Subject to available appropriations, there is hereby created in the state department the Colorado infant and toddler quality and availability grant program. Grants are awarded through the Colorado shines system to improve quality in licensed infant and toddler care and increase the number of low-income infants and toddlers served through high-quality early childhood education programs, as well as promote voluntary family partnerships, as determined for the Colorado shines system. A program is considered "high-quality" if it is rated in the top three levels of the state's Colorado shines system. Early childhood councils may apply for money through the state department, which administers the program as part of the Colorado shines system. An early childhood education program that is within the service area of an early childhood council may apply to the early childhood council for money that would allow the program to increase the number of infants and toddlers living in low-income families served through high-quality early childhood education programs.
Source: L. 2013: Entire article added, (HB 13-1291), ch. 363, p. 2120, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2018: Entire section amended, (SB 18-099), ch. 90, p. 725, § 6, effective August 8.