ECEA Child Care Update

A newsletter from CO's only Trade Association that supports community based care.

The Colorado child care industry stands at a profound crossroads in early 2026. Our latest 2026 State of the Industry report paints a stark picture: a sector facing enrollment declines, capacity gaps (with only 73.8% utilization across surveyed providers), and intense financial pressures drive...

Feb 20, 2026

2/12/26 ECEA Child Care Update

The CO Child Care Landscape is Shifting The face of child care in Colorado is shifting dramatically—and not in a way that supports families or the diverse providers who have long served them. Community-based and home-based child care providers are closing at rates that far outpace new openings, w...

Feb 12, 2026

2/6/26 ECEA Child Care Update

The 2026 Colorado gubernatorial election is a critical opportunity for child care owners and directors to influence policies that directly affect your industry. Governors shape funding for early childhood programs, licensing regulations, subsidy programs like the Colorado Child Care Assistance Pr...

Feb 06, 2026

1/29/26 ECEA Child Care Update

Bipartisan Push in Colorado Legislature Signals Brighter Future for Child Care Providers January 2026 – In a refreshing display of cross-party collaboration, a dedicated group of Colorado legislators is championing two complementary bills aimed at strengthening the state's child care and early ch...

Jan 29, 2026

1/22/26 ECEA Child Care Update

The Wealth Exodus: Why “Taxing the Rich” is a Short-Sighted Strategy for Colorado We are told that taxing the wealthiest among us is a “free” way to fund our future. But as we watch billionaires flee California and capital migrate to Wyoming, we must ask: When the tax base leaves, who is left to...

Jan 23, 2026

1/15/26 ECEA Child Care Update

Politics Matter More Than We Want to Admit I’ll be honest—I’ve spent most of my career actively avoiding politics. The endless divisiveness, the shouting matches, the way it pits people against each other. I also never enjoyed the behind-the-scenes calculations: wondering which rooms I should t...

Jan 15, 2026

1/9/26 ECEA Child Care Update

ECEA Issues Measured Response to Federal Inquiry on Child Care Funding Early Childhood Education Association (ECEA) Press Statement Denver, Colorado January 9, 2026 The Early Childhood Education Association (ECEA), Colorado’s leading voice for early childhood programs and families, today urged a ...

Jan 09, 2026