succeeding in their careers
What should Denver families know about DPP?
- Tuition credits are available to all families with a 4-year-old, and a limited number of families with a 3-year-old.
- There are more than 250 providers (including Denver Public Schools) that participate in DPP’s tuition credit program. A child must attend a participating program to qualify.
- Tuition credits can cover up to 100% of preschool costs for eligible families.
- New for the 2023-2024 school year, Colorado’s Universal Preschool (UPK Colorado) support can be combined with DPP tuition credits, giving families even more financial support for quality preschool.
According to Holguín, DPP is more committed than ever to making preschool possible for Denver’s young learners and creating a more equitable and just early education landscape. “At DPP, we believe that every Denver child should have equitable access to a strong foundation to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.”
During the 2021-2022 school year, DPP provided more than $18M in tuition credits to more than 4,700 children. The average tuition credit was $788/month per child.
What parents have to say about DPP:
“I have two young boys who were able to attend preschool multiple years due to DPP. Without this program, we wouldn’t have been able to afford preschool. Preschool helped them gain confidence, social-emotional skills and build friendships.”
~ Marissa Arbuckle
“It’s profoundly important that all kids have a safe place to learn, grow, develop their social and emotional skills and build relationships outside of their homes.”
~ Mary Donachy
Learn more today!
Want to explore your preschool options and learn how much money your family could save each month? Visit dpp.org/enroll/ and check out DPP’s Find a Preschool and Tuition Calculator tools, then follow the simple steps to enroll. Additionally, you can call DPP at 303.595.4733 or send an email to the DPP Preschool Navigator at [email protected].
Author: Mile High Mamas
