HB 13-1291 Summary

• Creates the Colorado Infant and Toddler Quality and Availability Grant Program to expand high-quality early childhood education services for low-income infants and toddlers under three years of age.

• Requires joint applications from Early Childhood Councils and County Departments to receive grant funding, with eligible programs having contracts through the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program.

• Defines "high-quality" programs as those in the top two ratings of the state's quality rating system, accredited by state-approved bodies, or meeting Early Head Start federal standards.

• Provides tiered reimbursement rates to incentivize participation in high-quality early childhood programs and increase capacity for home-based and center-based care.

• Appropriates $3,000,000 and 1.0 FTE for fiscal year 2013-14, with grant applications due July 31, 2013 and awards made by September 1, 2013; requires annual reporting on outcomes including number of infants and toddlers served and quality improvements achieved.