Find quality, licensed child care near you

Licensed child care in Colorado

Choosing child care is one of the biggest decisions a family makes, and a licensed program is the surest way to know your child is in good hands. In Colorado, licensing means a program has met real standards for health, safety, and quality — its space has been inspected, its staff are trained and background-checked, and ongoing oversight helps keep those standards in place long after the doors open. Beyond safety, a licensed program is built for how young children actually grow and learn, with caring teachers who understand early development and welcome you as a partner in your child's day. Choosing a licensed program gives your child a strong, nurturing start — and gives you the peace of mind to focus on everything else.

You might wonder why we don't prioritize Colorado Shines Ratings on this website.  It's because after years of implementation, CDEC has decided to move away from offering a rating system to implementing a quality improvement system.  That system will not be fully operational until January 2028.  Many programs who are very high quality, have previously refused to particpate in the program due to the high costs of engagement.  Quality under the old system was more of a snapshot than a true representation of the programs operations on a daily basis.  While many programs strive to provide that level of care on a daily basis, that was not always the case.  

Parents can focus on what programs meet their needs.  The state can build a quality improvement system that provides systemmic support in helping programs progress towards the highest levels of care on a consistent basis.  ECEA members care deeply about offering quality care.  They engage in advocacy to improve the system in every area possible.  That's why we know that a referral to our members is beneficial for your family.