Title 26.5, Early Childhood Programs and Services
0 chapters · 110 sections in this title.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-101 Short title
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The short title of this title 26.5 is the Anna Jo Garcia Haynes Early Childhood Act. Source: L. 2021: Entire title added, (HB 21-1304), ch. 307, p. 1846, � 4, effective July 1, 2022.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-102 Legislative intent
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(1) It is the intent of the general assembly that the department of early childhood shall work with other state and local agencies, public and private early childhood providers, head start agencies, nonprofit organizations, and parents and families to: (a) Provide high-quality, v…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-103 Definitions
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As used in this title 26.5, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Department means the department of early childhood created in section 26.5-1-104. (2) Department rule means a rule promulgated by the executive director as authorized in section 26.5-1-105. (3) Executive direc…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-106 Transfer of functions - employees - property - contracts
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(1) (a) (I) On and after July 1, 2022, the department is responsible for executing, administering, performing, and enforcing the rights, powers, duties, functions, and obligations vested before July 1, 2022, in: (A) The office within the department of human services that is respo…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-107 Final agency action - authority of executive director - rules
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Hearings conducted by an appointed administrative law judge are considered initial decisions of the department that the executive director, or an executive director's designee, shall review. If exceptions to the initial decision are filed pursuant to section 24-4-105 (14)(a)(I), …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-109 Department functions - operating principles
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(1) The department shall execute the following functions and operate programs and provide services associated with those functions as described in this title 26.5 and authorized by federal law: (a) Promote child physical, oral, and behavioral health and use multigenerational and …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-110 Unified application - child care, services, and education
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(1) The department shall develop and implement the use of a single, unified electronic application for families to use in applying for all publicly funded early childhood programs and services that the department administers. The department shall design the application to enable …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-111 Data system - collection - analysis - cross-agency agreements
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(1) The department shall work with local coordinating organizations, state agencies, local and tribal agencies, and providers, as necessary, to collect, share, manage, and protect qualitative and quantitative data pertaining to early childhood and family support programs and serv…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-112 Transition review - program review - report - repeal
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(1) (a) The department shall enter into an agreement with a public or private entity to act as an independent evaluator of the department's performance in executing the functions identified in section 26.5-1-109 and in operating programs and providing services associated with tho…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-114 Tribal regalia at preschool graduation ceremonies - definitions
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(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) Graduation attire means attire that a preschool requires a student to wear as part of the dress code for a graduation ceremony. (b) Qualifying student means a student who is a descendant of people who were li…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-117 Youth sports organization model code of conduct
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The department shall make available a youth sports organization model code of conduct policy that addresses the matters described in section 26.5-4-402 (1)(b). Source: L. 2024: Entire section added, (SB 24-113), ch. 196, p. 1197, � 3, effective August 7.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-301 Legislative declaration
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(1) The general assembly hereby finds that: (a) Public investments for pregnant women and young children from birth to eight years of age and their families fall behind investments for older Colorado children and lag behind national trends; (b) For the state's early childhood sys…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-301.5 Definitions
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As used in this part 3, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Commission means the early childhood leadership commission created in section 26.5-1-302 (1). Source: L. 2025: Entire section added, (SB 25-275), ch. 377, p. 2082, � 229, effective August 6. 26.5-1-302. Early chil…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-303 Early childhood leadership commission - duties
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(1) In addition to any other duties specified in law, the commission has the following duties: (a) To identify opportunities for, and barriers to, the alignment of standards, rules, policies, and procedures across programs and agencies that support young children and to recommend…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-1-304 Repeal of part
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This part 3 is repealed, effective September 1, 2030. Before its repeal, the commission is subject to review in accordance with section 2-3-1203. Source: L. 2021: Entire title added, (HB 21-1304), ch. 307, p. 1853, � 4, effective July 1, 2022. L. 2022: Entire section amended, (HB…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-101 Legislative declaration
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(1) The general assembly finds and declares that: (a) Local entities are best positioned to understand the varying needs for early childhood programs and services that arise in the widely diverse communities throughout the state; and (b) Each community requires leadership by loca…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-102 Definitions
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As used in this part 1, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Colorado universal preschool program or state preschool program means the Colorado universal preschool program created in part 2 of article 4 of this title 26.5. (2) Coordinator agreement means the agreement that …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-104 Local coordinating organization - community plan - duties
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(1) (a) Each local coordinating organization shall adopt a community plan that fosters equitable access for families to, and robust participation by providers in, early childhood and family support programs and services by increasing access to, coordinating, and allocating fundin…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-105 Department duties - coordinator agreements - review
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(1) To support and provide oversight for the statewide system of local coordinating organizations, the department shall: (a) Select entities to serve as local coordinating organizations in communities throughout the state as provided in section 26.5-2-103; (b) Enter into a coordi…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-201 Legislative declaration
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(1) The general assembly finds and declares that there is a critical need to increase services for young children and their families, including those families with members who are entering the workforce due to Colorado's reform of the welfare system, making the transition off of …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-202 Definitions
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As used in this part 2, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Council or early childhood council means an early childhood council identified or established locally in communities throughout the state pursuant to section 26.5-2-203 or 26.5-5-102 for the purpose of developing …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-203 Early childhood councils - established - rules
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(1) There is established a statewide integrated system of early childhood councils to improve and sustain the availability, accessibility, capacity, and quality of early childhood services for children and families throughout the state. The councils have consistent function and s…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-204 Early childhood councils - applications - rules
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(1) A newly established or newly identified council shall submit to the department an application to become part of the statewide system of early childhood councils. The department shall develop and distribute the application form and criteria and an explanation of the process fo…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-205 Early childhood councils - membership
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(1) To the extent practicable, each council must be representative of the various public and private stakeholders in the local community who are committed to supporting the well-being of children five years of age or younger. (2) For the purposes of this part 2, each council, whe…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-206 Early childhood councils - duties
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(1) Each early childhood council has, at a minimum, the following duties and functions: (a) To apply for early childhood funding pursuant to section 26.5-2-207; (b) To increase and sustain the quality, accessibility, capacity, and affordability of early childhood services for chi…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-208 Evaluation
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(1) No later than March 1, 2010, the department shall, through a request for proposals process, contract with a qualified individual or entity to prepare an independent evaluation of the system of early childhood councils to determine the effectiveness of the system in serving ch…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-2-209 Early childhood cash fund - creation
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(1) There is created in the state treasury the early childhood cash fund that consists of such money as may be appropriated to the fund by the general assembly and credited to the fund pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. The money in the fund is subject to annual appropri…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-1001 Definitions
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As used in this part 10, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Implementation partner means a state public or private entity that has experience implementing and operating nationally supported evidence-based, research-informed pediatric primary care programs. (2) Pediatric p…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-1003 Funding
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(1) The department, in partnership with the department of health care policy and financing and the behavioral health administration in the department of human services, shall explore funding sources to implement the program and the requirements of this part 10, including potentia…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-101 Legislative declaration
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(1) The general assembly declares that Colorado needs healthy and cohesive families at all income levels in order for the state to be economically viable. A number of families in communities throughout Colorado temporarily may not have access to the basic necessities of life or t…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-102 Definitions
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As used in this part 1, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) At-risk neighborhood means an urban or rural neighborhood or community in which there are incidences of poverty, unemployment and underemployment, substance abuse, crime, school dropouts, illiteracy, teen pregnanc…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-103 Program created
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(1) (a) There is established in the department a family resource center program. The purposes of the program are to provide grants to community applicants for the creation of family resource centers or to provide grants to family resource centers for the continued operation of th…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-104 Selection of centers - grants
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(1) The department may award a grant for the purpose of establishing a family resource center based on a plan submitted to the department by the applicant or for the continued operation of a family resource center. The plan must meet specific criteria that the department is autho…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-201 Short title
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The short title of this part 2 is the Colorado Child Abuse Prevention Trust Fund Act. Source: L. 2022: Entire article added with relocations, (HB 22-1295), ch. 123, p. 606, � 3, effective July 1. Editor's note: This section is similar to former � 19-3.5-101 as it existed prior to…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-202 Legislative declaration
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(1) The general assembly finds that: (a) Child abuse and neglect are a threat to the family unit and impose major expenses on society; (b) There is a need to assist private and public agencies in identifying, planning, and establishing statewide programs for the prevention of chi…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-203 Definitions
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As used in this part 2, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Board means the Colorado child abuse prevention board created in section 26.5-3-204. (2) Child means a person under eighteen years of age. (3) Child abuse has the meaning as provided for the term abuse in section …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-205 Powers and duties of the board
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(1) The board has the following powers and duties: (a) To advise and make recommendations to the governor, state agencies, and other relevant entities concerning the implementation of and future revisions to any state plan developed to prevent child maltreatment; (b) To develop s…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-207 Disbursement of grants from the trust fund - restrictions
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(1) Grants may be awarded to provide money for the start-up, continuance, or expansion of primary or secondary prevention programs, including pilot programs and educational programs for professionals and the public, and to study and evaluate primary and secondary prevention progr…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-208 Report
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(1) The department shall contract for an independent evaluation of the Colorado child abuse prevention trust fund created in section 26.5-3-206, as it existed prior to its repeal on July 1, 2027, including administrative costs of operating the trust fund and the cost-effectivenes…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-209 Repeal of part
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(1) Sections 26.5-3-201 to 26.5-3-207 are repealed, effective July 1, 2027. (2) Section 26.5-3-208 and this section are repealed, effective July 1, 2030. Source: L. 2025: Entire section added, (HB 25-1305), ch. 203, p. 923, � 2, effective August 6.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-301 Definitions
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As used in this part 3, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Facility means an agency meeting the standards described in section 27-81-106 (1) and approved pursuant to section 27-81-106. (2) Pilot program means the child care services and substance use disorder treatment pi…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-303 Repeal of part
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This part 3 is repealed, effective July 1, 2028. Source: L. 2022: Entire article added with relocations, (HB 22-1295), ch. 123, p. 613, � 3, effective July 1. Editor's note: This section is similar to former � 26-6.9-103 as it existed prior to 2022.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-401 Legislative declaration
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(1) The general assembly finds that: (a) There is an urgent and substantial need to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities, to minimize their potential for developmental delay, and to recognize the significant brain development that occurs during a chil…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-402 Definitions
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As used in this part 4, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Administrative unit means a school district, a board of cooperative services, a charter school network, a charter school collaborative, or the state charter school institute that is providing educational services …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-501 Short title
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The short title of this part 5 is the Colorado Nurse Home Visitor Program Act. Source: L. 2022: Entire article added with relocations, (HB 22-1295), ch. 123, p. 628, � 3, effective July 1. Editor's note: This section is similar to former � 26-6.4-101 as it existed prior to 2022.…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-502 Legislative declaration
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(1) The general assembly finds that in order to adequately care for their newborns and young children, new mothers may often benefit from receiving professional assistance and information. Without such assistance and information, a young mother may develop habits or practices tha…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-503 Definitions
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As used in this part 5, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Entity means any nonprofit, not-for-profit, or for-profit corporation; religious or charitable organization; institution of higher education; visiting nurse association; existing visiting nurse program; county, di…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-504 Nurse home visitor program - created - rules
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(1) (a) There is established the nurse home visitor program to provide regular in-home visiting nurse services to low-income first-time mothers, with their consent, during their pregnancies and through their children's second birthday. The program provides trained visiting nurses…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-505 Health sciences facility - duties
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(1) The president of the university of Colorado shall identify a facility at the university of Colorado health sciences center with the knowledge and expertise necessary to: (a) Assist the executive director by selecting and presenting entities from among the applications submitt…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26.5-3-506 Program applications - requirements
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(1) An entity that seeks to administer the program in a community must submit an application to the department in accordance with department rules adopted in consultation with the health sciences facility. At a minimum, the application must specify the basic elements and procedur…