Denver Preschool Program: Tuition Assistance for Denver Families

The Denver Preschool Program (DPP) is dedicated to making quality preschool accessible to all Denver families with young children. Through tuition support and a comprehensive network of participating providers, DPP helps families find the right preschool fit and ease the financial burden of early childhood education.

Understanding Denver Preschool Program (DPP)

Denver Preschool Program is your local source for information about preschool. DPP offers tuition support to all Denver families with 4-year-olds, providing access to over 270 preschool providers. These include licensed family child care homes, center-based programs, and Denver Public Schools (DPS) preschools. DPP makes quality preschool possible for all Denver families with four-year-old children and some qualifying three-year-olds through a dedicated sales tax. DPP was first approved by voters in 2006 and renewed and extended in 2014. The Denver Preschool Program supports both family child care homes and center-based preschool programs by paying tuition support for each child directly to the child care program each month and providing a marketing platform for programs.

Eligibility for DPP Tuition Assistance

Denver Preschool Program tuition assistance is available to ALL families, regardless of income or immigration status, who live within the City and County of Denver. To be eligible for assistance, a 4-year-old must be enrolled in a participating preschool program in the year before kindergarten. Your child must be 4 years old on or before October 1 of the application school year. The application year must be the child’s last year of preschool before attending kindergarten. Denver Preschool Program provides tuition support to children who are older than 4 and not yet in kindergarten. Through our Preschool for 3s Program, we aim to equitably expand access to quality preschool for a limited number of children who turn three by October 1. This program complements our traditional tuition credit for 4-year-olds. Enrollment in the Denver Preschool Program is open to all families living in the City and County of Denver. When you apply, you must provide documentation of family residency at a valid Denver address, such as a utility bill. To be eligible for Denver Preschool Program (DPP) tuition credits, you must be enrolled in a DPP provider program. To determine if your preschool participates in DPP, visit our find a preschool search tool and verify the program’s participation.

Financial Assistance Details

ALL Denver families, regardless of income, are eligible for Denver Preschool Program tuition support. Tuition credits are distributed on a sliding scale based on household income, household size, the length of the day a child attends preschool, and the quality rating of the preschool program. When you apply, if income is reported, verification of one month’s (4 consecutive weeks) gross income is required for at least one parent/guardian reporting income in the DPP application. If more than one month’s income is submitted, the most recent documents are used for the calculations. You may also complete and sign a DPP Income Affidavit instead. Depending on your family’s income, you may be eligible for additional preschool tuition support from Denver Preschool Program. If your child and your family meet these requirements, your child may be eligible for additional funding from the Denver Preschool Program!

Confidential Scholarships from DCP

Confidential scholarships for monthly tuition assistance are available and are based on family need. A portion of revenue raised through DCP fundraising events is set aside and dedicated for this type of assistance. We also utilize personal and corporate donations for scholarships when available. DCP does not waive any annual fees. In addition to the income eligibility numbers utilized by the Denver Public Schools free lunch program, Denver Cooperative Preschool will utilize the DPS Early Education Tuition Estimates - ECE 3 & 4 year olds as a guideline for awarding scholarship funds. While DCP does not have the extensive financial resources of Denver Public Schools, and therefore cannot always match the discounts provided, DCP considers the discounts based on family size and income levels to be a helpful guideline that considers the cost of living in Denver more than the National Poverty Level guidelines. The families who seem most in need will have their requests met first. Funds will generally be awarded in the following order: 1) families that meet the National Poverty Level guidelines; 2) families at 150% of National Poverty Guidelines; 3) families that do not meet the National Poverty Levels but do qualify for the DPS ECE discounts; 4) Others. Older Preschool families and eligible Young Preschool families should utilize Denver Preschool Program funds first but can apply for additional scholarship if needed. Their application will be considered using their income level compared to the tuition after DPP funds. Applications have names redacted by the Manager of Operations.

Combining DPP with Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK)

Denver families can also apply for Colorado Universal Preschool (Colorado UPK), increasing their total preschool savings. Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) is a state-funded program that provides up to 15 hours per week of free, high-quality preschool for children in their year before kindergarten. Colorado Universal Preschool assistance can be paired with DPP tuition credits to meet the needs of your family. Applicants must complete the Colorado UPK application before applying for Denver Preschool Program tuition support if you plan to use both. Use this Colorado UPK Eligibility tool to determine what age your child must be to participate in Colorado UPK. Download the Colorado Universal Preschool family ‘25-’26 guidebook for complete details on eligibility and how to apply. Nearly all Denver Preschool Program providers participate in Colorado Universal Preschool. However, it’s important that if you want to participate in both that you make sure your chosen provider participates in both Denver Preschool Program and Colorado Universal Preschool. To search for providers that are offering Colorado Universal Preschool, visit the Colorado Universal Preschool search tool.

Quality Assurance through Colorado Shines

Both Denver Preschool Program and Colorado Universal Preschool utilize the Colorado Shines Quality Rating & Improvement System (QRIS). Colorado Shines is a statewide quality rating and improvement system used to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education programs. Under this rating system, licensed child care and early education providers are assessed in five areas, then given a composite score from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best. This score creates a foundation from which early childhood care and education providers can improve the quality of the services. Colorado Universal Preschool utilizes the same rigorous quality rating process as Denver Preschool Program, ensuring that families have peace of mind in choosing a preschool.

How to Apply for DPP Tuition Assistance

Financial aid applications for the 2025-26 school year are due February 21, 2025. Families who have participated in the lottery for the 2025-26 school year must complete the financial aid application and provide the requested documentation by the deadline to be considered. Please plan to have your tax return completed and available by the February 21, 2025 due date to be considered in the first round of financial aid funding. For families that enroll after the lottery closes, you can submit your financial aid application upon enrollment confirmation. After enrolling in a preschool, families wishing to benefit from Denver Preschool Program tuition credits can complete the DPP application online or by downloading a PDF form below. Based on the time of year of applying, families may also be able to apply directly with their chosen preschool provider.

Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Enrolling in a Preschool

Denver Preschool Program offers an easy step-by-step guide on how to find a preschool that’s the right fit for your family.

Find a Preschool: Visit the Find a Preschool tool and search by address, neighborhood, mode of transportation or other factors to find the best fit for your child. With more than 270 preschool providers participating in Denver Preschool Program, families have a variety of options to choose from across the Denver area.
Enroll Directly: Denver Preschool Program recommends that you enroll directly with your chosen provider first. Contact your preschool of choice about how to enroll.
Verify Participation: To determine if your preschool participates in DPP, visit our find a preschool search tool and verify the program’s participation.
Apply for UPK: Applicants must complete the Colorado UPK application before applying for Denver Preschool Program tuition support if you plan to use both. Families can apply for Colorado UPK support for the 2025-2026 school year directly with providers.
Apply for DPP Tuition Credits: After enrolling in a preschool, families wishing to benefit from Denver Preschool Program tuition credits can complete the DPP application online or by downloading a PDF form.

Utilizing the Tuition Calculator

Use Denver Preschool Program’s Tuition Calculator to see how much DPP tuition assistance your family may be eligible for to lower your preschool costs. DPP’s tuition calculator gives estimates for planning purposes only. The calculator does not guarantee specific funding amounts or eligibility. The Tuition Credit Calculator provides an estimate of how much tuition assistance you can receive if your 4-year-old is enrolled in a preschool program. It is only an estimate and not a guarantee. Our tuition credit scale ranges from $15,930-$169,520 in gross annual income. If you make $15,930 or less your credit is equal to the amount shown for an income of $15,930. If you make $169,520 or more your credit is equal to the amount shown for an income of $169,520. At this time, Colorado Universal Preschool does not offer a tuition calculator for families.

Additional Resources and Support

For DPP Bilingual-Spanish Preschool support, contact Briana Gonzales, DPP Bilingual-Spanish Preschool Navigator. Learn more about early childhood resources throughout Colorado. Formerly known as Bright by Text, Lantern offers age-appropriate tips via text messages for parents and caregivers focused on children’s development from birth until they reach preteen. The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) supports the care, education, and well-being of Colorado’s young children, their families, and early childhood professionals. Through a variety of programs, CDEC helps Colorado families access care and assistance for the early childhood experience. Check out the most frequently asked questions about Denver Preschool Program's tuition credits on our FAQ page. Join us at an upcoming event to learn how you can save on preschool costs through UPK and DPP tuition support. Visit a DPP Booth Near You!

How Tuition Support is Paid

Once enrolled with a preschool provider and notified of tuition support from Denver Preschool Program, you will receive tuition support paid directly to your preschool provider. Your provider will then deduct that amount from your monthly statement. Colorado Universal Preschool follows the same process, paying your preschool provider directly. We recommend that you first talk to your preschool provider.

Testimonials

"Our younger son will be in preschool this fall and, by combining Colorado UPK and DPP tuition credits, our monthly tuition will be down by about 40%. That’s huge!"
"I had two young boys who were able to attend preschool multiple years due to DPP. Without the support, we would not have been able to afford preschool."
"I am a grandparent raising my grandchild. I work full time, and the financial help from DPP was a life changer for my grandchild and me."
"We were really surprised we were eligible for DPP funding. Tuition credits allowed us to enroll our child in full-time preschool and meant we both could work full time."

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