Bipartisan Ginal Bill to Expand Bilingual Early Childhood Programs Clears Committee

DENVER, CO – A bipartisan bill sponsored by Senator Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins, that would make early childhood education in Colorado more inclusive and accessible cleared the Senate Education Committee today.

HB24-1009, also sponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, would expand bilingual early childhood programs and facilities with a new bilingual licensing unit in the Department of Early Childhood.

“Every Colorado family deserves access to high-quality, affordable early childhood education, but those resources aren’t available to every family who needs them,” Ginal said. “This bill will help improve bilingual outreach to help Spanish-speaking providers get licensed, which will make our early childhood system more accessible and inclusive. Bilingual early childhood programs will help children grow and learn, and give more families access to the early childhood services they deserve.”

The bill would expand licensed child care options across the state by improving outreach and helping Spanish-speaking providers get licensed, while providing more linguistically relevant child care options for children and families. 

HB24-1009 will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.