Apply for 2025-2026 Preschool Support to Lower Preschool Tuition Costs

It’s time to start thinking about applying for preschool for the 2025-2026 school year and learning how to lower your preschool costs through Preescolar universal de Colorado (UPK) and Denver Preschool Program (DPP). Preescolar universal de Colorado (UPK) continues to refine its enrollment process to make it easier for families to apply. In fact, they have opened their application in December, which is two months earlier than last year. Plus, the Colorado UPK application can be completed in minutes, getting you on your way to saving on preschool costs quicker.    

Steps for Applying for Preschool Tuition for the 2025-2026 School Year

Here’s how to benefit from Colorado UPK and DPP tuition support to lower your preschool costs. 

Step 1: Find a Preschool that Works Best for Your Family 

The first step in lowering your preschool tuition costs is finding a preschool. If you want to apply for tuition support from Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) and Denver Preschool Program (DPP), look for Denver Preschool Program listed under Financial Programs at upk.Colorado.gov. Nearly all DPP providers participate in Colorado UPK. It’s always a good idea to double-check that your school is included by ensuring your school appears on both upk.Colorado.gov y https://find.dpp.org/welcome.

For families wishing to enroll their child at a Denver Public Schools (DPS) preschool, visit DPS’ School Finder at schoolfinder.dpsk12.org to locate preschools that meet your needs. 

Need help finding a preschool? Use our How to Find a Preschool guide. 

Step 2: Apply for Colorado Universal Preschool 

Beginning December 17, 2024, families who want to participate in Colorado UPK through a family child care home, community, or center-based preschool provider can register for Colorado UPK. There are two ways for families to apply: 

• • Continuity of Care: For families who qualify for Continuity of Care (those who are employed by a provider or who have a child already attending a participating preschool), the pre-registration window is December 17, 2024-February 3, 2025. Families will receive a registration link for continuity of care directly from their provider. Families must select their provider as their top choice when applying for Colorado UPK. Families must accept their pre-registration matches between February 3 and February 10. 
  • Family Matching: Families choosing to participate in Family Matching (and who do not qualify for Continuity of Care) can register and select their top preschool choices at upk.Colorado.gov beginning on December 17, 2024.
    • FIRST ROUND: Families who register by February 5, 2025 will participate in the first round of matching and will be notified on February 24 of their match. Families must then accept or decline the match by March 3. 
    • SECOND ROUND: Families who register between February 5 and March 10 will be notified of their match on March 24 and must accept or decline by March 31. 

• Individualized Education Program (IEP) Direct Placement: Beginning in March through the end of the 2025–26 school year, Special Education Administrative Units (AUs) and school districts will request placement of students in accordance with their IEPs. Providers will accept matches within 2 weeks of receiving a match; families will have until the start of the school year to accept matches. From December 2025 through the end of the 2025-26 school year: When a family submits their application and is assigned to an AU, the AU will help place the child directly into a program.
• Direct Enrollment: Beginning April 1 until the end of the 2025–26 school year, families with children who do not qualify for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) can apply for Colorado UPK directly with the provider of their choice. 

Step 3: Enroll Your Child in the Preschool 

Once you receive and accept your Colorado UPK match, you will enroll your child at that school. Every preschool has a unique application and enrollment process so check with your chosen school. You may need to pay an application fee. 

Please note that families wishing to send their child to a preschool in a school district, you may need to fill out two applications (the Colorado UPK application and the district application). Denver Public Schools (DPS) SchoolChoice Round 1 application opens on January 15, 2025 at 10 a.m. and closes on February 18, 2025 at 4 p.m. Visit the DPS SchoolChoice website Para más información.

Step 4: Apply for DPP Tuition Credits

Once you are enrolled in the preschool then the next step is applying for DPP tuition credits. Denver Preschool Program offers online y PDF applications in 10 languages. If your child is enrolled in a Denver Public Schools (DPS) preschool program, the DPP preschool tuition application is included in DPS application materials, and your tuition credit will be paid directly to your provider.

Final Action: Take a Deep Breath 

Now that you have enrolled your child for preschool for the 2025-2026 school year, you can rest easy knowing they are on track with their education. You can also enjoy knowing how much you will save on preschool tuition costs from Colorado UPK and DPP. And, on top of that great news, you still have several months to prepare for the start of an exciting new chapter. 

For up-to-date information about applying for preschool tuition support from Colorado UPK and DPP, visit Obtenga ayuda para la matrícula or our Colorado UPK webpage. El Colorado UPK Family Handbook also outlines the steps for applying for Colorado UPK. Visit Escuela de DPS: elección for the most current information about DPS enrollment deadlines and processes.