CDEC Memo Series

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) Memo Series is designed to streamline and clarify CDEC policies and expectations of county partners and contracted entities. There are two types of memos, which communicate the time sensitivity and importance of the policy and/or expectation: Operation and Information. Each memo type is described below or download the Memo Series Overview here. 

Note: The Memo Series may NOT be used to change, create, replace or waive any state or federal law or regulation/rule.
 

Operation Memo

An Operation Memo (OM) provides detailed instructions for counties or other contracted entities to operationalize new or existing state law, state rule, federal law or federal regulation. OMs provide  guidance to counties or other contracted entities on how to apply a statute or rule. However, OMs do not expand or create statutory or regulatory obligations , and are not legal advice. Instead, they are intended to help resolve conflicting practices or interpretations of a statute or rule. If a county or other contracted entity has a specific legal question, they should always consult their legal counsel. OMs may be used to inform counties or other contracted entities how CDEC will measure performance compliance and may cover administrative issues such as documentation, reporting, and database functionality. OMs help ensure clear and uniform administration of CDEC-supervised programs across counties and contracted entities.

Operation memos are active for up to three years, with an implementation and expiration date included on the header of each memo; after three years, they are archived and then re-issued if necessary. 

UPK Operation Memos

Memo #	Memo Title	Issue Date	Expiration Date	Keywords
OM-UPK-2023-0001	UPK Quality Standards 2023-24	April 5, 2023	July 1, 2025	Universal preschool, quality standards
OM-UPK-2023-0002	Infant and Toddler Waiver	September 11, 2023	n/a	infant, toddler, waiver, Universal preschool, waiver-based exception, under-3-years-old

Finance Operation Memos

Memo #	Memo Title	Issue Date	Expiration Date	Keywords
OM-CFO-2023-0001	State Fiscal Year 2023-24 CCCAP County Allocations	July 28, 2023	June 30, 2024	County Allocation, Financial Services

CCCAP Operation Memos

Memo #	Memo Title	Issue Date	Expiration Date	Keywords
OM-CCCAP-2023-005	Revised CCCAP Application & Redetermination Forms	June 2, 2023	Until Superseded	CCCAP, Application, Redetermination, Forms
OM-CCCAP-2023-0004	Qualified Exempt Provider Rule Changes - Group Sizes	June 13, 2023	June 30, 2026	Group Sizes, Ratio, Qualified Exempt, Provider, Non-Relative Provider, Relative Provider, Unrelated, CCCAP
OM-CCCAP-2023-0003	Colorado Child Care Assistance Program 7.1.2023 Rule Changes	June 13, 2023	July 1, 2026	Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, CCCAP, Rules
OM-CCCAP-2023-0002	Contracting With Another County To Support The Administration Of CCCAP	April 4, 2023	March 31, 2026	CCCAP, Contracts, Agreements, MOU, Administration
OM-CDEC-2023-0001	Timely Processing for CCCAP Applications and Re-determinations	Feb. 10, 2023	Feb. 10, 2026	CCCAP, Timely Processing, Application, Re-determination
OM-CDEC-2022-0004	Revised CCCAP State-Established Licensed Provider Daily Reimbursement Rates	Sept. 26, 2022	Sept. 30, 2024	School-Age, State-Established, Licensed, Provider, Daily, Tiered, Reimbursement, Rate
OM-CDEC-2022-0001	Revised CCCAP Application & Redetermination Forms	July 19, 2022	Until Superseded	CCCAP, Application, Redetermination, Form
OM-ECL-2022-0004	Revised CCCAP Rules	July 1, 2022	July 1, 2025	CCCAP, Rules
OM-ECL-2022-0005	Colorado Child Care Assistance Performance Measures and Monitoring	June 30, 2022	June 30, 2025	CCCAP, Department of Early Childhood, Measures, Performance, Program Integrity, Monitoring, Timely, Accuracy
OM-ECL-2022-001	CCCAP Stimulus Strategy Activities	June 6, 2022	July 1, 2025	CCCAP, Stimulus, ARPA, CRRSA, CCDF
OM-ECL-2022-0003	Colorado Child Care Assistance Program Memorandum of Understanding	June 1, 2022	June 30, 2025	CCCAP, Department of Early Childhood, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
OM-ECL-2021-0010	Instructions for the use of the Attendance Tracking System (ATS) Waiver	Dec. 20, 2021	Dec. 20, 2024	Attendance Tracking System, CCCAP, Manual Claim, Reimbursement, Payment
OM-ECL-2021-0009	CCCAP Quality Improvement Expenditures Through TANF Block Grant	Nov. 19, 2021	Nov. 19, 2024	CCCAP, Quality Improvement, TANF, Child Care Assistance Program, TANF Transfer
OM-ECL-2021-0008	Implementation of CCCAP State Tax Intercept Functionality	Sept. 15, 2021	Until Superseded	CCCAP
OM-ECL-2021-0007	Implementation of 7/1/21 Parent Fee Formula Changes	July 1, 2021	Sept. 30, 2023	CCCAP, Parent Fee, Formula, Rule
OM-ECL-2021-004	Child Support Exemption for CCCAP	June 11, 2021	Until Superseded	CCCAP, Child Support Exemptions, Good Cause, Counties, Child Care Assistance Program
OM-ECL-2021-003	Electronic Colorado Works Child Care Referral Form	May 24, 2021	Until Superseded	CCCAP, Child Care, Referral, Colorado Works
OM-ECL-2020-004	Additional Guidance on Child Care for School-Age Children	Aug. 21, 2020	Aug. 21, 2023	CCCAP, Child Care, Authorize, Schedule, Rule, School-Age Children, Remote Learning
OM-ECL-2020-003	Child Care for School-Age Children	Aug. 11, 2020	Aug. 11, 2023	CCCAP, Child Care, Authorize, Schedule, Rule, School-Age Children

Archived UPK Operation Memos

Memo #	Memo Title	Issue Date	Expiration Date	Keywords

Archived CCCAP Operation Memos

Memo #	Memo Title	Issue Date	Expiration Date	Keywords

Information Memo

An Information Memo (IM) provides important information for counties or other state designated agencies, that is strictly informational and timely. Examples include announcements of grants that counties may apply for, posting of a Request for Proposal, a canceled webinar or training, etc. 

UPK Information Memos

Memo #	Memo Title	Issue Date	Expiration Date	Keywords
IM-HEAD START-2023-0001	Head Start and Universal Preschool Collaboration Funding Guidance	September 11, 2023	n/a	Head Start, Universal Preschool, UPK

CCCAP Information Memos

Memo #	Memo Title	Issue Date	Expiration Date	Keywords
IM-OES-2023-0001	Administrative Disqualification Hearing (ADH) Waiver Update	August 28, 2023	July 19, 2024	Intentional Program Violation (IPV), Administrative Disqualification Hearing (ADH), Colorado Works (CW), Adult Financial (AF), Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Waiver
IM-CCCAP-2023-04	CHATS Release Training	August 7, 2023	August 7, 2023	CCCAP, CHATS, Training
IM-CCCAP-2023-0003	County Child Care Assistance Program Allocation Transfer Process	June 15, 2023	May 31, 2024	CCCAP, Allocation transfer, Buys/Sells, County MOE
IM-CCCAP-2023-0002	Colorado Child Care Assistance Program & Universal Preschool Colorado Collaboration Updates	May 31, 2023	June 1, 2024	Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, CCCAP, Universal Preschool Program, UPK
IM-CDEC-2022-0003	CHATS/ACSES Interface Changes	Nov. 18, 2022	Nov. 18, 2023	CHATS, ACSES, Child Support, CCCAP

Archived UPK Information Memos

Memo #	Memo Title	Issue Date	Expiration Date	Keywords

Archived CCCAP Information Memos

Memo #	Memo Title	Issue Date	Expiration Date	Keywords
IM-CDEC-2023-0001	CCCAP Rule Public Comment Period Notice	March 9, 2023	March 19, 2023	CCCAP, Rules, Public Comment
IM-ECL-2022-0002	CCCAP Impact of Child Support Services Application Fee Changes	May 6, 2022	May 6, 2023	CCCAP, Child Support Services, Application Fee
IM-ECL-2022-0003	County Child Care Assistance Program Allocation Transfer Process	May 31, 2022	June 30, 2023	CCCAP, Allocation transfer, Buys/Sells, County MOE

CDEC is committed to informing partners, communities and families of opportunities to participate in the development and revisions of rules or statewide implementation plans. Visit the CDEC Rulemaking and Rules Advisory Council website for meeting information, agendas, rules packages and opportunities for engagement and participation. 

Questions? Contact the Department of Early Childhood:

Phone: 1-800-799-5876
Fax: 303-866-4453
cdec_communications@state.co.us