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Aurora committee moves to approve Universal Preschool IGA with Colorado Department of Early Childhood
Summary
The committee voted to advance an intergovernmental agreement with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood for the Universal Preschool (UPK) Provider Agreement for 2025–2026; staff said the program will operate at four city sites and plans 170 UPK slots plus 48 tuition slots.
The Parks Foundation and Quality of Life Committee advanced a resolution to approve an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the City of Aurora and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood for the Universal Preschool (UPK) Provider Agreement for the 2025–2026 program year.
Donna (staff member) presented the UPK IGA and described it as the annual IGA between the Office of Early Childhood and the City of Aurora. She said the state program follows a House bill requiring preschool hours for 4-year-olds; Aurora will deliver mixed-provider programming and maintain licensed sites. For 2025 the city plans to operate UPK at four locations — Lowry (expanding after Beck closure), Summer Valley, Village Green and Meadowood — and described slot planning as “fluid” depending on community need.
Donna told the committee the city served about 250 preschoolers across all programs this year and about 200 in summer programs; free preschool served 173 students. She reported revenue of approximately $948,000 and expenses of $1,000,266 for city preschool operations this year, and said all five city preschool sites received a Level 5 rating from Colorado Shines. For 2025–2026 the city plans 170 UPK slots and 48 tuition slots (the tuition slots would serve three-year-olds or four-year-olds seeking full-day placement beyond the state-provided hours).
Committee members asked for additional detail on tuition levels. “So the what at this point are the tuition levels, for folks that are applying for the programs or for or participating in the programs?” Council member Coombs asked. Donna said tuition varies by daily/hour model (2.5, 2.75, 3.5 and 7.5-hour tiers) and offered to provide specific rates to members.
Members verbally supported advancing the IGA. One committee member who said they have worked in early childhood education affirmed staff work and supported moving the agreement forward. The transcript records no formal roll-call tally; the committee’s action was to forward the IGA for approval as presented.
Why it matters: The IGA secures state funding and sets slot allocations and delivery for Aurora’s UPK program; staff emphasized licensed mixed-delivery slots and high Colorado Shines ratings across city sites.
