Important Update for 2025-26

There are important changes to the preschool application process for the 2025-26 school year.

  • Families applying for ECE-3 must submit a DPS SchoolChoice application to be matched to a school.

  • Families applying for ECE-4 must submit both a Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) application and a DPS SchoolChoice application to be matched to a school for the 2025-26 school year. The school match will come from UPK. We highly encourage families applying for ECE-4 to submit their applications by Feb. 3, 2025.

Read below for more information on the application process for each.

Early Childhood Education (ECE)

Group of ECE students outside by the school playground smiling

Preschool, also called Early Childhood Education or ECE, helps young children develop mentally, socially and emotionally. The DPS Early Education program provides quality half- and full-day preschool at more than 80 DPS schools. DPS preschool programs are designed to serve all students, including students with disabilities.

List of ECE Programs for 2024-25

Colorado Universal Preschool

Every school district in Colorado, including DPS, works with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) to continue expanding its Early Childhood Education with an enrollment process for Colorado Universal Preschool, also known as (UPK).

UPK ensures that every child, in the year before they are eligible for kindergarten, is eligible for half-day, state-funded, voluntary preschool.

Children who are considered low income (defined as household income at or below the 270% of federal poverty guidelines) and have qualifying factors may be eligible for additional hours.

To apply for this funding, please follow the steps outlined below.

ECE student wearing a hat and smiling

Applying for ECE-3 for 2025-26

Children who turn 3 years old on or before Oct. 1, 2025 are eligible for ECE-3 for the 2025-26 school year. Families must apply for ECE-3 through the DPS SchoolChoice process, as the matching process is based off of the ranked list submitted through SchoolChoice (not the UPK application). Due to limited space, enrollment is not guaranteed.

To apply for ECE-3:

  1. Submit a DPS SchoolChoice application. Round 1 is open from 10 a.m. on Jan. 15 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 18. We highly encourage you to participate in Round 1 of SchoolChoice for the best chance of getting matched to your preferred school.

  2. If your student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the DPS Department of Special Education, complete the UPK application to apply for funding. If your student does not have an IEP, no additional application is needed.

Families who submitted the SchoolChoice application during the Round 1 window will be notified of their school assignment and any waitlist placements in late March.

Submit a SchoolChoice Application

Applying for ECE-4 for 2025-26

Children who turn 4 years old on or before Oct. 1, 2025 are eligible for ECE-4 for the 2025-26 school year. Families must apply for ECE-4 by submitting both the Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) application and the DPS SchoolChoice application. The matching process is based off of the ranked list submitted through UPK (not SchoolChoice). Due to limited space, enrollment is not guaranteed.

To apply for ECE-4:

  1. Submit a UPK application by Feb. 3, 2025. We highly encourage you to participate in the first application round of UPK for the best chance of getting matched to your preferred school.

    • If your student does not have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the DPS Department of Special Education, rank up to 10 schools in order of preference.

    • If your student has an IEP, the application will ask you to submit your application without making school selections.

  2. Submit a DPS SchoolChoice application to notify Denver Public Schools of your intent to enroll in an ECE-4 program next year. Select "Universal Preschool Colorado" as the school. DPS will support applicants with an IEP in selecting a school at a later time.

Round 1 of the UPK application is open through Feb. 3, 2025. We strongly encourage families to submit their ECE applications by Feb. 3, 2025, as this will offer the best chance of obtaining a seat at their desired school.

Important Dates:

  • Feb. 3 - Deadline to submit a UPK application for Round 1.

  • Feb. 24 - Families who submitted a UPK application during Round 1 will be notified of matches.

  • March 3 - Deadline to submit a UPK application for Round 2.

Submit a UPK Application
Submit a SchoolChoice Application
ECE students sitting on ground together laughing

ECE Tuition

Preschool is a tuition-based program. Denver Public Schools offers tuition assistance credits through the Denver Preschool Program (DPP), Colorado Universal Preschool and other funding sources. Your child’s tuition rate depends on your household size and income. Families are automatically considered for tuition credits when they fill out the application and supply all the correct documentation. If parents don’t provide all documentation, they will be assessed the full tuition rate.

Children are only eligible for tuition reductions if:

  • They are Denver residents. Non-Denver residents must pay full tuition.

  • Parents fill out the preschool application and all required documentation.

DPP is an independent, non-profit organization that administers tuition credits made available through Referendum 1A, passed by voters in 2006. If your child is 4 years old or in their last year before kindergarten, they are eligible for DPP tuition credits. Students are only eligible for one year of DPP tuition credit total. These credits are built into our approved tuition levels.

When a child applies to DPS, they are also applying for DPP tuition credits and do not need to fill out another application.

If you have any questions, please call Tuition Billing at 720-423-3698.

2025-26 Tuition Information - English
2025-26 Tuition Information - Spanish

Contact Information

For more information on preschool providers in Denver or for support with your UPK application, contact the Denver Preschool Program by emailing denverupk@dpp.org or calling 720-221-8500.

If you have questions about the statewide UPK Program, call 303-866-5223 or email cdec_upkcolorado@state.co.us.

If you have questions about the DPS SchoolChoice application, contact the Choice Hotline at 720-423-3493 or email schoolchoice@dpsk12.org.