Question 1

How do I apply for the Denver Preschool Program?

Accepted Answer

Enroll your child at a participating preschool, then submit DPP's online application at find.dpp.org/application with proof of your child's age (such as a birth certificate) and proof of your Denver address (such as a utility bill). Income documents are optional — without them you receive the minimum credit. DPP usually sends an approval letter within about eight business days and pays the credit directly to the preschool.

Question 2

Do I have to live in Denver to use DPP?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Denver Preschool Program is funded by Denver taxpayers, so the child must live in the City and County of Denver. The preschool itself does not have to be in Denver; DPP runs a specific program for providers outside the city. If you live in Aurora rather than Denver proper, DPP will not apply to you, but Colorado UPK will.

Question 3

Can I use DPP and Colorado UPK at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and you should. They are separate programs and they stack. UPK covers ten free preschool hours a week for every Colorado 4-year-old, and DPP credits go toward the hours beyond that.

Question 4

How much is the DPP tuition credit?

Accepted Answer

It varies by household size, income, and how many hours your child attends — and it is larger at higher quality-rated providers. Bright Stars is Colorado Shines Level 4, the tier that earns the largest credits. DPP publishes the current tuition credit scale on dpp.org.

Question 5

Does Bright Stars accept DPP right now?

Accepted Answer

Bright Stars is a participating Denver Preschool Program provider, so Denver families can use their DPP tuition credits here.

Question 6

What if I live in Aurora, not Denver?

Accepted Answer

Then DPP is not your program — but Colorado UPK is, and it has no income requirement. Every Colorado child gets ten free preschool hours a week in the year before kindergarten, and families with a qualifying factor, including speaking a language other than English at home, can receive more.

Denver Preschool Program tuition credits — and how they stack with UPK