CO SB019

Transfers responsibilities from Local Coordinating Organizations (LCOs) to Early Childhood Councils effective July 1, 2026, consolidating Colorado's local early childhood infrastructure into a single statewide system

Requires Early Childhood Councils to develop strategic plans addressing family assistance with program applications, provider recruitment for mixed delivery systems, coordination with county departments and tribal agencies, and early childhood workforce training and retention

Establishes new accountability requirements including annual performance reviews by the Department of Early Childhood, community feedback collection every 3-5 years, and performance improvement plans for councils not meeting scope of work requirements

Creates formal agreements between councils and the department with 3-5 year terms, specifying scope of work, accountability metrics, and indirect cost payments, with department authority to terminate agreements for sustained performance failures

Makes conforming amendments to the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program and Colorado Universal Preschool Program to replace references to LCOs with Early Childhood Councils for provider recruitment, funding distribution, and program administration