Rulemaking at the Colorado Department of Early Childhood
In April 2022, Governor Polis signed HB22-1295, which created the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), to coordinate a unified early childhood system and ensure the equitable distribution of resources and programming. The Executive Director was granted rulemaking authority, and is advised by the Rules Advisory Council (RAC) before considering the promulgation of rules and/or amendments. If you would like to receive rulemaking notices, sign up for email notifications. For questions, please contact CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us or Elena Fitch at: Elena.Fitch@state.co.us.
Click on the photos below to view CDEC's rulemaking process and structure. 
(Click on the photos to enlarge or download the flowcharts)
For more information on the current laws, rules, and regulations in Colorado, please review the official state publications: Colorado Revised Statutes (Colorado Laws); and the Code of Colorado Regulations (Colorado Administrative Rules and Regulations).
- General Early Childhood Administration and Programs (8 CCR 1401-1)
- Colorado Child Care Facility Licensing (8 CCR 1402-1)
- Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) (8 CCR 1403-1)
- Colorado Universal Preschool Program (UPK) (8 CCR 1404-1)
- Early Intervention Colorado Program (EI) (8 CCR 1405-1)
- Colorado Department of Early Childhood Administrative Appeals (8 CCR 1406-1)
The table below provides a roadmap for all the programs within the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) that have administrative rules, and links to the historical locations of the rules that previously existed within the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS):
The 15-member Rules Advisory Council (RAC) will advise the CDEC Executive Director on developing rules to guide the functions, programs and services that the new department will oversee. The advice given by the RAC should be in the interest of all Colorado children, families, and early childhood professionals, centering on equitable distribution of resources and programming so that all children and families can access the services and supports they need to thrive.
The legislation HB22-1295 outlined a number of membership requirements in the interest of broad representation across various sectors of the early childhood system, and to ensure equitable membership. The RAC must include:
- Representatives from programmatically diverse communities, including school-based providers, private providers, and non-parental family, friend or neighbor (FFN) providers
- At least two representatives of county departments in diverse geographic areas of the state with knowledge of child protection, CCCAP, and related fiscal matters
- A representative of a foundation, business, or early childhood advocacy organization
- A representative who is an expert in the funding for rules and federal regulations concerning early childhood and family support programs and services, including laws, rules and regulations pertaining to children with disabilities
- A representative of institutions of higher education
- An Early Childhood health care or mental health care professional
In addition at least eight members appointed to the RAC must bring one or more of the following perspectives:
- Parents, families, or caregivers of children who are enrolled in early childhood services
- Members of the early childhood workforce
- Members of historically underserved and under-resourced communities
The RAC adopted Rules Advisory Council Bylaws to guide their work on May 9, 2024. In addition, members agreed to the RAC Membership Guidebook to ensure the RAC can operate efficiently and effectively. The Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC) manages the nomination process for members to serve on the Rules Advisory Council (RAC). Submit your Application to be considered for future appointments. Applications are held on file for two (2) years, and are used to fill end-of-term and mid-term vacancies.
| Name | Organization | Term Expiration |
| Alma Enriquez | Self Employed | June 30, 2025 |
| Barbara Wacker | Early Learning Ventures | June 30, 2025 |
| Megan Burch | Eagle County Government | June 30, 2025 |
| Nazia Hasan | Community First Foundation | June 30, 2025 |
| T Vail Shoultz-McCole, Vice Chair | Colorado Mesa University/CMU Tech | June 30, 2025 |
| Colleen Head Batchelor | The Resource Exchange | June 30, 2026 |
| Priscilla Hopkins | Denver Public Schools | June 30, 2026 |
| Cassandra Johnson | TruNorth Institute, Inc. | June 30, 2026 |
| Rusha Lev | Denver Health | June 30, 2026 |
| Maegan Lokteff, Ph.D. | Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance | June 30, 2026 |
| Heather O'Hayre | Larimer County Human Services | June 30, 2028 |
| Amy Buford | Estes Park School District | June 30, 2028 |
| Alma Wiley Family Child Care Home | June 30, 2028 | |
| Ashley Wilson | Bal Swan Children's Center | June 30, 2028 |
| Colin Stewart | STEM Child Care | June 30, 2028 |
Rules Advisory Council (RAC) meetings are open to the public. Information on future meetings will be posted on this page as it becomes available.
NEXT RULES ADVISORY COUNCIL (RAC) MEETING
Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
Watch the June 12, 2025, RAC meeting on ZOOM
Zoom Meeting ID: 859 4428 3394
Meeting Materials Coming Soon!
PAST RULES ADVISORY COUNCIL (RAC) MEETINGS
May 8, 2025
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | Revised UPK Quality Standards Rules
April 10, 2025
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | Revised UPK Quality Standards Rules
March 13, 2025
Notice of Cancellation
February 13, 2025
Notice of Cancellation
January 9, 2025
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | CCCAP HB24-1223/CCDF Rules (Phase 1)
December 12, 2024
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | CCCAP HB24-1223/CCDF Rules (Phase 1) | UPK Low-Income Eligibility Rules | DELLA Transportation Rules
November 14, 2024
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | UPK Low-Income Eligibility Rules | DELLA Transportation Rules | Children's Resident Camps Rules | Special Activities Rules
October 10, 2024
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | UPK Congregation Preference Rules
September 12, 2024
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording
August 8, 2024
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording
July 11, 2024
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | CCCAP Eligibility Rules
June 13, 2024
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | UPK Per-Child Rate and Funding Rules
May 9, 2024
May 9, 2024 Meeting Materials | May 9, 2024 Meeting Recording | UPK Per-Child Rate and Funding Rules | School-Aged Child Care Rules
April 11, 2024
April 11, 2024 Meeting Materials | April 11, 2024 Meeting Recording
March 14, 2024
March 14, 2024 Meeting Materials | March 14, 2024 Meeting Recording | UPK Quality Standards Rules
February 8, 2024
February 8, 2024 Meeting Materials | February 8, 2024 Meeting Recording | UPK Qualifying Factors Rules | UPK Quality Standards Rules
January 11, 2024
January 11, 2024 Meeting Materials | January 11, 2024 Meeting Recording | Administrative Appeals Rules | UPK Qualifying Factors Rules | UPK Quality Standards Rules
December 14, 2023
December 14, 2023 Meeting Materials | December 14, 2023Meeting Recording | Abuse and Neglect Background Check Fees Rule | Administrative Appeals Rules
November 9, 2023
November 9, 2023 Meeting Materials | November 9, 2023 Meeting Recording |Nurse Home Visitor Program Rules | Neighborhood Youth Organization Rules | Family Child Care Home Rules
October 12, 2023
October 12, 2023 Meeting Materials | October 12, 2023 Meeting Recording | CCCAP Rules |General Licensing Rules | Child Care Centers Rules | Children's Resident Camp Rules | School-Aged Child Care Rules | Special Activities | Substitute Placement Rules
September 14, 2023
September 14, 2023 Meeting Materials | September 14, 2023 Meeting Recording | CCCAP Rules
July 13, 2023
July 13, 2023 Meeting Materials | July 13, 2023 Meeting Recording | UPK Rules
June 8, 2023
June 8, 2023 Meeting Materials | June 8, 2023 Meeting Recording | UPK Rules | CCCAP Rules
May 11, 2023
May 11, 2023 Meeting Materials | May 11, 2023 Meeting Recording | CCCAP Rules
April 13, 2023
April 13, 2023 Meeting Materials | April 13, 2023 Meeting Recording | ECC Rules | SRQIP Rules
March 9, 2023
March 9, 2023 Meeting Materials | March 9, 2023 Meeting Recording
February 9, 2023
February 9, 2023 Meeting Materials | February 9, 2023 Meeting Recording
January 12, 2023
January 12, 2023 Meeting Materials | January 12, 2023 Meeting Recording
December 8, 2022
December 8, 2022 Meeting Materials | December 8, 2022 Meeting Recording
November 17, 2022
November 17, 2022 Meeting Materials | November 17, 2022 Meeting Recording
October 13, 2022
October 13, 2022 Meeting Materials | October 13, 2022 Meeting Recording
September 15, 2022
September 15, 2022 Meeting Materials | September 15, 2022 Meeting Recording
September 1, 2022
September 1, 2022 Meeting Materials | September 1, 2022 Meeting Recording Part 1 and September 1, 2022 Meeting Recording Part 2
August 18, 2022
August 18, 2022 Meeting Materials | August 18, 2022 Meeting Recording
NEXT RAC COUNTY SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
Watch the June 5, 2025, RAC County Subcommittee meeting on ZOOM
Zoom Meeting ID: 846 7536 2409
Meeting Materials Coming Soon!
LAST RAC COUNTY SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
May 1, 2025
Meeting Materials | Revised UPK Quality Standards Rules
Previous materials from 2025.
Previous materials from 2024.
Previous materials from 2023.
Previous materials from 2022.
List of members of the RAC County Subcommittee.
NEXT PUBLIC RULEMAKING HEARING
Friday, May 16, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
Watch the May 16, 2025, Public Rulemaking Hearing on ZOOM
Zoom Meeting ID: 867 4548 6400
Hearing Materials | Revised UPK Quality Standards Rules
PAST PUBLIC RULEMAKING HEARINGS
April 24, 2025
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | Revised UPK Quality Standards Rules
March 27, 2025
Notice of Cancellation
February 27, 2025
Notice of Cancellation
January 23, 2025
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | CCCAP HB24-1223/CCDF Rules (Phase 1)
December 19, 2024
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | CCCAP HB24-1223/CCDF Rules (Phase 1) | UPK Low- Income Eligibility Rules | DELLA Transportation Rules | Children's Resident Camps Rules | Special Activities Rules
November 21, 2024
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | UPK Low- Income Eligibility Rules | DELLA Transportation Rules | UPK Congregation Preference Rules | Children's Resident Camps Rules | Special Activities Rules
October 24, 2024
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | UPK Congregation Preference Rules
July 25, 2024
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | CCCAP Eligibility Rules
June 27, 2024
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | UPK Per-Child Rate and Funding Rules | School-Aged Child Care Rules
May 16, 2024
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | UPK Per-Child Rate and Funding Rules | School-Aged Child Care Rules
March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024 Hearing Materials | March 28, 2024 Hearing Recording | UPK Quality Standards Rules
February 22, 2024
February 22, 2024 Hearing Materials | February 22, 2024 Hearing Recording | UPK Qualifying Factors Rules
January 22, 2024
January 22, 2024 Hearing Materials | January 22, 2024 Hearing Recording | Administrative Appeals Rules | UPK Qualifying Factors Rules | UPK Quality Standards Rules | Family Child Care Home Rules
December 18, 2023
December 18, 2023 Hearing Materials | December 18, 2023 Hearing Recording | Nurse Home Visitor Program Rules | Neighborhood Youth Organization Rules | Abuse and Neglect Background Check Fees Rule | Administrative Appeals Rules
November 17, 2023
November 17, 2023 Hearing Materials | November 17, 2023 Hearing Recording | Nurse Home Visitor Program Rules | Neighborhood Youth Organization Rules | Family Child Care Home Rules
October 27, 2023
October 27, 2023 Hearing Materials | October 27, 2023 Hearing Recording | CCCAP Rules |General Licensing Rules | Child Care Centers Rules | Children's Resident Camp Rules | School-Aged Child Care Rules | Special Activities | Substitute Placement Rules
September 29, 2023
September 29, 2023 Hearing Materials | September 29, 2023 Hearing Recording | CCCAP Rules
July 28, 2023
July 28, 2023 Hearing Materials | July 28, 2023 Hearing Recording | UPK Rules
June 23, 2023
June 23, 2023 Hearing Materials | June 23, 2023 Hearing Recording | UPK Rules | CCCAP Rules
May 15, 2023
May 15, 2023 Hearing Materials | May 15, 2023 Hearing Recording | ECC Rules | SRQIP Rules | CCCAP Rules
April 28, 2023
April 28, 2023 Hearing Agenda | April 28, 2023 Hearing Materials | April 28, 2023 Hearing Recording | ECC Rules | SRQIP Rules
February 24, 2023
February 24, 2023 Meeting Agenda | February 24, 2023 Meeting Materials | February 24, 2023 Meeting Recording | February 24, 2023 PowerPoint Slides | Adopted Early Intervention Colorado Program Rules
January 26, 2023
January 26, 2023 Meeting Agenda | January 26, 2023 Meeting Materials | January 26, 2023 Meeting Recording | January 26, 2023 PowerPoint Slides | Adopted Permanent Universal Preschool Program Rules
December 16, 2022
December 16, 2022 Meeting Agenda | December 16, 2022 Meeting Materials | December 16, 2022 Meeting Recording | December 16, 2022 PowerPoint Slides | Adopted Emergency Early Intervention Colorado Program Rules
November 21, 2022
November 21, 2022 Meeting Agenda | November 21, 2022 Meeting Materials | November 21, 2022 Meeting Recording | November 21, 2022 PowerPoint Slides | Adopted Emergency Additional Eligibility, Preschool Services, and Rate Setting Rule | Adopted Permanent CCCAP FPG and SMI Rule | Adopted Permanent Universal Preschool Program Eligibility Rule
September 29, 2022
September 29, 2022 Meeting Agenda | September 29, 2022 Meeting Materials | September 29, 2022 Meeting Recording | September 29, 2022 PowerPoint Slides | Emergency CCCAP Rule - Adopted | Emergency UPK Eligibility Rule - Adopted
Written Comments and Public Testimony
Members of the public are encouraged to submit written comments and/or register to provide testimony regarding any of the proposed rule(s) or amendments open for consideration by CDEC.
Please email CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us to submit your written comments, ahead of the Rules Advisory Council Meeting(s) or Public Rulemaking Hearing(s). All written comments will be posted publicly and shared with the Rules Advisory Council members and Executive Director before the proposed rules are discussed. Please provide your written comments at least one (1) day in advance of the meeting/hearing.
Register to testify during a Rules Advisory Council meeting or Public Rulemaking Hearing, at least one (1) day in advance of the meeting/hearing.
If you have any questions or have difficulty accessing the forms above, please contact CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
A member of the public may contact the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) - Colorado Office of Policy Research and Regulatory Reform (COPRRR) to request a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) from CDEC for any proposed new or amended rule(s). COPRRR provides a mechanism for citizens to receive Notices of Proposed Rulemaking in their areas of interest. When you sign up to receive Regulatory Notices, you are provided with information on the proposed rules, its public hearing and an effortless way to request that the rulemaking agency complete a cost-benefit analysis of the new or amended rule(s).
Visit DORA-COPRRR for more information.
Accommodations
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) is committed to providing all Coloradoans with fair and equal access to our services, and participation during our meetings. To report inaccessible information or technology, or request a reasonable accommodation or modification to attend and participate in any of our public meetings/hearings, please contact the Department at: CDEC_ADA@state.co.us, or by calling (720) 947-5020.
Departmental Regulatory Agenda
Pursuant to section 2-7-203(4), C.R.S., each department shall file a Departmental Regulatory Agenda (Regulatory Agenda) with the staff of the legislative council, who distributes the Regulatory Agenda to the applicable committee of reference prior to any departmental presentations. Each department shall also post its Regulatory Agenda on its website, and submit its Regulatory Agenda to the Colorado Secretary of State for publication in the Colorado Register. Annual Departmental Regulatory Agendas are published in the November 10th issues of the Colorado Register.
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) filed and submitted its 2025 Regulatory Agenda to the Colorado Secretary of State on October 31, 2024, and staff of the legislative council on November 1, 2024. Please review the CDEC 2025 Regulatory Agenda for more information on the rules CDEC is planning to consider for implementation during the 2025 calendar year. Previous CDEC Departmental Regulatory Agendas
Rule Tracker
The purpose of the Rule Tracker below is to inform the public of all potential proposed rule/amendment(s) before the Notice of the Rulemaking Hearing is filed with the Colorado Secretary of State (SOS) and Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) - Colorado Office of Policy, Research, and Regulatory Reform (COPRRR). It serves as a "real-time" Departmental Regulatory Agenda, to provide information to interested stakeholders, promote public awareness, increase participation, and support transparency of CDEC's rulemaking proceedings. Adopted rule/amendment(s) will remain listed on this database, for the full calendar year.
(To enlarge, click on the CDEC Rule Tracker (link) or "Looker Studio" icon on the bottom right corner of the CDEC Rule Tracker)