Rooted in Community
Rooted in Community
Report Highlights
Denver Preschool Program awarded approximately $22,000,000 in tuition credits to 4,472 young Denver learners in the 2023–2024 program year.
DPP invested $3,600,000 in quality improvement initiatives across 264 providers.
2024 Impact Report
Community Outreach efforts reached over 1.2 million people across 68 local events.
DPP reinforced its role as a national leader in early childhood education and program implementation through national collaboration efforts.
Gratitude & Welcome
To the Denver Community,
Thank you for the ongoing support and trust you have instilled in Denver Preschool Program (DPP). This shared commitment keeps us moving forward as we work to meet the changing needs of our community.
DPP was created by and for the Denver community, born from a shared vision to ensure that every child has access to high-quality preschool, regardless of their family’s income. Since its inception in 2006, DPP has remained a community-driven initiative, adapting to meet evolving needs through collaboration, engagement, and equity. In November 2023, Denver voters reaffirmed their trust in DPP by overwhelmingly approving our reauthorization with 78% of the vote—securing our ability to support Denver families and preschool providers indefinitely. As we look to the future, we will continue to listen, learn, and grow alongside the community that built us, ensuring that our work reflects the voices and priorities of those we serve.
To meet those needs, we remain rooted in community. To do so, we rely heavily on the insights of our trusted community partners, including local leaders, preschool providers, and fellow nonprofit organizations.
This year, those valuable insights led us to an internal review of our systems, processes, and technology to adapt to the needs of Denver families and the preschool providers we support. We are proud to share our new, simpler, and more streamlined website, created to make finding and paying for preschool easier than ever. We are also diving deeper into community data to pilot new tools and resources to better understand the complexities of childcare needs across Denver so that we can advocate for our families and providers.
Additionally, we know that quality matters when it comes to preschool. We are excited to highlight the initiatives we’ve created to support DPP educators and administrators.
DPP is grounded in the trust of the Denver community and the invaluable support you have provided for us for nearly 20 years. We look forward to another great year of collaboration and community to strengthen the early childhood experience.
Elsa Holguín President & CEO
Who We Are
Denver Preschool Program (DPP) makes quality preschool possible for all Denver families with 4-year-olds and qualifying 3-year-olds.
We are committed to strengthening and funding the early childhood experience, advocating for policies and programs that equitably advance early childhood education, and leading quality initiatives and support for providers.
Our approach is multi-faceted , grounded in community connection, and responsive to the changing needs of both Denver families and preschool providers.
Denver Preschool Program is funded by a dedicated sales tax first approved by voters in 2006, renewed and expanded in 2014, and permanently reauthorized in 2023
DPP VISION
Every Denver child has access to a strong foundation to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.
MISSION
Our Approach
To transform the futures of young children and their families by strengthening and funding the early childhood experience.
DPP
Making Preschool Possible
Our Foundational Programs
With the continued trust of Denver voters, Denver Preschool Program is expanding both internal and external efforts to ensure every child in Denver enters kindergarten ready to reach their full potential, especially those who are the most marginalized.
That requires a multi-faceted approach to address the geographic, financial, and workforce challenges that stand in the way of families accessing quality education for their children.
DPP’s core programming focuses on tuition credits for every Denver family with 4-year-olds and many families with qualifying 3-year-olds, making preschool more affordable and accessible.
Complementing our proven preschool tuition model is our unwavering commitment to supporting preschool providers . Educators are the heart of the preschool experience, bringing passion and dedication to their work every day. That is why we remain flexible and responsive, adapting to the realities they face and the communities they serve. Our ultimate goal is to equip early childhood educators with the resources, tools, and support necessary to run successful businesses, build strong teams, and create enriching experiences for every student.
Tuition Credits
DPP makes preschool more accessible and affordable for all Denver families with 4-year-olds and many families with qualifying 3-year-olds by offering tuition credits paid directly to the school of the family’s choice on their behalf.
This financial support is available to all Denver families who enroll in any licensed, participating early childhood education program, including Denver Public Schools classrooms, community-based providers, and family-operated child care home providers.
DPP distributes tuition support with a focus on expanding opportunity and access , prioritizing families facing financial barriers. We are especially committed to ensuring that children in high-quality preschool programs receive the support they need to thrive, helping to make early education more accessible and affordable for all. By the Numbers
TOTAL TUITION CREDITS
$21,721,747
DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVED
$9,264,000
The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is the minimum income needed for basic living expenses, updated yearly by the U.S. government and used to determine eligibility for public assistance. It varies by household size.
$12,457,740
$8,888,285
$3,569,460
4,472
4,105 367
Preschool for 3s By
the Numbers
DPP FUNDED IN PRESCHOOL FOR 3 s TUITION CREDITS
$3,569,460
TOTAL RECIPIENT FAMILIES
RECIPIENT FAMILIES IN INCOME TIER 1
108 RECIPIENT FAMILIES IN INCOME TIER 2
In its third year, Preschool for 3s has created a needed continuum of support for families enrolled in a community-based preschool program.
Based on two decades of research, we know that starting preschool at age three strengthens language, social-emotional skills, and overall school readiness, giving children a stronger foundation for success . Because funding is limited, DPP prioritizes support for three-year-olds based on household income to ensure families facing the most significant financial barriers receive the most help. By investing in both three and four-year olds, we are making high-quality preschool more accessible and setting more Denver children up for a bright future.
DPP Scholarship
The DPP Scholarship ensures more children can access high-quality preschool by creating additional financial support for eligible families.
Families receiving the DPP Scholarship pay zero preschool tuition , freeing up funds they may have otherwise used on preschool to afford other essential needs like rent and food. This scholarship fills a critical gap in the early education landscape , helping children with harsh barriers to access and opportunities be set-up for success in kindergarten and beyond.
By the Numbers
$2,173,416 DPP DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN IN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS IN THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR
361
Elevating Excellence through Quality Improvement
Educators are the foundation of a high-quality preschool experience, shaping the learning environment and fostering growth in every child they teach.
Their expertise, dedication, and passion create supportive spaces where young learners build confidence, curiosity, and essential skills for the future. That’s why DPP invests in a wide range of teacher-focused quality improvement (QI) initiatives , providing training, coaching, and financial resources to empower educators. Ensuring they have the tools and support they need, we help create enriching and rewarding learning environments for teachers and students.
DPP’s Unique Approach to Quality Improvement
QI at DPP
Our quality initiatives include the following:
COACHING
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAININGS
EDUCATOR SCHOLARSHIPS
WORKFORCE STIPEND GRANTS to raise educator pay
ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS to acknowledge commitment to quality improvement activities
FLEXIBLE STRENGTHENING GRANTS that programs can use for a wide range of needed resources
COMPREHENSIVE & FLEXIBLE:
DPP’s QI program aligns with the state’s Colorado Shines Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) to promote high-quality programs across a unified array of core topics. The program also gives preschools and educators the flexibility to utilize grants and participate in coaching and training based on their own unique resource needs, early childhood education philosophies, and areas of interest.
OPPORTUNITY & ACCESS:
Similar to DPP’s tuition credit scale, DPP also utilizes a targeted universalism approach for QI resource allocation . While ensuring all sites have the same access to a base level of coaching, professional development, training, and grants, DPP allocates additional resources through an opportunity and access lens to further support programs in lower-income neighborhoods and those serving a higher percentage of lower-income families.
2023–2024 Rating Scale
Denver Preschool Program utilizes the Colorado Shines Quality Rating & Improvement System (QRIS). The Colorado Shines rating system assesses licensed child care and early education preschool providers in five areas.
These assessments allow DPP to track the progress of our providers as they elevate their school experience. DPP’s QI initiatives help providers utilize the investment in professional development and training for their staff and create long-term sustainability with financial achievement awards that reduce turnover and strengthen the early childhood education workforce.
QRIS RATING COMPARISON:
QRIS ASSESSMENT AREAS:
Workforce Qualifications & Professional Development
Family Partnerships Leadership, Management & Administration
Learning Environment
Child Health
*Based on all child care and preschool settings in Colorado. Includes DPP providers.
of providers by rating score
DPP’s deep commitment to supporting providers ripples outward to create peace of mind for families. We are proud that DPP providers rate notably higher on the Colorado Shines quality rating scale than non-DPP providers state-wide . This means families can trust that a provider who is a part of DPP is high-quality and committed to continually improving student experiences.
Program Spotlight
WORKFORCE STIPEND GRANTS
2023-2024 was the second program year for DPP’s Workforce Stipend Grants , one of the newest QI offerings and a direct response to workforce needs.
The workforce grants are one example of how DPP is listening and responding to what providers say is really needed —in this case helping close the gap in pay for early childhood educators compared to K-12 educators. While it is a step in the right direction, there is a long way to go to create equitable pay for the early childhood workforce . DPP is committed to advocating for the important legislation needed to sustainably support the education workforce for the long term and to stay flexible and creative in finding more shortterm solutions to support the needs of educators right now.
By
the Numbers
TOTAL INVESTED IN QI RESOURCES
$3,600,000
TOTAL PROVIDERS
CARE HOMES
APPROXIMATE TOTAL GRANTS FOR PROVIDERS
$1,555,000
$630,000
$515,000
$410,000
Building Trust
In-Person & In-Community
Trust is central to DPP’s work in the Denver community: the trust parents have in preschool providers to care for their children, the trust providers place in DPP to offer flexible, real-time support to their educators, and the trust families have put in DPP for almost 20 years to help them navigate the complex system of finding and paying for the right preschool for their child.
DPP has worked hard to continue to improve families’ online experience of finding preschools and applying for tuition credits, as well as offering direct phone support to English and Spanish-speaking families through the help of our bilingual Preschool Navigator
By the Numbers
1,244,504
TOTAL EVENT ATTENDANCE
TOTAL EVENTS
8,777
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ENGAGED—75% FROM UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES
From non-profit organizations serving Denver families, including new outreach to immigrant communities through a partnership with Servicios de la Raza . PRESENTATIONS
CONVENINGS
As a Preschool Navigator, I act as a bridge between families and DPP. My goal every day is to ensure they feel informed and confident in navigating the enrollment process and in choosing the best early education option for their child. By working directly with families from diverse backgrounds, I also gain valuable insights into the barriers they face, such as language, transportation or even food. I help them to understand program eligibility, and navigate complex systems. I can share these experiences with the DPP team, which helps shape more inclusive outreach strategies, improve application processes, and ensure the program is meeting the real needs of the community.
Briana Gonzalez DPP Preschool Navigator
FEATURED EVENTS
Annual Preschool Showcase in January and two neighborhood showcases in Southwest Denver and Northeast Denver
Additional events included: Cinco de Mayo, Dia del Nino, Juneteenth, Dragon Boat Festival, Denver Art Museum Friendship Powwow, Mile High Trunk or Treat, Taste of Ethiopia, Colorado Black Arts Festival, & Denver PrideFest
Seven Stars Collaborative
Partner
Denver Public Library’s (DPL) Little University provides free quality early learning activities for thousands of children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Activities focus on enrichment activities beyond reading, like playing, singing, dancing, and more.
DPP has funded Little University for several years to support families who have chosen an alternative to the formal preschool setting.
DPP has been instrumental in making Little University programming possible! As our funder, we have been able to pay presenters and bring culturally relevant experiences to the library, when cost, transportation, and time might be barriers to families. Little University is one of the most rewarding, engaging opportunities I’ve had as a librarian because it actively seeks to inspire young children and create safe, fun environments that cultivate curiosity and connection.
Nora Stewart Children’s Librarian at Denver Public Library
Visit our website for DPP’s full list of partners!
Spotlight
A New Digital Home for Denver Preschool Program
In early 2024, DPP began a full overhaul of its website, with the primary focus of making it as easy as possible for families to find a preschool and apply for tuition credits.
This redesign aimed to simplify the process by reducing the number of pages and creating a more streamlined, user-friendly interface. The result is a website that makes navigating preschool resources and applying for support quicker and easier than before.
The new site also places a strong emphasis on accessibility, featuring an ADA-compliant design to ensure it’s usable by all families, regardless of ability. With a focus on clear navigation, intuitive layout, and translations available in 11 languages, the website provides a seamless experience for users of all backgrounds.
While our primary audience is families, we’ve also transformed the resources for our current and prospective preschool providers, making it easier for them to access the tools and information they need. Additionally, the new website serves as a platform to share DPP’s role as a thought leader in early childhood education , both locally and nationally, showcasing our commitment to advancing the field and supporting the growth of quality preschool programs.
DPP is constantly checking in on how we are doing and always there to support us.
Florina + Juan Silvas Denver Child Care Centers
Grounded in Data
Research & Advocacy
Since our inception, Denver Preschool Program has proven the impact of early childhood education and how it transforms lives, families, and communities. We continue to build upon nearly two decades of research with new projects focusing even deeper on the needs of families and the necessary shifts needed within the early childhood education system.
DPP’s Active Role in Legislation & System-Wide Change
HB 24-1009 Bilingual Childcare Licensing Resources: Improves the licensing process for childcare providers who operate in multiple languages, ensuring they have the necessary resources to meet requirements and effectively serve diverse communities.
In 2023 and 2024, DPP’s Board of Directors endorsed the following bills at the state level, all passed by legislators. Each one is specifically aimed at easing an administrative or financial barrier for providers and families.
HB 24-1223 Improved Access to the Child Care Assistance Program: Enhances access to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) by adjusting eligibility criteria, funding, and administrative processes to make it easier for families facing financial challenges to access childcare.
DPP Goes to Harvard
In early 2024, Cristal Cisneros, Ed.D., DPP’s Senior Director of Evaluation and Impact, began a fellowship with the Center for Educational Policy Research at Harvard University. With support from the Gates Foundation, the two-year long fellowship includes a capstone Strategic Data Project focused on better understanding the complexities of the preschool landscape in Denver, specifically the needs of Denver families with young children.
To enhance DPP’s ability to serve more families and educate policymakers legislators on the realities of childcare needs, the capstone project will investigate traditional measures of childcare access . Focus areas may include: comparing the number of children needing care to the supply of care, attempting to better capture the complex barriers families face, and assessing whether the available care meets their needs or is accessible. The ability to track these disparities will allow DPP to invest better in ways that support families more equitably.
The goals of the project include the following:
1
2
Policymakers at the city and state level will have a data-driven dashboard specifically tailored to the needs of early childhood education in Denver. City-level decision-makers will be able to use the data to better identify and address the unique early childhood needs of families in the changing landscape of Denver, including understanding how gentrification, rising housing costs, and the growing migrant population impact access to care.
DPP will gain a deeper understanding of the barriers to accessing affordable, high-quality child care and early education for lowincome, diverse, and other vulnerable families. It will also be equipped with a data dashboard to advocate for policies that reduce disparities in access to high-quality early childhood. This will help DPP refine its support strategies and service offerings for underserved communities.
3
Families will experience improved early education options that better align with their unique needs, including those with nonstandard work hours, language barriers, or financial constraints, leading to improved stability and opportunity for their children.
HB 24-1311 Family Affordability Tax Credit: This bill modified a tax credit to make family expenses more affordable and provide tax relief to families. It focuses on childcare, education, or other family-related expenses.
HB 24-1312 State Income Tax Credit for Care Workers: A state income tax credit that provides financial relief and incentivizes individuals to work in these essential but often underpaid sectors.
Progress through Partnership
Driving Impact Through Strategy & Leadership
Advancing the 2023–2024 Strategic Plan
DPP has made substantial progress toward its 2023-2025 Strategic Plan , expanding preschool access and strengthening early childhood education in Denver.
Targeted outreach efforts have maintained strong enrollment among priority populations when the city is experiencing a decreasing population. Outreach efforts include hosting bilingual community events to connect families with tuition support. DPP has distributed over $500,000 in direct stipends to educators to support the early childhood workforce and expand professional development opportunities.
Beyond traditional preschool settings, DPP’s research and evaluation team has launched a research initiative to better understand the community’s need for alternative pathways to early childhood education such as Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers . DPP has partnered with the Denver Early Childhood Council and the Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center with generous funding from Delta Dental Foundation of Colorado to improve child health outcomes for preschool-aged children. This initiative focuses on enhancing nutrition, physical activity, and overall wellness through evidence-based strategies and community collaboration in early childhood education settings.
Internally, DPP has strengthened its governance structure , increased community representation on its Board of Directors, and enhanced data systems to improve long-term impact. These collective efforts help to ensure that more Denver children have access to quality early learning experiences.
As DPP continues to implement its 2025 Strategic Plan , work is already underway to plan for the future. A new strategic planning initiative is in progress to guide the organization’s vision beyond 2025, ensuring that DPP’s strategies evolve to meet the dynamic needs of Denver’s families and early childhood education system. This forward-looking approach will build on DPP’s successes while addressing emerging opportunities and challenges in the years ahead.
Sharing Successes & Learning from Colleagues
When voters first approved DPP in 2006, it was one of the first municipalities in the nation to add local funding to support increased access to high-quality preschool.
Highlights
April 2024: Representatives from the Children’s Funding Project and various cities around the country traveled to Denver to learn about DPP in-depth.
To help other communities learn from our successes as they explore their own local funding models, DPP has hosted multiple groups of peer city delegates interested in learning more about DPP’s model. DPP has also traveled to and presented to many conferences and convenings nationwide to share our institutional knowledge and insights with the field. As more communities have approved their own local early childhood funding initiatives through various funding mechanisms, DPP continues to learn from their innovative programming and shared successes.
July 2024 (Cincinnati): DPP’s President and CEO, Elsa Holguin, traveled to Cincinnati to join national colleagues in learning more about Cincinnati Preschool Promise—a local initiative funded by a voter-approved levy.
September 2024 (Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon): DPP’s Vice President of Programs, Chris Miller, traveled to Portland to join colleagues in learning from Multnomah County’s Preschool for All Program, a local initiative funded by a voter-approved personal income tax on high-income earners.
December 2024: Watershed Advisors facilitated representatives from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and East Baton Rouge Parish Schools superintendent to visit DPP and additional local early childhood education organizations as they explore their own program.
Colorado Universal Preschool Wraps Up First Year
Denver Preschool Program is the city and county of Denver’s Local Coordinating Organization (LCO) for Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK), building on our longstanding success and streamlining the process for Denver families and providers. Colorado UPK and DPP tuition credits can be combined, saving Denver families even more on their preschool costs.
During the 2023-2024 school year, Denver families received an average of $625 in tuition support from Colorado UPK (and $1,100 for families who applied for and received additional support from Colorado UPK) and $657 from DPP tuition credits per month. That is more than $1,200 monthly and $14,000 for the school year!
“One of the many benefits of Colorado Universal Preschool is that Denver Preschool Program has been able to make our funds for families go even further,” said Diana Herrera, DPP’s Colorado Universal Preschool Program Senior Program Manager. “The amount of support we provide is spread over more families. A lot more families were able to get 100% of their tuition support covered because the funding from UPK, DPP, and Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, or CCCAP, can be layered together.”
Anecdotally, families were likely to afford full and extended-day care. Some families moved into larger homes or purchased cars as the combined funding from Colorado UPK and DPP provided them with more disposable income . Herrera also says the statewide attention and media exposure Colorado UPK created helped generate more awareness for DPP
“There are so many learnings from the first year and many exciting improvements ahead for Colorado UPK,” Herrera said. “And the end result is that many families will be able to afford high-quality preschool, which wasn’t possible for them before [Colorado UPK].”
Here’s a look at how Colorado UPK fared in Denver during its first program year:
6,341 Denver children (eligible 4-year-olds and 3-year-olds) participated in the first year of Colorado Universal Preschool for a total of $33.2M for Denver.
5,291 Denver children participated in Colorado UPK the year before they entered kindergarten (out of an estimated 7,231 eligible children). According to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), which administers the program, 73.2% of eligible children participated in Colorado UPK their year before kindergarten.
Number of Denver children who participated in Colorado UPK by provider-type:
29 home-based
3,557 district-based 1,705 community-based
Annual amount Denver families received from Colorado UPK tuition support based on hours :
$4,883.22 (for 10 hours/week)
$6,102.06 (for 15 hours/week)
$10,748.93 (for 30 hours/week)
2024 Calendar Year Audited Financials
data were sourced from out recent audit report of financial statements. Consistent with the last impact report, these are calendar year figures.
Staff & Board
DPP Staff
Elsa Holguín
President & CEO
Matt Jordan
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer
Eden Knapp
Operations Manager
Nayely Avila Program Manager
Irene Bonham
Vice President of Communications
Cristal Cisneros, Ed.D.
Senior Director of Evaluation& Impact
Diana Herrera
Senior Universal Preschool Colorado Program Manager
Chris Miller
Vice President of Programs
Geoff Murphy
Staff Accountant
Alexis Walker
Executive Assistant
2024 Board of Directors
Dr. Lydia Prado, Chair
Executive Director, Lifespan Local
Erin Brown, Vice Chair Vice President of Community Investment & Impact, The Colorado Health Foundation
Chris Daues, Treasurer Partner, RubinBrown LLP
Anne Rowe, Secretary Co-Owner & Principal, La Vie and Company
Andrea Albo Deputy Chief of Staff, Denver International Airport
Michael Baker President, Gold Crown Management Company
Nathaniel Cradle Co-Founder, Venture for Success Preparatory Learning Center
Anna Jo Haynes, Board Emeritus President Emeritus, Mile High Early Learning Centers
Zach Hochstadt* Principal and Founding Partner, Mission Minded, Inc
Keshia Allen Horner Founder and Principal, Mariposa Analytics
Jennifer Luke Executive Director, Early Excellence Program of Denver
Zaki Robbins Partner, Moye White LLP
Amanda Sandoval* Concilwoman, Denver City Council, District 1
Janice Sinden* President & CEO, Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Susan Steele* President & CEO, Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation
