2026 CDE Regulations Policies one sheet.pdf (57 KB)

Regulations and Policies from CDE

Streamlining Regulation of School-Age & Preschool Programs Operated by School Districts Colorado school districts, including the Boulder Valley School District are trusted every day to care for our students, from preschool through twelfth grade. Strong regulations and policies from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) help to ensure that children are safe and wellsupported throughout the school day. It would only make sense that these same rules would apply for all students who are in our school district programs, regardless of what program they’re in or the time of day. Instead, school districts are forced to manage and navigate duplicative and often contradictory licensing requirements required by other state regulators. These regulations are perfect for stand-alone providers, but not for school districts.

Key Examples of Contradictory Requirements for Licensed School-Age Programs During the school day School-age children have free use of playground equipment

School-Age Programs No use of playground equipment over 6 feet

Schools use buildings freely, and maintain appro- Building space is limited to only licensed spaces priate capacities and ratios and a 15:1 ratio (max group size 30) Student injuries are handled in accordance with district protocols and risk management

Adverse impact Frustrates parents, confuses children, limits safe play access, and overrides the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines Wasted unused spaces cause staffing, scheduling and accommodation challenges

Student injuries result in state-level injury reports Additional steps are inconsistent with an injury and onsite inspections to identify fault response during the school day

Keep accountability. Reduce unnecessary duplication. School districts already meet/exceed state licensing requirements for school-age and preschool programs through existing district policies and procedures, which are based upon state and federal laws. Even “small” duplications or requirements can create real barriers and costs: Student Immunization Records

Already tracked by schools, but licensed programs must track again

Background Checks (Annual cost is ~$12,000)

Staff must undergo both district and licensing background checks. Staff are unable to work independently until all results are received and must complete again every 5 years.

Staff Training (Additional 12 hrs per employee)

District training is robust, individualized and ongoing – covering everything from child abuse reporting to Standard Precautions to playground safety and more. State licensing adds prescriptive, non-dynamic training. This results in overlapping trainings and additional salary costs

Lack of Active Supervision of Students

We report unsupervised students to more than three entities (Licensing, CPS, HR and law enforcement); licensing timelines often lag district actions, resulting in re-explanation after internal resolution. We, however, act immediately in the interest of supporting the students in our care

Building Inspections (Fire & Health Dept. ~$9,000)

Schools are already inspected by fire and health agencies, but licensing requires an additional process every two years even though our school buildings have been designated as safe for our students.

Licensing costs (SAC licensing ~$27,000)

Schools operate daily without a license. Under current regulations, we must pay for a license annually

Let’s come together and resolve these regulatory overlaps

Our goal is to address duplication and unnecessary cost, not reduce oversight, health, or safety. By coming together we can create a more efficient system that better serves our students and families.