Explore our Parent Resource page for information on tuition assistance programs and early intervention services to support your child’s growth and development.
TUITION ASSISTANCE
Feeling unsure of how to cover the costs of child care? Review these resources below to explore options and apply for child care tuition assistance in Summit County, Colorado.
Summit First Steps Ages 0-3
Summit First Steps offers financial assistance to families living, working and utilizing childcare in Summit County. The purpose of First Steps is to assist families with the cost of childcare so that parents can remain in the local workforce while their children attend childcare. First Steps is governed by a Child Care Tuition Assistance Board and administered by a local non-profit, Early Childhood Options (ECO).
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Description Age Eligibility: Participating child’s birthday must be on or after October 2, 2026
Child must be enrolled in a qualified childcare program. A qualified childcare program can be a childcare center or family childcare home. Program qualifications are:
Childcare program must have a childcare license in good standing from the Colorado Department of Human Services, and
Childcare program must have a Colorado Shines Quality rating of 2 or above (Current SCTA Provider List)
Household income must be at or below 180% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
Household assets do not exceed $225k (excludes primary residents, college funds and retirement funds).
At least one member of the household is required to work 30+ hours per week, for a business located in and serving Summit County
To access assistance for a full time childcare schedule (4 or 5 days/ week), both parents must work 30 + hours / week and have a combined household income under 180% AMI
Self-employed applicants must maintain an average income that exceeds their business expenses and must show that his/her taxable gross income divided by the number of hours of care used for the employment activity equals at least the current Federal Minimum Wage.text goes here
Summit Pre- K Program Ages 3-5
The Summit Pre-K Program (SPK) helps to make high quality preschool possible for all Summit County 3 and 4 -year olds. SPK is a Summit County taxpayer funded initiative. Early Childhood Options serves as the managing agency.
To offset the high cost of quality preschool, SPK provides monthly tuition credits to families who meet the required criteria. All families are required to apply during the annual enrollment period. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline. (The only exception to this rule is if your child becomes newly enrolled in a participating Child Care or Preschool Program.)
Colorado Universal Preschool
Colorado Universal Preschool All children in Colorado can apply for up to 15 hours per week of free, high-quality preschool in their year before kindergarten through Colorado’s Universal Preschool program. See More Information in the UPK Guide for Families.
Families may qualify for more free hours based on a number of qualifying factors, per available funding. See more information here.
Depending on the provider, families have the option of paying for additional hours if desired.
Families of 3-year-olds should contact their school district for preschool services.
Preschool-aged children with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) should contact their Special Education Administrative Unit (AU) before registering.
Early Intervention Support
We are committed to supporting each child's individual development through proactive observation and partnership with families. One of the tools we use is the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), a developmental screening tool designed to identify a child’s strengths and potential areas of need. This helps us better understand how each child is growing across key developmental areas such as communication, motor skills, problem-solving, and social-emotional development.
If the ASQ indicates any concerns, we work closely with families and connect them with appropriate Early Intervention resources to ensure every child has the support they need to thrive.