Announcement: Universal Preschool Colorado family applications are now open. Click here for more information.

Raising CO Kids Guide
  1. Home /
  2. Finding Child Care /
  3. What Kind of Child Care is Right for Me and My Child? /
  4. Programs Exempt from Licensure /

Programs Exempt from Licensure

  • Under Colorado law, certain child care programs do not have to get a child care license. 
     
  • These programs are exempt from state licensing rules. There are different reasons that exempt programs don’t have to have a license. These include the number of children in care, hours of operation, curriculum, or other factors.
     
  • License-exempt child care programs are not monitored. Because of this, if you use a program that is not licensed, you should ask why the program is exempt.
     
  • License-exempt child care programs may include:
    • Child care offered for a short period of time. This is child care at a church, shopping center, or business while the parents are on-site to work, shop or worship.
    • Skill-building activities. This includes an hour-long dance class or a sports lesson.
    • Care that happens just every once in a while. This includes programs like a “parents night out” or child care provided during an event.
    • Some family child care homes.
      • These programs provide care for only four children at one time. Only two of the four children can be 2 years or younger. This includes the child care provider’s own children or relatives. The care may not exceed 24 hours per day.
    • Child care facilities that are licensed by another state or federal government. These include child care programs on military bases and some Head Start and Early Head Start programs. These programs meet other government rules for health and safety.
    • Occasional care in your home, like babysitting.
       
  • If you have questions about license-exempt programs, call the Colorado Shines Child Care Referral line at 1-877-799-5876.
Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado
Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado allows families to choose the right setting for their child, whether it is in a licensed community-based, school-based or home-based preschool setting. Families of children in the year before they are eligible for kindergarten, and qualifying 3-year-olds, are able to apply for UPK Colorado.
From our friends at Colorado Shines:
Child Care Programs Near You:
Colorado Shines
Tina Dang
LOCATION:8105 Engleton Court, Colorado Springs, CO
Happy Smiles Child Care
LOCATION:15121 E SECURITY WAY, AURORA, CO
KCE Champions LLC @ Ave Maria PRS
LOCATION:9056 E Parker Rd, Parker, CO
Austen Dean
LOCATION:3829 Deer Valley Dr, Castle Rock, CO
Blue Skies Exploration Academy
LOCATION:1960 Dominion Way, Colorado Springs, CO
The Learning Experience
LOCATION:6500 S Peoria Street, Centennial, CO
Tseganesh Tesega
LOCATION:2632 S Halifax Ct, Aurora, CO
Ashley Andurlakis
LOCATION:16229 E 99th Way, Commerce City, CO
YMCA of Pikes Peak Region Valley
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:1160 Keith Drive, Colorado Springs, CO
YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:2311 Monterey Rd, Colorado Springs, CO
Anne Odegard
LOCATION:13501 W 65th Ave, Arvada, CO
Sip & Giggles, LLC
LOCATION:104 CORONA AVENUE, WIGGINS, CO
Meredith Widmark
LOCATION:742 S Carriage DR, Milliken, CO
THE GODDARD SCHOOL
LOCATION:12700 Lynnfield DR, Englewood, CO
Childrens Lighthouse Parker
LOCATION:11775 Tara Lane, Parker, CO
Peter Pan Y Sus Amigos Preschool
LOCATION:100 W 16th Street, Rifle, CO
Stars Kid Care @ Crown Pointe Academy
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:2900 W 86th Ave, Westminster, CO
Stephanie Brown
LOCATION:4306 N. Weber St, Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Military Academy
LOCATION:360 Command View, Colorado Springs, CO
The Learning Nest
LOCATION:4433 W 29th Ave #205, Denver, CO
CSCC Meadows Park Before & After School
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:1943 S El Paso Ave, Colorado Springs, CO
AlphaBEST @ Dunn Elementary
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:501 S Washington Ave, Fort Collins, CO
Eagle Lake Camps- Flying Horse
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:1880 Weiskopf Point, Colorado Springs, CO
KCE Champions LLC @ Ave Marie
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:9056 E Parker Rd, Parker, CO
Linden Early Learning Center
LOCATION:4770 Eliot Street, Denver, CO
Inspire PRS @ Johnson Community YMCA
LOCATION:165 Settler Way, Johnstown, CO
Ute Meadows Preschool
LOCATION:110505 W Meadows Dr, Littleton, CO
Dalal Al Dalawi
LOCATION:13340 W 8th Ave, Golden, CO
Kullerstrand Preschool
LOCATION:12225 W 38th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO
Honey Tree
LOCATION:64 Favre Lane, Carbondale, CO
Eiber Preschool
LOCATION:1385 Independence St, Lakewood, CO
Dev Adhikari
LOCATION:5876 S Nepal Way, Centennial, CO
Courtney Liu
LOCATION:28670 State Highway 72, Golden, CO
Nandini Sriram
LOCATION:9624 E Lake Cir, Greenwood Village, CO
Arapahoe Y Prs Summer Camp
LOCATION:2800 Dagny Way, Lafayette, CO
The Wheelhouse Collaborative
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:9645 W 22nd Pl, Lakewood, CO
Normandy Preschool
LOCATION:6750 S Kendall Street, Littleton, CO
A New Generation III
LOCATION:525 Russell Blvd, Thornton, CO
Shapes of Tomorrow Montessori Preschool
LOCATION:5240 W 78th Place, Westminster, CO
Thorne Experience Summer Camp at Arts HUB
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:420 Courtney Way, Lafayette, CO
Smart Learning Academy
LOCATION:946 N Havana St, Aurora, CO
Ryan Preschool
LOCATION:5851 W 115th Avenue, Westminster, CO
YMCA of NoCo @ High Plains School
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:4255 Buffalo Mountain Dr, Loveland, CO
Jessica Dismang
LOCATION:2049 Estes Ln #9, Longmont, CO
Debra Locke
LOCATION:18955 Robins Dr, Denver, CO
YMCA of NoCo @ Centennial Elem.
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:1555 W 37th Street, Loveland, CO
Boys & Girls Club of Fremont County
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:2855 N 9th St, Canon City, CO
City of Grand Junction Little Sunshine 3
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:123 W Orchard Avenue, Grand Junction, CO
DPS Discovery Link @ Stedman
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:2940 Dexter Street, Denver, CO
Kid City USA- Cordera
LOCATION:10085 Pearl Pass View, Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Kids
LOCATION:546 Hyland Park Dr, Glenwood Springs, CO
Custer County School District
LOCATION:818 Ohio St, Silver Cliff, CO
Cordera Kindercare Learning Center
LOCATION:9410 Grand Cordera Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO
Rocky Mountain Prep - Ruby Hill
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:2626 West Evans Ave, Denver, CO
Sleeping Giant Preschool
LOCATION:40250 Giant View Dr, Steamboat Springs, CO
YMCA of the Pikes Peak
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:900 E Buena Ventura St, Colorado Springs, CO
Lisa Beller
LOCATION:6865 Covenant Ct, Timnath, CO
City of Aspen Kids First
LOCATION:215 N Garmisch St Ste 1, Aspen, CO
Nifty Summer Camp
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:301 E 12th Street, Durango, CO
SARA GOSNEY
LOCATION:1543 EUCLID CIR, LAFAYETTE, CO
Bluebird School LLC
LOCATION:1832 Silvergate Rd, Fort Collins, CO
Everbrook Academy
LOCATION:25850 E Arapahoe Rd, Aurora, CO
DPS ECE PALMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
LOCATION:995 Grape St, Denver, CO
MARTHA ROBERTSON
LOCATION:21300 E 61st Ave, Aurora, CO
DPS ECE EAGLETON SCHOOL
LOCATION:880 Hooker ST, Denver, CO
DPS ECE HALLETT FUNDAMENTAL ACADEMY
LOCATION:2950 Jasmine, Denver, CO
Tozer Bright School -Age Center
 Not currently rated
LOCATION:501 Oak St, Windsor, CO
Milestones Early Learning & Preschool
LOCATION:1650 W 121st Ave, Westminster, CO
Silly Smiles Child Care, LLC
LOCATION:1402 S Kittredge St, Aurora, CO
Everbrook Academy
LOCATION:5668 N Beeler St, Denver, CO
Heidi Suyeishi
LOCATION:8770 Wildrye Cir, Parker, CO
Bea Underwood Preschool
LOCATION:741 Tamarisk Trail, Parachute, CO
VAN ARSDALE PRESCHOOL
LOCATION:7535 Alkire ST, Arvada, CO
Sunshine Childcare Center at NE
LOCATION:1026 Sidney Avenue, Sterling, CO
Everbrook Academy
LOCATION:15000 E 104th Ave, Commerce City, CO
Katie's Daycare
LOCATION:205 Audrey DR, Loveland, CO
LAURA BLOYD
LOCATION:6136 Ammons ST, Arvada, CO
JENNIFER MILLER
LOCATION:5350 Yulle RD, Strasburg, CO
LAURA JOHNSTON
LOCATION:10741 Claire LN, Northglenn, CO
STACY LEROUX
LOCATION:13002 Steele CT, Thornton, CO
BROOKE SANCHEZ
LOCATION:13147 Devils Thumb PL, Peyton, CO
Autumn For All Seasons Child Care
LOCATION:16902 E Havard Ave, Aurora, CO
Nashmia Ejaz
LOCATION:2973 E 133rd Ln, Thornton, CO
ROCKY MOUNTAIN DEAF SCHOOL
LOCATION:10300 W Nassau ST, Denver, CO
PSD Early Childhood @ Kruse
LOCATION:4400 McMurry AVE, Fort Collins, CO
MARGARET REMBAO
LOCATION:2483 Mary Beth CT, Loveland, CO
NANCY BURGARDT
LOCATION:7990 W Hoover PL, Littleton, CO
Jeanette Thomas Daycare
LOCATION:1813 Rutledge CT, Fort Collins, CO
Angela Billington
LOCATION:6513 Globeflower Street, Wellington, CO
Leaps 'n' Bounds Child Care
LOCATION:16996 Park Trail DR, Monument, CO
VILMA ANDERSEN
LOCATION:1403 E 130th DR, Thornton, CO
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTERS LLC
LOCATION:7395 Church Ranch Blvd, Westminster, CO
Cadence Academy / GATEWAY ACADEMY KEN CARYL
LOCATION:12633 W Indore PL, Littleton, CO
McGregor's Garden Preschool - Barbara McGregor
LOCATION:3535 Eastman AVE, Boulder, CO
POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE PRESCHOOL & CHILDCARE
LOCATION:8085 E Hampden AVE, Denver, CO
MARTHA LEWIS
LOCATION:18941 E Low DR, Aurora, CO
TAMARA REEL
LOCATION:2340 Alpine Dr, Erie, CO
SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN SCHOOL
LOCATION:8820 Field ST, Westminster, CO
City of Westminster Preschool - MAC
LOCATION:3295 W. 72nd AVE., Westminster, CO
CEEN- LASALLE
LOCATION:231 S 6th Street, Lasalle, CO
Colorado Shines is a quality rating and improvement system that monitors and supports early learning programs. Its primary functions are to help participating programs and professionals improve their quality through assessment, training and tools, and to connect Colorado families with quality child care.
Share It On Social Media
Contact Us

Raising Colorado Kids Guide is brought to you by the Colorado Office of Early Childhood.

For general help, call 1-800-799-5876 or email  cdhs_oec_communications@state.co.us

Contact Us

Raising Colorado Kids Guide is brought to you by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood..

For general help, call 1-800-799-5876 or email  cdec_communications@state.co.us

Facebook
Thank you for signing up to receive updates
Get in touch:
Leave this field blank
© All Rights Reserved
Dept of Early Childhood
cross