5/8/25 ECEA Child Care Update
This week in Colorado Springs, the school district is advertising that UPK "has given families options to use state funding to pay for lower quality programming provided by less qualified individuals outside of the district".
Heads up community based programs! You better be hitting your social media with evidence to the contrary. Tell people in the community about the services you provide and how long you've been doing it! Highlight was is unique about your program and make sure you are sharing out statements from your families to counter the negative publicity!
Let's look at some of the things we've encountered recently:
Read the story but the gist is....a School Principal told staff to call an on call nurse instead of 911 when that health technician said he saw signs of a serious concussion.
In ANOTHER related story...one school in the Boulder school district called a mom on 4/23/25 and told her she should come to the school because her daughter "hurt her arm". When the mom arrived at the school she was alarmed to discover that the bone in her daughters arm was protruding from her body, no ambulance was called, no transport to the hospital provided. Mom even walked to the school instead of driving because they made the injury sound like it was nothing.
WHY are we bringing this up? While those were situations that involved older children the facts remain the same.
Let's look at the Colorado Springs School District specifically. Recent media stories highlight how kids had to be moved to a new location because the building around them was found to put children at risk. You can find a timeline for the discovery and response here: https://farmonaut.com/usa/urgent-colorado-springs-school-closure-structural-safety-concerns-prompt-geotechnical-survey-and-student-relocation/
It's simple. There is a clear disparity that exists in safety requirements between school district and community based child care and UPK programs.
1) School districts self monitor allegations of abuse and neglect.
2) Schools can jeopardize the safety of children with little to no consequence.
We are continually asked about the differences in licensing between community based programs and school districts.
In Child Care and Preschool settings in School Districts they can submit documentation that reduces "duplicative inspection burdens":
They must submit a form to show compliance with the above annually to avoid the above items being reinspected by CDEC.
Other Differences:
School districts can use unqualified substitutes from their regular sub pool to fill each teacher position for up to 10 days as long as they track the information and make it available for review, and do not have to have a large center Director onsite for each early childhood program if they have at least 10 administrative support elements 2.243.B.1.a-p.
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What about this social post? While School Districts scream that they don't have enough revenue this happens:
"Does anyone realize that the SVVSD retiring super attendant just received a $780,000 bonus. I’m a little confused. This is a public school, not a pro at school for profit business! He just received huge bonus for retiring, over twice as much of his salary.! Good gracious, this is outrageous. This is unbelievable. How is it that taxpayer money is being used this way? This is crazy. I am shocked ! Everyone should be outraged! Let alone teacher who are living paycheck to paycheck check to paycheck and current hiring freeze, budget cuts.. you can’t make this stuff up! "
Those are YOUR property tax dollars, etc. at work.
Rules Advisory Council (RAC) 2025 Appointments
Apply NOW to be a member of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s Rules Advisory Council! The Early Childhood Leadership Commission is leading the search for a few new members to serve on the Rules Advisory Council. This 15-member 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. We strongly encourage applications from anyone who is passionate about the care and education of young children aged birth to five, their families, and the professionals who support them. Learn more about the RAC here!
Currently, 5 members’ terms will end on June 30, 2025; however, members currently serving are eligible for reappointment. These positions include representatives of a foundation, business, or early childhood advocacy organization; institution of higher education; county department of human services; and a family, friend, or neighbor (FFN) provider. We encourage everyone who is interested to apply and share their unique perspectives! Apply by May 20, 2025 to be considered for this exciting opportunity!
Food & Supply Source is an AMAZING Partner!
There are some requirements though....
1) You have to be large enough to place at least one order a month. Most programs that are able to do so easily have 50+ children.
2) You have to have a place to store food. As a food supplier they have #10 cans, grocery store sized food containers.
Really, that's it!
What you get?
1) Can have free menu planning that minimizes your food costs by aligning with your food order. Meets food program requirements and is conscious of the season we are in too!
2) Perks for purchases!
3) National food sales rep that will solve any issues you encounter.
4) You may even have the same local food vendor, it will just be at a national savings rate!!
5) Sign a contract (new members only) and we will provide you with a FREE one year ECEA membership!
What are you waiting for? Fill out this form for an introduction: https://forms.gle/ZQVSm6cBFfCwDWba6
NEW Director for the Division of Community and Family Support
Dr. Floyd Cobb has joined the Colorado Department of Early Childhood as the new Director, Division of Community and Family Support. He will be overseeing the Family Strengthening, Early Childhood Mental Health, and Early Intervention Units in the Department.
Floyd is coming to CDEC after working as an independent consultant, where he supported leadership teams in their implementation of leadership strategies to foster inclusive cultures and drive measurable improvements. Prior to that, Floyd worked for almost seven years at the Colorado Department of Education, where he was the associate commissioner of student learning and the executive director of teaching and learning. There, he was responsible for numerous large-scale initiatives, including the Colorado Preschool Program, the Colorado READ Act, school readiness, special education, and the Colorado Academic Standards.
Floyd has also been an adjunct faculty member at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver since 2011. There, he teaches courses on education policy, power, and privilege as well as courses to prepare for the dissertation process. In 2017, he was awarded the Ruth Murray Underhill Teaching Award for excellence in teaching, which is given to one adjunct faculty member across the university.
More rankings here: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/colorado?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_denver&stream=top#state-rankings
PLAN TO ATTEND ON August 9th from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tell your families about it too! When you see our social media posts on it PLEASE SHARE THEM!
PLAN TO ATTEND ON August 9th from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tell your families about it too! When you see our social media posts on it PLEASE SHARE THEM!
Here's a GREAT Group activity!
The Rockies are celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week with a special offer for all educators! We’re trying to spread the word so as many educators as possible can take advantage.
- May 6th-11th
- Discounted game ticket
- Teacher Appreciation Lunch Bag
- $2 donation to TEACH Colorado
How is Child Care Funded from the Federal Government?
During Colorado's legislative session, the Bipartisan Policy Center put out this helpful explainer: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/child-care-and-development-fund-ccdbg-cces/ It shows:
SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS
We want your feedback! Use the form below to submit your comments, suggestions, or recommendations on the draft rules:
- Review the Proposed Rules: [Redline Draft | Clean Draft]
- Submit Written Comments before the deadline on Monday, May 19, 2025.
NEXT STEPS
After the public comment period closes:
- CDEC will review and incorporate feedback into the draft rule.
- The revised draft will be presented to the RAC County Subcommittee on July 3, 2025, and the Rules Advisory Council (RAC) on July 10, 2025.
- The rule will be considered for Emergency adoption on July 24, 2025, and Permanent adoption on August 28, 2025.
Membership is only $50-$300 a year. Centers can pay monthly if preferred ($16.67-$25 a month).
We know that you are working frantically on getting your program established. ECEA is the only Statewide Trade Association for child care and preschool in the State of Colorado. We can help YOU as a new provider to:
1) Know what is going on in the industry
2) Connect you with exceptional vendors for cost savings.
*Save 10-33% on Food and supplies over what you can get by directly purchasing with
food vendors in Colorado. Why set up food service deliveries that are going to cost you up to
$1,500 MORE a month? Start saving from day one by joining our national food network. Also, if you work with our partner, we will provide you with a free one year membership to ECEA. That means in the first year of business, ECEA's partnership can save you up to $18,300.
* We hope you never need one but if you do, Laura Hazen is the best industry attorney out
there. ECEA members save $50 an hour on her services.
*Save 30% on computer security software
*Save with Kaplan Early Childhood Company!
--15% off of current catalog prices of $100 or more
--4% Free goods certificate for classroom supplies for every $5,000 in playground
equipment purchased.
--2% rebate on purchases of $150,000 or greater (excluding playgrounds). More
exclusions apply so reach out for details.
3) Help you with advocacy in a way that no other organization does in Colorado for our industry
At ECEA, it is our job, every day to make a difference for private (community based) child care in Colorado. We are in state meetings so that you don't have to be. We don't have any state contracts because we won't allow our voice to be stifled because we are speaking up for you! We don't have grants, because our legal structure prioritizes supporting community based programs as a 501c6, which most foundations do not provide support for.
What we do have besides saving our members tons of money? WE HAVE IMPACT!! We need every program possible to join ECEA because membership numbers make a difference with state policy makers. This picture outlines a few of the recent impacts we've had in the past year.
