Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 10:30 a.m. (Denver time), City & County Building, Room 391
The Health and Safety Committee, chaired by Council Member Darrell Watson, received an annual briefing from the Denver Preschool Program (DPP) ahead of its 20th anniversary. DPP leaders reviewed its history since the 2006 ballot initiative, permanent reauthorization in 2023, tuition support and quality improvement investments, and its expansion to 3-year-olds, with plans to expand further to younger children over the next 3 to 5 years. Council members asked about changing demographics, declining numbers of young children in Denver, family child care providers, the Swansea family shelter, and the partnership with the Office of Children's Affairs. The meeting closed with three consent items.
0:02 one because it's just fun.
0:03 It's there's nothing serious
0:05 about any of will come back to
0:07 this weekly meeting of the
0:08 Health and Safety Committee
0:13 with Denver City Council.
0:14 Coverage of the Health and
0:17 Safety Committee starts now.
0:29 Good morning and welcome to
0:29 the Health and Safety
0:35 Committee meeting on OCTOBER
0:36 21st was an OCTOBER 10th that
0:37 school back time windward Side
0:38 Health and Safety Committee
0:39 meeting bodies there a lot I'm
0:40 honored to serve as a chair of
0:42 health and safety committee as
0:42 well as a city council member
0:44 representing all of the 5
0:46 district, 9. We have important
0:48 briefing this morning on
0:49 Denver preschool program. But
0:51 before we roll into that, when
0:53 we have instructions by city
0:53 council members and I will
0:55 start on right. Good morning.
0:56 Diana Romero, Campbell,
1:00 Southeast Denver's district 4.
1:01 And good morning, Paula.
1:04 Cashman SEPTEMBER District, 6,
1:05 everyone said on it in content
1:08 as councilmember at large. And
1:09 I always do a double checked
1:09 online. Even though the
1:11 producers say, know what, just
1:14 want to make sure everyone's
1:18 on the wrist council me the
1:19 Get good morning, everyone.
1:19 It's an honor to the standard
1:24 is to present. And that's what
1:25 I do you're like, no, I don't
1:29 remember a good to see it with
1:30 Let's turn it over to our good
1:32 friends from the Denver
1:34 preschool Allison, to evolve,
1:37 turn your duty introduce your
1:41 team roll with the
1:43 presentation. Good morning.
1:44 Presidency of preschool
1:46 program. And I bottom, vice
1:47 PRESIDENT Communications for
1:48 Denver preschool program.
1:52 Thank Thank you. Thank you.
1:53 For the time today that we put
1:56 together that short PowerPoint
1:58 presentation where annual
2:01 report to Council and year is
2:02 spatially. Important because
2:03 what going to give you an in
2:07 just a few minutes but first,
2:08 a that preschool program. Is I
2:10 mean, they should be of that
2:12 was supported through a ballot
2:16 initiative 2006. This serve
2:19 children in part. And we
2:20 started we they preschool
2:21 program for 4 year-olds. But
2:21 since then, he's expected 3
2:25 year-old as well. Yes, a
2:27 reminder, we went to the
2:32 voters 2006, then in 2014 we
2:33 had up in your sunset
2:36 provision. But we would urge
2:39 24 And then I get early in
2:41 2023. Otherwise we'll have
2:44 been going to the ballot this
2:45 year, which really, really
2:49 glad that became permanently
2:49 reauthorize seen going into
2:51 anything like for a second. I
2:52 remind us when we started 2006
2:55 and on the job of county that
2:57 would mean we were not family.
3:00 We were learning had to do
3:02 ballot initiatives. We went to
3:06 the ballot twice before 2006
3:07 as we would try to figure out
3:08 how do we put that ballot
3:09 together? How do we ensure
3:10 that this is what the
3:14 communities asking us to do?
3:17 So what? You are part of
3:18 journey then we learned a lot.
3:20 And one of the things that we
3:21 learned that crosses one is
3:23 that we had to be very focused
3:23 that we could think views that
3:26 community to say the first
3:27 ballot we should be must
3:31 children and their families
3:32 extremely focused. They didn't
3:33 understand what he what the
3:34 money was morning. I was going
3:36 to be implemented. We filmed
3:39 with impasse the second time
3:39 we learned the talk about
3:40 early childhood, but we
3:41 learned focus enough. The talk
3:44 about preschool or a pod. The
3:46 fact that we were focusing on
3:47 the game gets children in the
3:49 year before kindergarten. So
3:50 we want extremely focus the
3:53 second time I don't think that
3:57 that voters told us is that
3:58 they wanted the have the
3:59 ability to track the money.
4:01 Exactly. The warning was
4:02 going. They wanted to see it
4:03 the community. They want to be
4:06 to be connected to
4:07 accountability and they wanted
4:09 to see impact that we want to
4:10 go the half with past with
4:12 that one percent margin.
4:14 through everything years with
4:14 That's why we had to go
4:19 the better 2014. And yes, the
4:21 7 mind we pass with 78% of
4:24 people because the voters one
4:25 of them, it how we were
4:29 spending and what the results
4:29 We start results went on.
4:30 Quite impressive. Thanks to
4:35 your support. The point get
4:36 anniversary of the open part
4:37 of the 6 mile mean plenty some
4:41 of preschool program. And
4:42 What we have created a
4:42 thanks to your support of the
4:45 investment resolve. It in
4:49 272 million tuition support.
4:54 Maybe 1150 students at work I
4:56 remind you that we want guys
4:56 h#
4:57 o#
4:58 helping find the
5:01 students as we do to support
5:03 the child care providers. So
5:05 we spent 41 million dollars
5:06 quality improvements to
5:07 childcare 20 million as we
5:11 started 3 year-olds 20 helping
5:14 families find preschool. And
5:18 we right now we started with
5:20 41, high-quality providers and
5:26 we have grown hold system 267,
5:27 high-quality providers 60% of
5:29 our students had them public
5:33 schools. And the item
5:35 community providers that
5:37 include nonprofit for-profit
5:38 religiously affiliated and
5:42 hope so in. This is that in
5:45 strain that the still nascent
5:47 and a lot of support. So I
5:48 guess funding the students
5:49 start and we have to make sure
5:50 that we have the providers
5:53 right to second. We also focus
5:56 on serving the ones that need
5:58 it most. And so we have a
6:00 tuition credit scale, which
6:01 I'm not going to show you
6:02 because he saw a lot of
6:02 information that you know
6:03 what? Let's But available what
6:06 should grant the scale is
6:06 you want to see it, that they
6:09 based on equality. Our family
6:10 income and the number of
6:14 children. So based on that, we
6:15 provide to each and you will
6:17 notice that the majority of
6:17 Finally, we 60 s up on the
6:19 screen. The 5 because the
6:23 60's, yes, opting out. But the
6:24 majority of support is cause
6:27 for their one and Ps 2 with
6:30 some support that happens.
6:30 I've been 3, 4, which
6:33 importantly, we have been
6:36 seeing reduction of those over
6:39 the years in given all the
6:43 changes happening them,
6:45 demographics. Yes, that we
6:47 being focused on serving out
6:48 to the communities that need
6:51 it the most. But we do provide
6:51 equitable funding across the
6:59 city. The bp. Focus quality is
7:02 out of Colorado Giants
7:04 program, Colorado shines is
7:05 the estate quality rating
7:09 system that goes from one to 5
7:13 and we pride ourselves growing
7:14 quality. So we pick up
7:15 senators a level one, which is
7:16 right? Just starting to become
7:19 a childcare center. And then
7:19 we help them. We support them
7:22 we grow them. I left I cross
7:25 the levels. And then as we all
7:27 know, it's not as giving that
7:29 is maintaining that we also
7:31 have to because every stop
7:33 changes that changes within
7:34 the organization. The number
7:35 one nation that impacts
7:38 quality. The teachers. And so
7:39 when stopped changes that the
7:41 organizations we have to
7:41 ensure that we have that
7:45 quality that we have to do.
7:47 These shows for that them. But
7:48 preschool program. 70% of
7:54 providers at level 4 10%,
7:57 level 5, is you see those
7:59 levels. We have very high
7:59 quality providers and a second
8:04 pair we have Colorado you will
8:08 see that 25% level 4, 5%, of
8:09 level 5. So we know all that
8:11 point with what we're
8:13 investing is providing quality
8:16 and we continue to do that The
8:18 quality improvement by the
8:22 numbers. 3.5 million spent. We
8:26 provide statement. Grandstand.
8:27 I think helping students are
8:30 helping teach, accept panned
8:32 training and then we pay for
8:34 the training and we support
8:36 him. Think the process. So we
8:38 don't mandate with pride
8:39 ourselves on him send the
8:41 program in that we don't just
8:42 tell them you need to do
8:44 teams, but then we help them
8:45 pay for what they need to do
8:46 in the sun in the street. That
8:48 does not have any extra money.
8:49 So they need all the support
8:52 that they can do with provides
8:54 strengthening grants. Well, a
8:55 team, the should grass, which
8:58 included like Killough
8:58 training access to coaches,
9:00 sat out support that they MAY
9:03 need. And 1.4 million dollars
9:04 that have been given to
9:07 providers in cats on 267
9:11 providers, 80, I had the ps
9:13 providers and 7 other family
9:16 childcare homes and 175
9:21 childcare centers. We know of
9:23 the body through that
9:26 community because we have the
9:29 ability to very strong
9:33 immigration. We have 100 kwh
9:34 that is being at looking at
9:36 students from the very
9:37 beginning. Actually have 5
9:40 evaluations going on right now
9:40 that them but preschool
9:44 immigration is going up even
9:44 program so that long-term
9:47 back over to finding we have a
9:48 shortcoming, nation, which we
9:50 do before and after the
9:53 program, we have a process
9:54 about a We have a one percent
9:56 evaluation toddler pilot,
9:56 uh and and we have an
9:57 which I tell you a little bit
10:02 more as well. We know that the
10:03 investment that we do a result
10:06 scene. Lot children. I can We
10:09 met a prepare for economic
10:11 success and lifelong support
10:12 that he helps lead the
10:12 economic benefits to the
10:13 community. Because every
10:16 dollar that we invest results
10:18 on airplane turn an investment
10:19 that right now, as looking at
10:22 multi but can be as high as
10:24 $14 per dollar invested. We
10:27 know that helps appearance
10:28 Shaw. What is one of those few
10:31 pro cast one esa to a
10:33 generation. That is because
10:33 helping the children will
10:37 the reasons why getting what
10:37 helping the parents. One of
10:44 we know challenges because I
10:44 signed isis claim best when
10:45 you cannot believe throw you
10:47 this Shifted them to about the
10:48 attack because we're not being
10:51 that parent and the child. And
10:53 we know that by investing in
10:57 young children were also
10:59 creating a community that
10:59 banner support a lot families
11:03 and especially families with
11:06 young children. We I into that
11:07 community commits out
11:10 principle to universal
11:11 including that we have a
11:12 decent credit scale. We have a
11:13 lot of partnerships that we
11:14 have in that community. We
11:18 have a small staff of 12, but
11:19 we have contacts with that
11:20 light of key people the
11:22 community. So we contract with
11:23 the council a member of
11:25 council. With that that
11:29 national I feel good high
11:32 provide the training, the
11:32 early learning so they help us
11:35 them with some financial
11:35 support. And also we provide
11:36 resources, do ensure that that
11:37 out so able to move forward or
11:40 center coming station. And of
11:41 course, because the coat that
11:42 quality rating system ensure
11:46 that we do have quality. You
11:48 that success stories increase
11:50 kindergarten readiness.
11:53 hearings tell us that the
11:55 level of satisfaction with
11:59 preschool program. We 95%.
12:10 That extremely high level of
12:10 satisfaction and they tell us
12:11 over and over that this is
12:11 this is what they love the
12:12 ability that how we serve is
12:13 how they want to receive the
12:13 support. We know the long-term
12:23 impact. We have they to I-4.
12:23 Want you to study that is one
12:23 of the large estate assistance
12:24 in that country. Only behind
12:24 the head start at the national
12:26 level. So we had the ability
12:29 to show that I'm children.
12:30 I've succeeding even as they
12:31 become adults and children
12:36 about Friday, a team from
12:37 post-secondary education. If
12:38 colleges, many of them already
12:38 they chose to attend four-year
12:42 in the workforce. I just
12:44 called him back or 4 years is
12:45 that we know that we have
12:50 generated million dollars
12:51 nc-ty ensuring that children.
12:54 I'm not repeating that grade
12:55 but they have the funding
12:55 available in. My was team the
13:00 family income. We one of the
13:04 beauties of him being a I know
13:05 a show that based on that
13:06 communities that we have
13:12 ability to pivot, the one
13:13 opportunities to additional
13:14 support in contempt so the
13:15 Colorado Universal Preschool
13:18 Program got started. We
13:19 consciously thought about it
13:20 made a decision that we were
13:23 going to get involved and then
13:24 we would go. And if you got
13:25 had get the maximum number of
13:28 dollars that we can them. So
13:33 we became 14, 18 organization,
13:33 which means we learned that he
13:35 gave me with families to a
13:36 shirt that they knew had to
13:38 apply for But preschool
13:40 program and they will help
13:40 providers to ensure that they
13:45 were ready to bring some of
13:47 the support that needed
13:49 happen. Believe last we're
13:51 45 million dollars. Universal
13:53 preschool funding because of
13:54 the involvement that we had at
13:57 the state level. I think it is
13:59 very important that as we
14:00 planned out of the smiley
14:02 results in additional support
14:05 to that community. Here's an
14:09 example of program. The
14:11 estimated monthly to show
14:14 gusting them or is 1644 f for
14:16 you all that tuition support
14:19 that we provide on average
14:22 basis. These 508 and the eu
14:23 began have to be 77. 627 were
14:25 talking average. We still have
14:28 need that. We continue to help
14:30 figure out how families can
14:32 support great You MAY recall
14:35 that 3 years ago we created a
14:38 scholarship. So in addition
14:40 tuition support for those
14:41 cliff effect, families were
14:43 able to bring the additional
14:44 find the body. If you're
14:46 wondering what a sick caplets,
14:48 funding sources, we still have
14:49 unmet need, which is what the
14:51 other funding sources coming.
14:57 Last year. Board we made the
14:58 decision that they would like
15:00 to figure out how do we would
15:00 like expand the work that
15:03 we're going to them burn
15:06 because we spend the year
15:07 going and talking to families
15:09 right after the pandemic.
15:16 Insane. What I did, the niece
15:17 of only child whatever that
15:17 means and need to be in place.
15:18 I want to make that decision
15:18 that over the next 3 to 5
15:26 years, they want to expand to
15:27 organization. We still have a
15:27 lot work that we have to do to
15:27 U.S. Air with the 5