Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program Lacks Quality Standards Despite High Enrollment

Colorado has successfully expanded access to state-funded preschool for four-year-olds, with nearly 70% of eligible children enrolled in the Universal Preschool program, according to a recent report by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University. This remarkable enrollment figure has propelled Colorado from a previous rank of 27th to 3rd nationally, trailing only Washington D.C. and Vermont in preschool participation. The state served over 52,000 children, marking a significant increase from the previous Colorado Preschool Program, underscoring the commitment to enhance early childhood education access. However, the report reveals a critical shortfall: Colorado only meets two of the ten quality benchmarks set by NIEER, a drop from four in prior analyses. These benchmarks, which evaluate crucial elements such as teacher training, class size, and curriculum guidelines, reflect the state's compromise on quality in favor of rapid expansion. Critics, including W. Steven Barnett, senior co-director of NIEER, express concerns that delaying the implementation of quality standards until July 2026—reported as the third postponement—undermines the foundational promise of providing high-quality educational environments for young children. Despite state officials' claims that quality improvements are underway, the program's current framework lacks sufficient guardrails to ensure that all participating preschools meet rigorous quality standards. The term 'universal preschool' may imply broad access, but it does not guarantee a consistent level of educational quality, which is notably varied among the 2,000 preschools involved. This mismatch raises alarms for child development experts who warn that the quality of preschool education is a determinant of children’s long-term success. Officials at the Colorado Department of Early Childhood acknowledge the challenges but stress that the focus is on outcomes rather than just compliance with benchmarks. As the program matures and new quality guidelines are phased in, stakeholders emphasize the necessity of maintaining quality access while scaling enrollment. Nonetheless, experts caution parents to remain discerning about the education options they choose, given the risk associated with transitioning children from higher-quality programs to lower-quality ones simply for the sake of state funding eligibility. Overall, while Colorado's achievements in expanding preschool access are commendable, significant work remains to be done to ensure that quality is not sacrificed in the process, particularly as children’s early experiences profoundly shape their future trajectories.