Demographics Link copied!

State population

5,839,926 Source U.S. Census, 2022

Rural %

14.0% Source U.S. Census, 2020

Urban %

86.0% Source U.S. Census, 2020

Number of children age 0-4

313,160 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Poverty levels – children 0-8 below 200% poverty

30% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Median family income among households with children

$102,300.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Unemployment rate

3.3% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2022

Unemployment rate of parents

5% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force

65% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Children living in households with a high housing cost burden

30% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Child population by race and ethnicity

  • American Indian and Alaska Native (1%)
  • Asian (3%)
  • Black or African American (4%)
  • Hispanic or Latino (32%)
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (.5%)
  • Two or More Races (5%)
  • White, not Hispanic or Latino (55%)

Political Landscape Link copied!

Year20232022202120202019
GovernorDDDDD
HouseDDDDD
SenateDDDDD
Source: Ballotpedia 2023

Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!

Public pre-K program name

Universal Preschool Colorado Source: NIEER 2023

Universal or targeted pre-K policy

Transitioning from Targeted to Universal Pre-K Policy (4-year-olds) Source: NIEER 2023

Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023

Programs

  • 3-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (8%)
  • 3-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (6%)
  • Other/none (86%)
Download This Chart

Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023

Programs

  • 4-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (24%)
  • 4-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (6%)
  • Other/none (70%)
Download This Chart

Workforce Link copied!

2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020

Role

  • Child care workers
  • Preschool teachers
  • Preschool or child care center directors
Download This Chart

Funding Sources Link copied!

Federal and State Early Childhood Education Funding (in millions)

  • Head Start and Early Head Start Funding ($115.4)
  • CCDBG & Mandatory Funds ($105.6)
  • CCDBG State Match ($22.1)
  • CCDBG COVID Relief Allocations – CARES, CRRSE, ARPA (CCDF & Stabilization) ($626.5)
  • State-Funded Pre-K ($56.6)
  • MIECHV ($7.7)
  • IDEA Part C ($11.1)
  • IDEA Part B, Sec 619 ($7.9)
  • TANF Early Learning and Care Expenditures ($106.4)
  • Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five ($14.5)

Funding acronyms: CCDBG: Child Care and Development Block Grant; CARES Act: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; CRRSE Act: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations; ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act; CCDF: Child Care and Development Fund; MIECHV: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

The COVID Funding Cliff

All federal COVID relief allocations, including funding authorized by the CARES, CRRSE, and ARPA bills, must be fully spent by September 2024. An analysis from the Century Foundation shows this loss of funds could cause more than 3 million children to lose access to child care nationwide – including more than 83,000 children in Colorado.