Fall ECE4 families please read!

Posted January 14, 2025

There are important changes to the ECE application process for the 2025-26 school year. 

  • Those applying for ECE-4 must complete a Universal Preschool Colorado (UPK) application and a DPS SchoolChoice application, however, the school match will come from UPK. This is a change from the last several years when DPS made the matches.

DPS SchoolChoice Round 1 opens at 10 a.m. on Jan. 15 and closes at 4 p.m. on Feb. 18. In order to ensure families can submit their UPK and SchoolChoice applications, we recommend that they submit both by Feb. 3. 

  1. Visit upk.colorado.gov to complete a UPK application.
  • If your student does not have an IEP, make your school selections. 
  • If your student has an IEP, the application will guide you to submit your application without making school selections. 
  1. Visit dpsschoolchoice.my.site.com to complete a DPS SchoolChoice application. 
  • Select “Universal Preschool Colorado” as your school selection. Applicants will not make school selections in the DPS SchoolChoice application. DPS will support applicants with an IEP in selecting a school at a later time.

For help, we suggest reaching out to UPK as of now:

Online: Help.UPK.Colorado.Gov
Email: universalpreschool@state.co.us
Phone: 303-866-5223, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

****We’re a little worried about how the new system will be tracking and matching up our siblings. Could you please email Hannah (hannah_bickford@dpsk12.net) to let us know you have a 4 year old by October 1 and are hoping for an ECE 4 spot this fall so that we have an ongoing spreadsheet of all the siblings we need to make sure get in?

Latest email 1/22/25

For families to contact UPK for issues with their UPK application:

UPK Help Desk

303-866-5223

denverupk@dpp.org

Early Education UPK Office Hours:

·         Thursday 1/23 @ 2pm 

·         Friday 1/24 @ 9am

·         Monday 1/27 @ 10am

Join the UPK School Training Session at the times listed above.

Pre-Registration: Declines MUST be completed by February 3 EOD.  Any application left will be accepted to your school. 

·         December 17 – February 3: Pre-registration application window for families requesting Continuity of Care placements, sibling attending or child of employee.

·         December 17 – February 3: Providers will receive matches each day for eligible family registrations, and will be able to accept or decline placements.

·         February 3 – 10: Families must accept pre-registration matches.

Round 1 Family Matching: Deadline for Accept/Declines is February 21st.  No UPK priorities given during this round.

·         December 17 – February 5: Registration through UPK

·         February 10: First family-to-provider matching round runs.

·         February 12 – February 21: Providers review and accept or decline matches.

·         February 24: Families notified of first round matches. Families must accept or decline by March 3.

Round 2 Family Matching: Deadline for Accept/Declines is March 21st. No UPK priorities given during this round.

·         March 10: Second matching round runs.

·         March 12 – March 21: Providers review and accept or decline matches.

·         March 24: Families notified of second round matches. Families must accept or decline by March 31

Direct Enrollment:

·         April 1 until the end of the 2025–26 school year: Direct enrollment for non-IEP families directly through providers.

IEP Direct Placement: December 2024 through the end of the 2025-26 school year:

The application will guide the parent through submitting the UPK application without making school selections. 

What applications does the ECE student need?  

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