Rulemaking at the Colorado Department of Early Childhood
***Special Announcement: Now Accepting Rules Advisory Council (RAC) Applications!!
The Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC) is leading the search for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s (CDEC) advisors to serve on the Rules Advisory Council (RAC).
This fifteen (15) member Rules Advisory Council advises the CDEC Executive Director on developing rules to guide the functions, programs and services that the department oversees. The RAC represents a wide range of voices and perspectives from urban, suburban, and rural settings and who represent diversity in race, ethnicity, immigration status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, culture, and language. Learn more about the RAC and what it means to be a member here (English | Spanish).
Currently, five (5) members’ terms will end on June 30, 2024; members currently serving are eligible for reappointment. These positions include representatives of school based programs, licensed family child care homes, county departments of human services, expertise in the funding and rules pertaining to children with disabilities, and parents / family members / caregivers of a child currently enrolled in an early childhood program. Applications are due by May 2, 2024, to be considered for appointment in July 2024! Applications will be held for two (2) years and considered for future vacancies. Please share this opportunity with your networks! Access communications materials in English and Spanish here.
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, please click here to sign up for email notifications. For questions, please contact CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us or Elena Kemp at: Elena.kemp@state.co.us.
Sunset Review: The Colorado Office of Policy, Research, and Regulatory Reform (COPRRR) within the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) is currently conducting a sunset review on the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), pursuant to section 26.5-1-105(1)(c), C.R.S. The purpose of this sunset review is to examine the structure, efficiency, and effectiveness of CDEC's rulemaking structure to determine if it should be continued in its current form, modified, or repealed. Click here to provide feedback directly to COPRRR, regarding this review. Click on the photos below to view CDEC's rulemaking process and structure. 
(Click on the photos to enlarge or download the flowcharts)
- CDEC Administrative Rules and Laws
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):
- Rules Advisory Council (RAC) Membership
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 September 15, 2022. In addition, members agreed to the RAC Membership Guidebook to ensure the RAC can operate efficiently and effectively.
Name Organization Contact Information Term Expiration Colleen Head Batchelor The Resource Exchange June 30, 2026 Amber Bilby, Chair Amber's Kids amberbilby@outlook.com June 30, 2024 Scott Bright ABC Child Development Centers scott@scottbright.net June 30, 2025 Amy Buford, Vice Chair Estes Park School District amybuford@gmail.com June 30, 2024 Megan Burch Eagle County Government megan.burch@eaglecounty.us June 30, 2025 Nazia Hasan Community First Foundation nhasan@communityfirstfoundation.org June 30, 2025 Priscilla M. Hopkins Denver Public Schools priscilla_hopkins@dpsk12.org June 30, 2026 Cassandra P Johnson TruNorth Institute, Inc. Cassandra@trunorth.institute June 30, 2026 Rusha Lev Denver Health rushaplev@gmail.com June 30, 2026 Maegan Lokteff, Ph.D. Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance maegan@ecclacolorado.org June 30, 2026 Marlayna Martinez University of Colorado; Anschutz Medical Campus marlayna.martinez@cuanschutz.edu June 30, 2024 Heather O'Hayre Larimer County Human Services ohayrehj@co.larimer.co.us June 30, 2024 Frank Reeves Rural Alliance; Public Education and Business Coalition frankreeves96@gmail.com June 30, 2024 Karina Sofia Garcia Sastre Self-Employed ksgarcia99@gmail.com June 30, 2025 T Vail Shoultz-McCole Colorado Mesa University/Western Colorado Community College vshoultz@coloradomesa.edu June 30, 2025 - RAC Meetings
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, May 9, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85944283394?pwd=U1Y0RUtSb0twUDhJRG1qRVRtQTU2dz09
Zoom Meeting ID: 859 4428 3394
Meeting Materials Coming Soon!
PAST RULES ADVISORY COUNCIL (RAC) MEETINGS
April 11, 2024
Meeting Materials | Meeting RecordingMarch 14, 2024
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | UPK Quality Standards RulesFebruary 8, 2024
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | UPK Qualifying Factors Rules | UPK Quality Standards RulesJanuary 11, 2024
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | Administrative Appeals Rules | UPK Qualifying Factors Rules | UPK Quality Standards RulesDecember 14, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | Abuse and Neglect Background Check Fees Rule | Administrative Appeals RulesNovember 9, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording |Nurse Home Visitor Program Rules | Neighborhood Youth Organization Rules | Family Child Care Home RulesOctober 12, 2023
Meeting Materials | 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 RulesSeptember 14, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | CCCAP RulesJuly 13, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | UPK RulesJune 8, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | UPK Rules | CCCAP RulesMay 11, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | CCCAP Rules
April 13, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | ECC Rules | SRQIP RulesMarch 9, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording
February 9, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording
January 12, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording
December 8, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording
November 17, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording
October 13, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting RecordingSeptember 15, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting RecordingSeptember 1, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording Part 1 and Part 2August 18, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording- RAC County Subcommittee Membership and Meetings
NEXT RAC COUNTY SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85944283394?pwd=U1Y0RUtSb0twUDhJRG1qRVRtQTU2dz09
Zoom Meeting ID: 846 7536 2409
Meeting Materials Coming Soon!PAST RAC COUNTY SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Notice of Cancellation
For previous materials from 2024 Meetings, click here.
For previous materials from 2023 Meetings, click here.
For previous materials from 2022 Meetings, click here.
For a list of members of the RAC County Subcommittee, click here.- Public Rulemaking Hearings
NEXT PUBLIC RULEMAKING HEARING
Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 12:00 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-BV1-0H5RrigEfHKtputPg
Zoom Meeting ID: 867 4548 6400
Hearing Materials Coming Soon!
PAST PUBLIC RULEMAKING HEARINGS
March 28, 2024
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | UPK Quality Standards RulesFebruary 22, 2024
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | UPK Qualifying Factors RulesJanuary 22, 2024
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | Administrative Appeals Rules | UPK Qualifying Factors Rules | UPK Quality Standards Rules | Family Child Care Home RulesDecember 18, 2023
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | Nurse Home Visitor Program Rules | Neighborhood Youth Organization Rules | Abuse and Neglect Background Check Fees Rule | Administrative Appeals RulesNovember 17, 2023
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | Nurse Home Visitor Program Rules | Neighborhood Youth Organization Rules | Family Child Care Home RulesOctober 27, 2023
Hearing Materials | 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 RulesSeptember 29, 2023
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | CCCAP RulesJuly 28, 2023
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | UPK RulesJune 23, 2023
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | UPK Rules | CCCAP RulesMay 15, 2023
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | ECC Rules | SRQIP Rules | CCCAP RulesApril 28, 2023
Hearing Agenda | Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | ECC Rules | SRQIP RulesFebruary 24, 2023
Meeting Agenda | Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | PowerPoint Slides | Adopted Early Intervention Colorado Program Rules
January 26, 2023
Meeting Agenda | Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | PowerPoint Slides | Adopted Permanent Universal Preschool Program Rules
December 16, 2022
Meeting Agenda | Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | PowerPoint Slides | Adopted Emergency Early Intervention Colorado Program Rules
November 21, 2022
Meeting Agenda | Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | 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
Meeting Agenda | Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | PowerPoint Slides | Emergency CCCAP Rule - Adopted | Emergency UPK Eligibility Rule - Adopted- Written Comments, Testimony, and Resources
Written Comments and Public Testimony
Members of the public are encouraged to provide written comments and/or public testimony regarding any rule(s) under consideration by CDEC.Please email CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us to share your written comments, ahead of the Rules Advisory Council Meetings or Public Rulemaking Hearings. All written comments will be posted publicly and shared with the Rules Advisory Council members and Executive Director ahead of the discussion on each rule. Please provide your written comments at least one day in advance of the meeting or hearing.
To provide public comments/testimony at the Rules Advisory Council meeting or the Public Rulemaking Hearing, please register here at least one day in advance of the meeting or 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).The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies 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 the DORA-COPRRR website for more information.
Accommodations
CDEC is committed to providing equal access to our meetings for all participants. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation to attend a public rulemaking hearing, please contact Elena Kemp at Elena.kemp@state.co.us with your request by the close of business at least one week in advance of a meeting.- CDEC Regulatory Agenda and Rule Tracker
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 2024 Regulatory Agenda to the Colorado Secretary of State on October 31, 2023, and staff of the legislative council on November 1, 2023. Please review the CDEC 2024 Regulatory Agenda for more information on the rules CDEC is planning to consider for implementation during the 2024 calendar year. Click here to review previous Regulatory Agendas submitted by the Department.
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)