Early Edge Blog

Early Edge California Leads Early Learning Tour in Colorado for Delegation of Elected Officials and Early Learning and Care Advocates

November 13, 2025

This October, Early Edge California hosted a delegation of legislators and leaders from California for its 2025 Early Learning Tour in Denver to learn about Colorado’s coordinated efforts in building an Early Learning and Care system that focuses on the Birth-to-Five continuum. The selection of Colorado as our next tour destination was particularly influenced by the state’s recent formation of a dedicated state agency focusing on birth to five care, and the strong support networks Colorado has built for informal care providers.   

The delegation included Assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi (District 66), Celeste Rodriguez (District 43), and Robert Garcia (District 50), the Mayor of the City of Sacramento Kevin McCarty, representatives from the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, California Assembly Committee on Education, California Department of Education, and California Department of Social Services, labor representatives from California School Employees Association, California Teachers Association, and SEIU Local 99, Early Learning and Care advocates from Black ECE, Child Care Resource Center, Children Now, Crystal Stairs, Inc., Dial EE (Center for District Innovation and Leadership in Early Education), First 5 California, First 5 LA, Kidango, Learning Policy Institute, and UNITE-LA, as well as representatives from the California State University, Los Angeles and Heising-Simons Foundation.

Throughout the 4-day tour, participants engaged in a full agenda designed to deepen learning through site visits, listening sessions, and meaningful discussions.

Site Visits

During the tour, attendees had the opportunity to visit two community-based infant and toddler programs at Clayton Early Learning Center and Tamara M. Sparks Early Learning Center at Mile High United Way as well as two school-based sites, Aurora Public Schools Early Beginnings and Jamaica Child Development Center, both part of Aurora Public Schools. During these site visits participants were able to meet key staff such as Superintendent Mike Giles and ask questions about their programs. Participants were particularly interested in how each of these sites are meeting the specific needs of the communities they serve. This includes connecting families to vital services such as tax preparation, creating community markets where families can access food and other essentials, establishing on-site health clinics, and supporting students who are completing their education while also parenting young children. Each site demonstrated how Early Learning and Care programs are an essential part of the community. Each of these programs are not only serving young children, they are serving families. 

Panel Discussion and Listening Sessions

Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in a number of panel discussions and listening sessions during the tour. During a visit to the Governor’s Residence, they heard from a panel of Early Learning and Care experts on Colorado’s support across the 0-5 continuum, its universal preschool program, its mixed delivery system, and workforce development and supports. 

A unique “fish bowl” activity allowed tour attendees to hear directly from Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) child care providers who engaged in a candid conversation about the most rewarding aspects of their work, the everyday challenges they face, and the types of supports that have strengthened their ability to care for young children and their families. It served as a powerful reminder of the importance of elevating the voice of those with firsthand expertise in caring for children. This activity was complemented by a panel discussion about Colorado’s approach to supporting home-based providers including state and national data and research and philanthropic efforts in support of this segment of the ECE workforce, and small group discussions that provided an opportunity for California attendees to dig deeper into the themes they had heard through the tour, reflecting on the differences and similarities between Colorado and California, and discuss how this experience helps inform decisionmaking in California. 

The tour concluded with a breakfast with key funders in Colorado on the role of philanthropy in moving early childhood policy forward. The discussion focused on relationships with policymakers and policy and advocacy organizations, and effectiveness of intentional investment in policy and advocacy activities. During this discussion, participants heard how philanthropy in Colorado is helping shape public policy and advocacy by investing in organizations doing the work and by leading funding initiatives that have made programs like the Denver Preschool Program possible. It also provided an opportunity to reflect on how foundations can play a key role in advancing policy forward to drive change.  

Meeting with Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Legislators

While at the Governor’s Residence, attendees had a special visit with Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis, who spoke about his efforts to create the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and ensuring that kids have access to high-quality preschool programs. Attendees also convened with Colorado legislators during a networking session that Early Edge co-hosted with Colorado State Representative Lorena Garcia. The event provided an opportunity for legislators from both California and Colorado to engage in conversation and cross-state collaboration. The conversation reflected a shared commitment to supporting young children, their families, and the early childhood workforce.

“Our time in Denver was so inspiring. Thank you to our colleagues in Colorado for sharing about the innovative strategies they’ve engaged to build robust supports for young children through a statewide continuum of care. It was an honor to be in the company of so many champions for Early Learning and Care from both states, including Governor Polis and state legislators from California and Colorado. I’m looking forward to continuing our learning with our state leaders, colleagues, and partners,” said Patricia Lozano, Executive Director of Early Edge California. 

Special thanks goes to our tour guides, Dr. Lisa Roy and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood team, the hosting community and school-based sites, and our 2025 Early Learning Tour participants. We are also grateful to our sponsors Heising-Simons Foundation and other funders, whose support made our Colorado tour possible.

Looking Ahead

In the coming months, Early Edge will be rolling out an article series to share additional takeaways and insights from the tour, highlighting promising Early Learning and Care practices and strategies. These conversations will continue at a legislative briefing planned for 2026 in the state capitol, where legislators and partners will explore policy opportunities to strengthen Early Learning and Care in California. Join our mailing list to stay informed: bit.ly/earlyedgeca_signup

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