Verified state guidance
Colorado Preschool & TK
In Colorado, children must meet their local district’s kindergarten entrance age to enter kindergarten. Colorado has no transitional kindergarten ("young fives") program; its public early-learning option for younger children is state-funded pre-K. The state funds Colorado Universal Preschool Program (Universal Preschool, UPK), a free pre-K program open to all four-year-olds regardless of family income. Head Start is available statewide for income-eligible families.
Key early-childhood facts for Colorado
- Kindergarten entrance cutoff
- Kindergarten entrance age is set locally by each school district rather than by a statewide cutoff date.
- Free pre-K options
- Free state-funded pre-K is available to all four-year-olds through Colorado Universal Preschool Program (Universal Preschool, UPK).
- Notes
- Colorado has no transitional kindergarten program. Its public early-learning pathway before kindergarten is state-funded pre-K (Colorado Universal Preschool Program (Universal Preschool, UPK)) plus Head Start.
Head Start and early learning resources
Find local Head Start and state pre-K programs: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/center-locator
State early education website
Last updated 6/21/2026. Always confirm current rules with your state education department or local school district.