National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)  NAEYC is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. NAEYC is committed to becoming an increasingly high performing and inclusive organization.

Colorado Children's Campaign  The Colorado Children's Campaign is the leading voice for children in Colorado. With compelling, solid data in one hand and unrivaled expertise and passionate advocacy skills in the other, we influence and encourage decision makers to invest in programs that benefit both our children and our state.

Colorado Department of Human Services - Child Care  The Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care, is the State’s lead agency in planning and implementing public child care policy.  The Division of Child Care is responsible for the licensing and monitoring of child care facilities; managing the child care assistance program (CCCAP) for eligible families; administering child care grants and quality initiatives, and serving as the lead in implementing federal child care programs.  The overall goal of the Division of Child Care is to promote quality, accessible and affordable child care services for Colorado families. 

Colorado Department of Education   Provides early learning guidelines for young children: "The Building Blocks for Reading and Writing" and "The Building Blocks for Mathematics".  Each document begins with a list of the Colorado Content Standards for the K-12 system.  Each of these Standards is then coupled with information reflecting the types of experiences and interactions preschool learners need to develop the foundation for attaining the standards.  These documents are available in both English and Spanish on the CDE website. Also see:  CDE's Early Learning Guidelines - Results Matter

Children's Defense Fund  The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

Qualistar Early Learning   Qualistar Early Learning combines a thorough accountability system with a statewide network of resource and referral agencies. They offer a 4-star rating system and a continuous improvement program that measures quality and supplies hundreds of providers with tools and strategies for success.

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.

Colorado Office of Professional Development   Early childhood professionals—from child care workers and preschool teachers to nurses and counselors-are the fuel that makes a comprehensive system for young children work. After families, early childhood professionals spend the most time with our youngest citizens helping them get ready for school and ready for life.  Learn how to get plugged in to professional organizations and the Smart Start Office of Professional Development and find links to helpful websites nationwide.  ALso see: Colorado's Core Knowledge and Standards.