Denver's Head Start partners each started the year at $495,000. Now $6.1 million more is coming, and $27.5 million for family aid
With its committee meeting canceled for Veterans Day, Health and Safety cleared three Head Start contract increases by consent. A fourth, for Denver Public Schools, is next, along with the state's TANF money.
The Council's Health and Safety Committee didn't meet on Wednesday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day. Its agenda said "Committee canceled. Consent agenda included," and the city's records list all seven items as approved by consent (meeting). Three of them add a combined $3.67 million to Head Start contracts, and a fourth sends the city its share of federal family-assistance money for the year.
Why it matters: these contracts pay for preschool slots for low-income children through Denver Great Kids Head Start, the city-run program. Together with a Denver Public Schools increase filed this week and one approved in October, the city's delegate agencies are getting about $7.07 million more for the school year that ends June 30, 2027.
The Head Start amendments
Each contract runs July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, and is paid with federal Head Start money, according to the city's requests.
- Clayton Early Learning (26-1672): $1,487,602 more, to $1,982,602, for 160 Head Start and 22 Early Head Start slots.
- Mile High Early Learning Centers (26-1684): $1,976,340 more, to $2,471,340, for 226 Head Start slots.
- Family Star (26-1675): $209,373 more, to $704,373, for 55 Head Start and 12 Early Head Start slots.
- Denver Public Schools (26-1728), filed this week and headed to the same committee: $2,435,850 more, to $2,930,850, for 350 Head Start slots.
What our records add: the $495,000 pattern
All four contracts, and the Catholic Charities contract the Council approved in October (our story), started the program year at exactly $495,000. That's just under the $500,000 level at which Denver contracts need Council approval. The rest of each year's money comes later, by amendment, which does go to the Council.
The requests don't explain the starting amount. With these increases, the five delegate contracts total about $9.54 million for the year, covering 899 Head Start and 54 Early Head Start slots.
The TANF agreement: $27.5 million
The committee also cleared 26-1695, which adds $27,543,885.22 to Denver Human Services' agreement with the state for the Colorado Works program, the state's version of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. State law requires an annual performance contract with each county, according to the request. The original agreement for the state fiscal year that began July 1 had no dollar amount; this amendment adds the funding.
Also approved by consent
- Healthy Food for Denver's Kids: $730,203.28 through July 2029 for GES Coalition, in District 9, for food and food education for youth (26-1677). The program is paid for by a sales tax voters approved in 2018 (our earlier story on the program).
- Hazardous materials: two-year extensions, to Jan. 17, 2029, for ET Technologies (26-1681) and Environmental Hazmat Services (26-1682), with no added money.
Context: the mayor's child care push
Mayor Mike Johnston has said Denver could launch a universal child care pilot as soon as August 2027, Denverite reported. Head Start is separate and federally funded, but its slots are part of the same early-childhood system.
What's next
The consent items go to the Mayor-Council meeting and then to a full Council agenda. Any member can ask for a separate vote.