Media Release

DENVER - Following the first year of the Universal Preschool Colorado (UPK) program last year, some changes have been made in the Denver Public Schools Early Childhood Education (ECE) enrollment process for the 2024-25 school year. All ECE families will need to participate in DPS SchoolChoice to be matched with their preferred school for the 2024-25 school year.

UPK ensures that every child, in the year before they are eligible for kindergarten, is eligible for half-day, state-funded, voluntary preschool. To enroll a student in one of Denver Public Schools’ ECE programs, families will use the DPS SchoolChoice process. Round 1 opens at 10 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2024, and will close at 4 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2024. Applying Round 1 offers families the best chance of obtaining a seat at their desired preschool program. Following Round 1, DPS will reach out to families to provide the next steps for completing an application for funding support through UPK.

Students who turn 3 years old on or before Oct. 1 will need to apply for ECE-3. Students who turn 4 years old on or before Oct. 1 will need to apply for ECE-4. Due to limited space, enrollment is not guaranteed.

For more information on DPS preschools, go to schoolchoice.dpsk12.org/ece.

-DPS-