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Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five

Colorado’s Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five Initiative

The earliest years of a child's life are remarkable. Each day brings discoveries, emerging skills, and exciting novel experiences: a first smile, a first trip to the library, and a first day of preschool. During these crucial early years, families, caregivers, and early childhood professionals work hard to support children's growth and development, laying the groundwork for a healthy future.

The early years of childhood are also a critical period of brain development, with more than one million new connections forming in the brain every second (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University.. Like a house, early brain architecture builds a foundation for the health and well-being of children throughout their lives. This construction process is shaped by the resources available to kids, their families, caregivers, and communities.

Beginning in 2018, Colorado leveraged a federal grant opportunity—the Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) —to strengthen connections among the state's early childhood programs and shape a comprehensive early childhood system. After analyzing the needs of young children, families, and caregivers, Colorado’s PDG B-5 Initiative efforts focused on strengthening existing early childhood programs and services while piloting innovative solutions to address gaps in the current system. These efforts streamlined Colorado's early childhood system, so it better supports families and caregivers from the day their child is born until they enter the kindergarten door. 

PDG B-5's impact in Colorado has been far-reaching. Its influence extends across various programs and partners, increasing coordination and collaboration across a complex system. Initiatives funded by PDG B-5 bolstered the state's early childhood infrastructure and forged new partnerships, moving Colorado closer to its shared vision that all children are ready for school when entering kindergarten. 

Read on to learn more. 

More than Preschool: PDG B-5 Supports Kids and Caregivers from Birth through Kindergarten

The PDG B-5 grants, established by Congress in 2015 through the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), marked a significant shift in the federal government's approach to ensuring all children are ready for school. Historically, PDG funds have aimed to expand access to preschool for 4-year-old children. Although the word "preschool" remained in the title of PDG B-5 grants, the new initiative encompassed more than the preschool years. In broadening their focus to supporting children from birth through kindergarten, the federal government recognized what is clear from decades of early childhood research: children learn from the moment they are born, and this learning is best accomplished through nurturing relationships with their caregivers. Thus, PDG B-5 strove to create a birth through 5 system that ensures families have the support they need from their baby's earliest years of life through the first day of kindergarten.

Strengthening the Foundation: Shaping a Comprehensive Early Childhood System by Bolstering Existing Programs and Filling Gaps 

The new PDG B-5 grants sought to strengthen states' existing early childhood care and education landscapes, working toward building a comprehensive system of support for young children, their families, and early care and education providers (First Five Years Fund. (2016). Every Student Succeeds Act (P.L. 114-95). High level comparison of ESSA’s Preschool Development Grants Program with the Legacy Administration Preschool Development Grants Program). States were directed to use PDG B-5 funds to improve collaboration among existing programs in support of a mixed delivery system that includes child care and family child care providers, Head Start, state pre-kindergarten programs, and home visiting, among others. PDG B-5 funded needs assessments, strategic planning, family engagement, quality improvement, workforce compensation and support, and direct services for young children in service of this goal. 

The goal of Colorado’s PDG B-5 Initiative is for families with children birth to five to have access to quality early childhood services and support, resulting in children who are healthy, thriving, and ready to enter kindergarten. To achieve that goal, the initiative pursues four outcomes: 

  • All families have equitable access to quality and affordable early childhood services and supports to meet the individualized needs of children at home, in care, and in the community.
  • Colorado has a diverse, supported, qualified, and well-compensated early childhood workforce to provide education and support to all children and families.
  • Colorado’s B-5 early childhood system is coordinated and aligned to promote children’s, families’, and early learning professionals’ overall development, learning, and well-being.
  • Families and communities are meaningfully and equitably informed, engaged, supported, and empowered in the early childhood system.

Implementation of Colorado’s PDG B-5 Initiative is led by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC). The Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC), the state’s federally authorized state advisory council for early childhood, serves as the advisory body for the initiative. The activities of Colorado’s PDG B-5 Initiative are implemented by PDG B-5 leads across the CDEC in partnership with other agencies, such as the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE); the CDEC Family Voice Council; nonprofits; institutes of higher education; and families and early childhood professionals across the state. ECLC subcommittees and working groups are also key partners in strategy implementation, including the Strategic Plan Working Group and Home Visiting Investment Task Force of the Program Quality Access and Alignment Subcommittee, the Early Childhood Workforce Development Subcommittee, and the Data Subcommittee, among others.

Colorado’s PDG B-5 initiative has several iterations. Please select the initiative of interest to review each iteration's key facts, application, strategies, grant reports, and deliverables. 

If you are curious on how work on many of Colorado’s PDG B-5 projects continues, please sign up for our CDEC newsletter. Questions? Contact CDEC_PDG@state.co.us.

Key Facts

  • Award Timeframe: 12/31/22 – 3/31/25
  • Total Award: $4,831,588
  • Purpose: support innovations that address gaps in the early child care and education system for children ages birth to five and emerging challenges and needs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic 
Application, Strategies, and Grant Reports

Application

Strategies

17 strategies were implemented in response to five key grant activities, and a new approach for a Program Performance Evaluation Plan (PPEP) to use with a future PDG B-5 award was created. Click each link to learn more and view prototypes of strategy dashboards:

Activity 1: Update Comprehensive Statewide B-5 Needs Assessment

1. Needs Assessment Update 

 

Activity 2: Update Preschool Development Grant B-5 Planning Grant Strategic Plan

2. Strategic Plan Update

 

Activity 3: Maximize Parent and Family Engagement in the B-5 System

3.1 Family Engagement Framework Assessment

3.2 Create Connection Points to Engage Tribal Families

3.3 Increase Family Voice in Decision Making

3.4 Home Visiting Messaging Campaign

 

Activity 4: Support the B-5 Workforce and Disseminate Best Practices

4.1 Increased Collaboration and Service Efficiency to Improve Transitions

4.2 Local Organizational Capacity Building - Shared Training (4.2.1) and Facilitated Planning Regional Convenings (4.2.2)

4.3 Strengthen Statewide Career Pathways and Qualification Systems

4.4 Extend Business Practices Coaching Opportunities & Disseminate Best Practices

4.5.1 Increase Compensation for the ECCE Workforce - Family Child Care Home Compensation Pilot

4.5.2 Increase Compensation for the ECCE Workforce - Prioritize and Pilot Compensations Task Force Recommendations

4.5.3 Increase Compensation for the ECCE Workforce - Home Visiting Mileage Reimbursement Pilot

4.6 Apprenticeship Expansion for Home Visiting

 

Activity 5: Support Program Quality Improvement

5.1 Literacy Policy Alignment

5.2 Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Advisory Council

5.3 Improve the Screening and Referral Process

Grant Reports

Deliverables

This list includes easy-to-link resources developed through the grant. It will be updated as more deliverables are cleared. Deliverables are organized according to PDG B-5 federal grant activities, with the Colorado specific strategy listed for reference. More information on all the work accomplished under each strategy can be found in the final report (expected June 2025).

 

Activity 1 – Update Comprehensive Statewide B-5 Needs Assessment

Activity 2 – Update Preschool Development Grant B-5 Planning Grant Strategic Plan 

Activity 3 – Maximize Parent and Family Engagement in the B-5 System 

Activity 4 – Support the B-5 Workforce and Disseminate Best Practices

Activity 5 – Support Program Quality Improvement

Key Facts
  • Award Timeframe: 12/31/19 – 12/30/23
  • Total Award: $33,515,907
  • Purpose: strengthening the state’s integrated early childhood system to prepare low-income and disadvantaged children to enter kindergarten and improve their transitions across early childhood into the early elementary school grades
Application, Strategies, and Grant Reports

Application

Strategies

In this iteration, the strategies of the grant aimed to ensure all children are ready for school when entering kindergarten by achieving these key outcomes: 

  • Colorado families have access to quality formal early childhood care and education settings of their choosing which best support the strengths and needs of their child and family.
  • Informal early childhood care and education environments (parental, friend, family, and neighbor care) nurture children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.
  • Colorado’s B-5 early childhood state system is coordinated and aligned to strengthen the resources available to families and to enhance the quality of relationships among families, caregivers, and children.

Over 40 strategies were implemented in response to six grant goals, and evaluations were conducted throughout. The strategies came from the Colorado Shines Brighter Strategic Plan, which responded to the state's 12 key needs identified in the statewide needs assessment (see deliverables). Additionally, further work on the state’s Needs Assessment, statewide Strategic Plan and evaluation of the grant activities was conducted. Detailed descriptions of what was accomplished in each strategy can be found in the PDG B-5 Renewal Grant Final Report (2019-2023).

 

Goal 1: Align and Coordinate Systems 

1.1.1 Information Technology (IT) Solutions Roadmap

1.1.2 Data-Driven Decision-Making

1.1.3 Workforce Data System Modernization

1.1.4 Early Care and Education (ECE) Workforce LINC Project

1.1.5 Unique Child Identifier

1.2.1 Coordinated Application & Local Navigation

1.2.2 Medicaid Billing Guides

1.2.4 Early Childhood Council (ECC) and Family Resource Center (FRC) Organizational Capacity

1.2.6 State Organizational Alignment

1.3.1 Transitions Toolkit

1.3.2 Transitions Roadmap

 

Goal 2: Innovate Service Delivery

2.1.1 Trauma-informed Care Training

2.1.2 Home Visiting for ECE Home Providers

2.1.3 Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Consultation Practices

2.2.1 Quality Nutrition in ECE Settings

2.2.2 ECMH Support Line & Teleconsultation

 

Goal 3: Maximize Family Knowledge and Engagement

3.1.1 School Readiness Handbook

3.1.2 Growing Readers Together

3.1.3 Early Literacy Grants

3.1.4 Information Hub

3.1.6 Early Learning & Development Guidelines

3.3.1. Parent & Stakeholder Engagement

 

Goal 4: Increase Meaningful and Equitable Access

4.1.2 Inclusion & Universal Design in ECE Settings

4.1.3 Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) Policy Research

4.1.8 Early Start Model Implementation

4.2.1 Contracted Slots

 

Goal 5: Strengthen Business Practices

5.1.2 Business Practices

5.1.4 New & Expanding ECE Micro-grants

5.1.5 Child Care Business Guides

 

Goal 6: Improve the Quality of Early Care and Education Environments and the Workforce.

6.1.1 Colorado Shines Updates

6.1.2 Consultative Roles Alignment

6.1.3 LENA (Language ENvironment Analysis) Grow

6.1.4 FIND (Filming Interactions to Nurture Development) Coaching

6.1.5 Informed and Effective ECE for Children with Delays or Disabilities

6.2.1 Professional Development Information System

6.2.2 Child Development Associates Credential

6.2.3 Coaching

6.2.5 Alignment of ECE Competencies

Grant Reports

Deliverables

This list includes easy-to-link resources developed through the grant. Deliverables are organized according to PDG B-5 federal grant activities, with the Colorado specific strategy listed for reference. More information on all the work accomplished under each strategy, including structural changes such as the PDIS refresh or creation of the Regional Coaching Network, can be found in Part 1 of the final report.

 

Activity 1 – Refining or Enhancing the Comprehensive, Statewide B-5 Needs Assessment

Activity 2 – Refining, Enhancing, and Implementing the Comprehensive, Statewide B-5 Strategic Plan

Activity 3 – Maximizing Parent Knowledge, Choice, and Engagement  

Activity 4 – Sharing Best Practice and Professional Development for the Early Childhood Workforce

Activity 5 – Improving the Overall Quality, Expanding Access, and Developing New Programs (including Subgrants)

Activity 6 – Monitoring, Evaluation, and Data Integration, Management, and Use for Continuous Improvement 

Additional Activity – Implementing the Program Performance Evaluation Plan

Key Facts

  • Award Timeframe: 12/31/18 – 3/31/20

  • Total Award: $5,801,793
  • Purpose: build a quality early learning system for children birth to 5 and their families. 
Application, Strategies, and Grant Reports

Application

Strategies

In this iteration, the strategies of the grant aimed to ensure all children are ready for school when entering kindergarten by achieving these key outcomes: 

  • Colorado families have access to quality formal early childhood care and education settings of their choosing which best support the strengths and needs of their child and family.
  • Informal early childhood care and education environments (parental, friend, family, and neighbor care) nurture children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.
  • Colorado’s B-5 early childhood state system is coordinated and aligned to strengthen the resources available to families and to enhance the quality of relationships among families, caregivers, and children.

Activity 1: B-5 Needs Assessment

  • Needs Assessment

Activity 2: B-5 Strategic Plan

  • Strategic Plan
  • Information Technology Solutions Roadmap
  • Increase Engagement in System-wide Transition Planning
  • Family Access and Early Care and Education (ECE) Provider Matrices

Activity 3: Maximizing Parent Choice and Knowledge

  • Increasing Outreach to Parents and Caregivers Research
  • Shared Message Bank Updates
  • Engaging Trusted Messengers via Bright by Text 
  • Early Learning Development Guidelines updates

Activity 4: Sharing Best Practices

  • Assess and Make Recommendations to the Colorado Competencies for Early Childhood Educators and Administrators, the Early Childhood Professional Credential, Early Childhood Professional Qualifications, and the Colorado Shines Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Framework
  • Initiate a Retooling Process to Transition from Environment Rating Scales (ERS) to the ERS-3
  • Mine and Analyze Data to Inform Training and Technical Assistance Plans for Child Care Licensing, Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) and Colorado Shines
  • CCCAP Slot Contract Pilot Support
  • Develop New Course Offerings on the Colorado Shines Professional Development and Information System (PDIS)
  • Augment the Growing Readers Together Model
  • Pilot Home Visiting Programs in Family Child Care Homes 
  • Implement the Roots© Early Childhood Mental Health Training Program
  • Explore an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Warmline and Telehealth
  • Assess Community-level Needs for Different Modalities of Early Childhood Mental Health Support

Activity 5: Improving Overall Quality 

  • Implement Enhancements to the Colorado Shines Website

Program Performance Evaluation Plan

Grant Reports

Deliverables

Activity 1: B-5 Needs Assessment

Activity 2: B-5 Strategic Plan

Activity 3: Maximizing Parent Choice and Knowledge

Activity 4: Sharing Best Practices

Activity 5: Improving Overall Quality 

Program Performance Evaluation Plan

There is much to be learned from the state's experience implementing PDG B-5 as Colorado continues to chart a path toward ensuring all children are ready for school when starting kindergarten. Some key lessons that could inform future early childhood investments in Colorado include:

  1. A robust early childhood system is integral to nurturing the growth and development of young children and their families.  
  2. Efforts to promote school readiness among children must begin at birth. 
  3. Relationship-building and partnership are key to the creation of a coordinated, collaborative early childhood system. 

The PDG B-5 initiative in Colorado demonstrates the incredible impact of funding focused on supporting a family- and partner-informed evaluation of the early childhood system and  fueling co-created innovations and improvements.

Questions

Contact the Preschool Development Grant Unit:

Department of Early Childhood, CDEC
710 S. Ash Street
Denver, CO 80246
Phone: 1-800-799-5876 or 303-866-5948
cdec_pdg@state.co.us 
Sign up for the Colorado Shines Brighter newsletter.

 

The contents of this website were supported by Grant Numbers 90TP0054 and 90TP0114 from the Office of Early Childhood Development within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Early Childhood Development.