Smart Start Colorado FAQ's

What is Smart Start Colorado?

Smart Start Colorado is the framework for comprehensive early childhood systems building in Colorado.  State and local partnerships embrace the vision of a connected, integrated network of early care and education, health, mental health, and family support and parent education and use the eight goals outlined by Smart Start Colorado to guide collaborative systems building work.

Why is Smart Start Colorado important?

Smart Start Colorado is important to connect quality services, early childhood professionals, and family support to create a strong network that is working on behalf of our youngest citizens.  Smart Start colorado offers an overall framework to guide individual agency and organization work, along with the work of the collaborative whole, so we are all moving forward together in a connected and cohesive manner.

We believe that through Smart Start Colorado, services and supports for young children and their families will be high quality, standards-driven and developmentally appropriate. This will result in children that are thriving, eager to learn and ready to succeed.

What is school readiness?

Smart Start Colorado's motto is "ready for school - ready for life." The goal is to ensure that every child in Colorado is thriving, eager to learn and ready to succeed. There are four components of school readiness: ready child, ready family, ready school and ready community of school readiness.

Learning begins at birth. Parents, families, and communities have a critical role in nurturing children to thrive. Readiness for school means that young children have the social, emotional and cognitive skills to prepare them to achieve.

By developing a comprehensive early childhood system that encompasses early care and education, health, mental health, and family support services for children birth to 8 and their families, Colorado's children will be ready for school and ready for life.

Is Smart Start just for low-income families?

No. Smart Start works to ensure ALL children have the skills they need to be successful in school. That could include hearing, dental or developmental screenings, access to higher quality child care and support for families.

How can I enroll my child in Smart Start Colorado?

Smart Start Colorado is NOT a child care center or a specific program. Smart Start is an initiative to ensure that ALL programs such as child care and mental health services are of high quality and available to all families who need and want them.

What is the difference between Smart Start and Head Start?

Head Start is a federally-funded preschool program that targets low-income 3 and 4 year olds. We partner with Head Start facilities and leaders.

Who are systems building partners?

Early childhood systems building partners are state and local early childhood councils, agencies, organizations and associations working together for young children and their families.  Partners in this work believe that through working together and aligning efforts, better outcomes are realized for young children.

Who is behind Smart Start Colorado

Smart Start Colorado is an alliance of dozens of organizations and thousands of people across the state. No one group or agency runs the movement alone. The Smart Start Colorado Director, is housed in the Office of the Lt. Governor.