Latest news with #ColoradoDepartmentofEarlyChildhood
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands of families could lose childcare, impacting economy, education
DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) in Colorado helps families afford safe, quality childcare. Families below the poverty line can qualify for subsidized childcare provided by the government as long as they're working, trying to find work or furthering their education. Tornado touches down in northern Colorado: 1 report of building damage Federal changes, under the Biden administration, are now shrinking the number of families that can get help. CCCAP is available for low-income families with children from birth to age 13. Families then have continuous eligibility. So, once a family is eligible for CCCAP, they stay eligible as long as their income stays under 85% of the state median income and they're in one of those eligible activities. Previously, 30,000 families were able to use the program. Now, new changes require enrollment-based pay versus attendance-based. Right now, providers are only paid when a child shows up. This means that childcare providers will get paid a higher amount, they say more accurately, covering the cost of care. Family co-payments have been capped out at about 10% of a family's income, and the new federal mandate will require a cap at about 7% of a family's income. It's a cost of $70 million in order for the state to serve the same number of children they were previously serving. A three-to-five-year enrollment freeze is taking effect across the state. Right now, it costs the state on average $6,600 per child per year, that's going up to $18,000. The Colorado Department of Early Childhood said they will have to drop 64% of their kids they serve, and more than 10,000 families will lose their access to these benefits. They state said this change is necessary to absorb those new costs without any additional money coming into the program. Providers believe it will be devastating. 'Serving less children in this program has a huge ripple effect for Colorado. Not only is it affecting our providers and most importantly, our families, but it's affecting our economy as well. If those parents can't go to work or further their education, that is a real drain on our economy and an opportunity lost,' said Sarah Dawson, CCCAP division director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. All of these new federal rules will go into effect August 1, 2026. Dawson said a child stays in CCCAP for about three years, so counties have to budget about three years in advance, which is why CCCAP freezes are taking place state-wide right now, even though the increase in cost is not happening until 2026. Families who are currently receiving CCCAP should stay on top of those redetermination deadlines to stay in the program. The cuts are mainly impacting new families that are trying to get access to CCCAP, many of them are getting on a waitlist or don't have access at all. This is impacting new, young parents. These cuts are especially worrisome to Steven Bartholomew, the executive director of New Legacy Charter School. New Legacy provides teen parents with free childcare while the student is getting their high school diploma. 'Your life isn't over': Aurora school helps teen parents graduate 'What I'm concerned about with CCCAP is the fact that we have a generation that will be affected negatively, very similar to the pandemic generation. We see the effects of that,' said Steven Bartholomew, the executive director of New Legacy Charter School. 'The same thing is going to happen with a CCCAP freeze, if young parents can't get their kids to an Early Learning Center, their young parents will suffer because they can't go to they can't go and have a job, and their little ones will suffer also because they're not going to be ready for preschool and kindergarten.' Bartholomew said they will lose about 15% of their early learning center funding because of the CCCAP freeze, and in two years, they are looking at losing about 30%. He said this translates to cutting staff members. '(Cutting staff) means the quality of the education for both the teen parent, in other words, the high school student and also their child, their little one in the Early Learning Center, their education will be affected negatively,' Bartholomew said. The Colorado Teen Parent Collaborative also weighed in: Access to childcare is not a luxury- it's a lifeline. Teen parents and their children cannot afford to wait three to five years. Colorado must act now to prevent long-term harm and support the next generation of parents and learners.' Now many in the early learning space are calling on policymakers to make a change. 'This is our youngest Coloradans' future, so we got to be thinking about any possible thing that we can do. I think first and foremost, these are unfunded federal mandates. So, we do need to keep putting the pressure on at the federal level to get the funding. We need to implement these really positive changes here in Colorado,' said Dawson. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Christian summer camp sues Colorado over new transgender rule
A Christian summer camp that has operated in Colorado for decades is suing the state over new state licensing requirements that the camp says violate its religious beliefs on gender and sexuality. Camp IdRaHaJe, which derives its name from the hymn, "I'd Rather Have Jesus," is a Christian children's summer camp for kids ages 6 to 17. The camp has served Colorado families of all faiths and backgrounds since 1948 and welcomes 2,500 to 3,000 campers each year. Camp IdRaHaJe filed a complaint in federal court on May 12 challenging new state licensing rules issued by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood that allegedly require children's resident camps to permit campers access to bathing, dressing and sleeping facilities that align with the camper's gender identity. The camp first tried to get a religious exemption, but the department denied their request, according to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the legal group representing Camp IdRaHaJe in court. Colorado Parents Unload On Liberal Lawmakers, Prompting Changes To Controversial Gender Bill ADF claims that the regulations put children at risk and violate the free exercise, establishment, and equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution. Read On The Fox News App "Every child deserves respect of privacy," ADF senior counsel Ryan Tucker told Fox News Digital, adding, "But that respect of privacy must extend equally to all students. No one should be forced to share a room or showering facilities with someone of the opposite sex." "The law ignores reality and children are the ones who ultimately pay the price," he continued. Tucker explained that new rules require the Christian camp to abandon its "own faith and mission" in order to continue operating in Colorado. Colorado's 'Totalitarian' Transgenderism Bill Sparks Concerns From Parents "The state of Colorado has been quite hostile to people of faith over the past several years," Tucker said, referencing other religious liberty lawsuits against the state which have gone all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. "In particular, they're trying to ram down this gender ideology to everyone in the state," he said. The complaint states that families choose to send their kids to IdRaHaJe because of its Christian "policies, programs and education," and that families must agree to follow its policies on sex-specific facilities at registration. Under the new state policy, the camp must choose between upholding its religious beliefs and mission or abandoning these in order to keep its license and continue operating the camp, according to the complaint. In June, the camp must certify it is complying with all the resident camp regulations and a licensing specialist will also be visiting to inspect the camp to see if it is in compliance, according to the complaint. Camp IdRaHaJe has decided to continue operating under its current policies even though this risks fines and the loss of its license to operate. ADF says other children's resident camps are also expressing concerns about the new state licensing requirements. The legal group is asking the court to declare that these regulations on gender identity are unconstitutional. "The government has no place telling religious summer camps that it's 'lights out' for upholding their religious beliefs about human sexuality," ADF legal counsel Andrea Dill also said in a statement. "Camp IdRaHaJe exists to present the truth of the Gospel to children who are building character and lifelong memories. But the Colorado government is putting its dangerous agenda—that is losing popularity across the globe—ahead of its kids. We are urging the court to allow IdRaHaJe to operate as it has for over 75 years: as a Christian summer camp that accepts all campers without fear of being punished for its beliefs." The Colorado Department of Early Childhood said it could not comment on the pending litigation. There have been several other high-profile religious liberty cases against the state in recent years that have been heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2018, the high court ruled in favor of Colorado baker Jack Phillips, who was punished by the state after he refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. In another landmark case before the court in 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that Colorado's anti-discrimination law cannot force a graphic designer to make wedding websites for same-sex article source: Christian summer camp sues Colorado over new transgender rule
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Colorado Christian summer camp sues state for requiring access to gender identity-friendly facilities
A Christian camp that has been operating since 1948 in Colorado is suing the state after the camp was told that it had to accommodate gender expression in bathrooms and a variety of other spaces. "They feel like they're honoring God in what they're doing, and I feel like they should do that, to operate in a way that's consistent with that," camp volunteer and mother Leah Rohwer told CBS News in an interview. The camp, known as Camp IdRaHaje, which is short for "I'd Rather Have Jesus," has refused to obey the state government's demands that it accommodate gender expression in camp facilities. Kennedy Center Promotes First Explicitly Pro-christian Feature In Years As Part Of New 'Family-friendly' Focus It is a conflict that is personal for Rohwer, who told CBS that she has a family member who identifies as transgender. "I have a heart for the kids that feel like they don't fit in their body," Rohwer said. "I love those kids and I'm not saying anything bad about any of those kids or family members, whoever it might be, but I feel like we shouldn't stomp on someone's religious freedom to try and help those folks." Read On The Fox News App "Camp IdRaHaJe has faithfully served and ministered to Colorado children of all backgrounds and faiths since 1948 and has successfully maintained its resident camp license since it first received one in 1995," camp Executive Director Mike DeBoer said in a statement. "The new policy of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, however, is asking IdRaHaJe to choose between upholding its Biblical beliefs about biological sex and risk losing its license or abandoning its beliefs and mission by forcing girls and boys to shower, dress, and share sleeping quarters with campers of the opposite sex. We are asking the court to allow us to operate consistent with our beliefs and protect our campers from a gender ideology agenda," he added. Afghan Christian Pastor Pleads With Trump, Warns Of Taliban Revenge After Admin Revokes Refugee Protections Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Andrea Dill, who is representing the camp, said in a statement, "The government has no place telling religious summer camps that it's 'lights out' for upholding their religious beliefs about human sexuality." "Camp IdRaHaJe exists to present the truth of the Gospel to children who are building character and lifelong memories. But the Colorado government is putting its dangerous agenda—that is losing popularity across the globe—ahead of its kids. We are urging the court to allow IdRaHaJe to operate as it has for over 75 years: as a Christian summer camp that accepts all campers without fear of being punished for its beliefs," she added. Lisa Roy, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, provided a statement to CBS, saying, "The Department will continue working in partnership with faith-based providers and camps within the confines of the law to ensure maximum participation. As I'm sure you understand, we cannot comment on active litigation." The Colorado Department of Early Childhood did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News article source: Colorado Christian summer camp sues state for requiring access to gender identity-friendly facilities
CBS News
16-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Colorado Christian camp sues over new rules on gender identity accommodations
A Colorado Christian camp is suing the State of Colorado over licensing requirements that the camp claims violate its religious beliefs. Camp IdRaHaJe is located south of Evergreen off Highway 285 and has been operating since 1948. A camp tucked amongst the mountains holds summer memories for Leah Rohwer. Camp IdRaHaJe CBS "I actually worked there as a horse wrangler in 2001 over the summer," said Rohwer When her two daughters were old enough to go, Camp IdRaHaJe once again became a part of her family's life. "They love it," said Rohwer. "They've gone since after the pandemic. They're set to go this year." In less than a month, campers will return to Bailey, Colorado, and kick off the summer at Camp IdRaHaJe, including Rohwer's two daughters. However, families like hers also wonder what will happen to the future of the camp in the wake of a lawsuit challenging new state licensing guidelines that the camp says do not align with their religious beliefs. "I fully support the camp in this decision," said Rohwer. The new rules, issued by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, outline requirements for camps to allow campers in attendance access to toilets, bathroom facilities, rooms, and other spaces that align with the person's gender identity. Camp IdRaHaJe CBS "This regulation requires it for bunking, for bathing, for changing, for anywhere where they would be separated biologically," said Rohwer. The camp resisted those changes and initially asked for an exemption from these new regulations based on the camp's religious ideologies. When the state refused to grant this exemption, the camp's defense team filed a lawsuit against the CDEC. "Camp is in jeopardy that they're going to continue operating in what they believe is consistent with freedom of religion and what they should be allowed to do as a religious organization," said Rohwer. The executive director of the camp released a statement in response to their lawsuit filed: Camp IdRaHaJe has faithfully served and ministered to Colorado children of all backgrounds and faiths since 1948 and has successfully maintained its resident camp license since it first received one in 1995. The new policy of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, however, is asking IdRaHaJe to choose between upholding its Biblical beliefs about biological sex and risk losing its license or abandoning its beliefs and mission by forcing girls and boys to shower, dress, and share sleeping quarters with campers of the opposite sex. We are asking the court to allow us to operate consistent with our beliefs and protect our campers from a gender ideology agenda. ADF Legal Counsel Andrea Dill, representing the camp, also released a statement: The government has no place telling religious summer camps that it's 'lights out' for upholding their religious beliefs about human sexuality. Camp IdRaHaJe exists to present the truth of the Gospel to children who are building character and lifelong memories. But the Colorado government is putting its dangerous agenda—that is losing popularity across the globe—ahead of its kids. We are urging the court to allow IdRaHaJe to operate as it has for over 75 years: as a Christian summer camp that accepts all campers without fear of being punished for its beliefs. The CDEC did not respond to a request for comment pending litigation. For Rohwer, she says the state's policy is overreaching, especially when it comes to an institution that's had the same values instilled for nearly 80 years. Camp IdRaHaJe CBS "They feel like they're honoring god in what they're doing, and I feel like they should do that, to operate in a way that's consistent with that," said Rohwer. Having a family member that is transgendered, Rohwer says she empathizes with children who may identify outside of their biological gender, but she says she does not support a change that forces an organization to change its religious values. "I have a heart for the kids that feel like they don't fit in their body," she said. "I love those kids and I'm not saying anything bad about any of those kids or family members, whoever it might be, but I feel like we shouldn't stomp on someone's religious freedom to try and help those folks.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Colorado's preschool enrollment more than doubles under Universal Preschool Program
The number of 3- and 4-year-olds attending preschool in Colorado more than doubled in 2023-24, when the state launched its Universal Preschool Program, according to a new national report. Colorado had 52,617 children ages 3 and 4 in preschool in 2023-24, an increase of 31,277 from the previous year, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, said in a news release. The state moved from No. 27 nationally to No. 3 in the number of 4-year-olds in preschool with the increase, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research's annual report. Nearly 70% of eligible 4-year-olds in the state enrolled in the Universal Preschool Program, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood said in a news release. Registration for the 2025-26 school year is continuing, with direct enrollment now available at That program, approved by voters as Proposition EE in the November 2020 election, has saved families an average of $6,100 annually on preschool expenses for 4-year-olds, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood news release said. UPK, as the program is known, reimburses nearly 2,000 participating providers for up to 15 hours of preschool each week during the school year for children in the year before they begin kindergarten. The program provides additional hours of coverage for children, including some 3-year-olds, who meet certain qualifying criteria. Preschool enrollment nationally increased 7% from 2022-23 to an all-time high of more than $1.75 million, report found. More than 60% of that increase came from two states, California and Colorado, 'with ambitious plans for universal preschool.' This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: State-funded program more than doubles Colorado preschool enrollment
