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SUMMIT TUITION ASSISTANCE

Applications are closed for the 2024-2025 school year.  For newly enrolling children at a center or with a home provider, contact Michelle Mahoney at 
michelle@earlychildhoodoptions.org
for assistance.

Child care is one of the biggest costs for families in the United States. It is important to know what resources are available to help with child care costs where you live. 

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).

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FIRST STEPS TUITION ASSISTANCE

  • Age Eligibility: Participating child’s birthday must be on or after October 1, 2021

  • 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)

  • Annual household income must be at or below $210,000.

  • 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 annual household income capped at $210,000.

  • 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.

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For more information or questions, please contact Michelle Mahoney, Tuition Assistance Manager, at 970-406-3060, or email michelle@earlychildhoodoptions.org

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Summit Pre- K Program Ages 3-4

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.

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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.)

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For more information about SPK please contact Michelle Mahoney, at 970-406-3060 or by email to michelle@earlychildhoodoptions.org

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Colorado Child Care Assistance Program CCCAP

  • The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) is managed by local county governments.   CCCAP is an income qualifying program that assists families in paying a portion of their child care costs.  

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  • Residents of Summit County interested in determining eligibility should contact the Summit County office at 970-668-9160 or visit their website for more information.

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  • Click here to download an application.

 

  • Residents outside of Summit County should contact their county government for more details.

  • The Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) is funded by the Colorado Department of Education.  Children with various risk factors may be eligible for a half day CPP scholarship.  

 

  • CPP slots are available in the school district preschool programs, Summit County Preschool and Lake Dillon Preschool. 

 

   For more information about CPP please contact Kristin Sposato, School District Early Childhood Coordinator, at 970-668-1022 or email kristin.sposato@summitk12.org

Summit County Head Start 0-5 Programs

  • Summit County Early/Head Start Programs have no fee for families who qualify.  Families with children with special needs and severe disabilities are encouraged to apply.

 

  • Early Head Start and Head Start Programs provide comprehensive family services for pregnant women and families with children 0 to 3.  Full and half day preschool programs are available through Head Start for children 3-5. 

 

  • Early/Head Start applications are being accepted at the Early/Head Start office, located at 330 Fiedler Ave, #208, Dillon or call a family engagement specialist at 970-406-3061. 

 

    For more information about the Early/Head Start program or to get an application, please click here.

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