2025-26 ECE-3 and ECE-4 Information

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 Universal Preschool Colorado, 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.

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood has announced that for the 2025-26 school year, families applying for ECE-4 must first submit a Universal Preschool Colorado (UPK) application, and the matching process will be completed through UPK (not through Denver Public Schools). Families applying for ECE-3 will submit a DPS SchoolChoice application, and the matching process will be completed through DPS.

Steps to Apply for ECE-3

Children who turn 3 years old on or before Oct. 1, 2025 are eligible for ECE-3 for the 2025-26 school year. To apply:

Submit a DPS SchoolChoice application by 4 p.m. on Feb. 18, 2025. We highly encourage you to participate in Round 1 of SchoolChoice for the best chance of getting matched to your preferred school.
- 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.

Steps to Apply for ECE-4
Children who turn 4 years old on or before Oct. 1, 2025 are eligible for ECE-4 for the 2025-26 school year. To apply:

Submit the UPK application by Feb. 3, 2025.

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.

Submit the 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.

The DPS SchoolChoice Round 1 window for the 2025-26 school year opens at 10 a.m. on Jan. 15 and runs through Feb. 18, 2025 at 4 p.m.

Questions?
Visit the SchoolChoice website for more information about the ECE-3 and ECE-4 application processes!