Denver Preschool Program Turns 20!

Twenty years ago, the Denver community made a commitment to the city’s littlest learners. With their votes, they created a tax-funded initiative that made preschool possible for every Denver family. 

Today, we celebrate two decades of success as Denver Preschool Program (DPP) continues our pursuit of ensuring every child in Denver has a strong start with accessible and affordable high quality preschool. 

What started as an investment in making preschool possible for 4-year-olds has now expanded into programs for 3-year-olds, full scholarship opportunities, professional development and coaching for educators and an extensive network of community outreach and support. 

Since our creation in 2006, DPP has:

• Helped more than 82,000 children access quality early childhood education 
• Distributed more than $204 million in tuition support to Denver families 
• Invested more than $33 million through quality improvement initiatives, coaching and professional development to strengthen the quality of early childhood education in all corners of the city

But the numbers are only part of the story. For DPP, the true impact is understood family by family, classroom by classroom, student by student. 

• It’s thousands of children experiencing preschool for the first time. 
• It’s parents finding a school that they love, that matches their culture and beliefs and that they can afford. 
• It’s educators receiving resources and support to make their students; experiences stronger. 
• Finally, it is a community that has continued to invest in the belief that a child’s earliest years can shape their future.

“Denver has served as a model for what happens when a community invests in the future of children and thoughtfully creates a dynamic structure and team to see it through. The impact of DPP belongs to this entire community, ” said Elsa Holguín, President and CEO of Denver Preschool Program. “We are grateful to the families who have trusted us, the educators who have dedicated their lives to early education, the partners who have worked alongside us and the Denver voters who believed in this vision. We are proud of our legacy, and we are also excited about what we are going to continue to build together as DPP and this community evolve.” 

As DPP marks our 20th anniversary, we invite the entire community to celebrate the people, stories and milestones that have shaped the incredible journey of early education in Denver. We celebrate with you and look forward to continued progress during the decades ahead. Explore 20 years of DPP stories, impact and milestones at anniversary.dpp.org.