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The Department of Early Childhood will launch July 1, 2022, and the Colorado Universal Preschool Program will launch July 1, 2023. This page serves as a resource for information related to the transition to the new Department in advance of the launch. Until the Department of Early Childhood opens, please continue to use the Office of Early Childhood Website for early childhood related services and the CDE Preschool through 3rd grade website for early childhood and preschool related services.

Governor Polis has appointed Dr. Lisa Roy as the Executive Director of the Department of Early Childhood and his first cabinet member solely devoted early childhood. Under Dr. Roy's leadership, the Department of Early Childhood will work to unify Colorado's early childhood system, both at the state-level and local-level, ensuring the seamless and coherent delivery of services to children and families across the state. Media requests for Dr. Roy can be sent via email to cdec@state.co.us.

Office of Early Childhood

Dept. of Education P-3

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood ensures the delivery of a comprehensive, community-informed, data-driven, high-quality and equitable early childhood system that supports the care, education and well-being of all Colorado’s young children, their families and early childhood professionals in all settings.

All Colorado children, families, and early childhood professionals are valued, healthy and thriving.