Preschool FAQs

  • Decades of research show that preschool promotes school success, leads to better jobs and even prevents crime. While the benefits appear to be greatest for children at-risk for school failure, preschool benefits all children regardless of their economic status.
  • DPP partners with more than 250 licensed, quality-rated preschool providers to improve the quality of early childhood education programs in Denver including child care homes, community-based centers, and Denver Public Schools locations.
  • No. DPP is not a preschool program. Use our Find a Denver Preschool search tool to explore your options and contact the school directly to enroll.
  • The Colorado Shines Quality Rating & Improvement System (QRIS) creates a path to quality improvement for providers. Licensed child care and early education providers are assessed in five areas, then given a composite score from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best. This score creates a foundation from which early childhood care and education providers can improve the quality of the services to better serve children and their families.
  • DPP provides financial support to its more than 250 licensed preschool partners to offset the cost of programming and obtaining state-approved quality ratings. Additionally, DPP offers early childhood educators access to professional development opportunities to help strengthen teacher-child interactions, which DPP believes play an important role in the academic and social-emotional development of children. Since 2007, DPP has invested nearly $22 million in quality ratings and quality improvements in Denver preschools.
  • DPP has created a 5 step guide to assist parents and guardians in selecting the best preschool for their child. Read about how to choose a preschool.