Buckner Discusses Colorado’s Landmark Universal Preschool Program, Support for Child Care at White House Panel
Senator sponsored legislation to support the creation and implementation of the Universal Preschool Program
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Janet Buckner D-Aurora, took part in a panel at the White House today to discuss child care policy achievements aimed at making child care more affordable for working families, increasing child care provider supply, and improving job quality for child care workers.
Buckner joined state lawmakers from Kansas and Delaware to discuss Colorado’s landmark Universal Preschool Program (UPK) and support for child care providers.
“It is an honor to share the solutions we’ve been working on in Colorado to improve child care programs and support hardworking Colorado families with my colleagues at the White House,” Buckner said. “Access to quality early childhood education not only supports critical early development and future educational outcomes for Colorado kids, but also the very well-being of families and communities across our state. As we continue to work towards a better Colorado for all, our new universal preschool program will directly benefit families across our state, save people money, and set our future leaders up for success. I can’t wait to see how universal preschool benefits Colorado’s youth this fall and for generations to come.”
Beginning this fall, UPK will provide 15 hours per week of free, high-quality preschool to every child the year before entering kindergarten, saving families thousands of dollars per year on child care. UPK supports mixed delivery preschool options, prioritizing quality and respecting parental choice for where to send their child to school, while strengthening and supporting local infrastructure to best serve each community’s individual needs.
This year, Buckner sponsored SB23-269, funding one-time bonus payments for early childhood care providers participating in UPK. The bonuses will be used to implement UPK, or to maintain or expand infant and toddler care capacity.
Prior legislation sponsored by Buckner established the Department of Early Childhood and charged the agency with implementing UPK, improving education outcomes, and supporting families in expanding access to enriching early childhood experiences. Additionally, she championed legislation to implement recommendations from the Department of Early Childhood to elevate early childhood education and ensure that early childhood care is easy to navigate for all Colorado families.