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Early care and education are crucial for a thriving Colorado economy. Not only do working Colorado families rely upon high-quality early childhood education for their children’s learning and care, but Colorado’s employers must have a variety of these options for the modern workforce which is increasingly comprised of two-parent, working families. EPIC is at the forefront of these policy and advocacy efforts, leading the conversation. As the business community’s non-partisan voice for early childhood care and education, EPIC is influencing change and advancing policy, sustaining the workforce of today while developing the workforce for tomorrow. Quite simply, we work to grow Colorado’s economy by supporting families and children first. Through our multi-pronged program of direct legislative advocacy, policy development, press/public relations, and the gathering together of professional experts in both business and early childhood education, we are improving access to quality, affordable child care and early education in Colorado. Examples of our legislative and policy accomplishments include: Child Care Contribution Tax Credit (CCTC) Funding for Full-day Kindergarten (HB 19-1262) Allow Home Child Care in Homeowners’ Association Communities (SB20-126) Creation of Special Districts to Provide Early Childhood Development Services (HB19-1052) Expand Child Care Expenses Income Tax Credit (HB18-1208) Amendment B Gallagher Amendment Repeal (November 2020) Through our members and our lobbying efforts, we affect change and influence public policy, shaping Colorado’s early childhood priorities and investments for current and future generations. Our efforts employ multiple advocacy strategies including leading and engaging coalition efforts, meeting with editorial boards and authoring guest columns, leveraging our leader network connections to advocate for effective early childhood policies, and proposing innovative policy solutions that directly affect Colorado’s families and workplaces. Moving forward, much of our current work is focused on: Expanding access of affordable and quality preschool and early child care for working families Building the workforce and long-term sustainability of the early child care and education sector Helping child care and preschool business owners manage their real estate costs to keep their programs open, provide quality experiences, and pay the wages necessary to attract and retain qualified workers As we continue our efforts to advance these causes, our advocacy efforts include the following: Epic’s advocacy program weighed-in with Colorado’s influential Joint Budget Committee, urging their support of a $5 million supplemental request to support employer-based, childcare solutions. The pandemic has created an ideal opportunity for the State to collaborate with employers and business leaders to create solutions and leverage investments that address access and affordability for Colorado’s most under-resourced communities and workers. Epic ‘s legislative outreach program contacted each of Colorado’s House and Senate winners of the 2021 elections on both sides of the aisle, informing legislators of the organization’s active involvement in the design and implementation of universal preschool, while working to address regulatory barriers that limit child care businesses’ ability to expand or launch programs in Colorado. EPIC has identified the following policy initiatives that will be addressed in the 2021 Colorado legislative session, which resumed February 16. Commercial Zoning, Building and Fire Code Restrictions […]

A child’s most critical brain development occurs before they enter Kindergarten. In the first few years of life, more than one million new neural connections form each second. When children develop early literacy skills and a love of reading during their formative years, they become successful readers and grow up to be strong contributors to their communities and the workforce. Since 2013, more than 600,000 books have been distributed to children who do not have a home library through EPIC’s Colorado Business Reads program. In January, we will substantially extend the reach of this program through partnerships with both Book Trust as well as Reach Out and Read Colorado. “We are excited to join with these two early literacy leaders to enable EPIC members to put more books in the hands of the kids who need them,” explained EPIC Board Chairman, David Hammond. Book access is the single biggest barrier to literacy. In low-income areas around the country, the ratio of books-to-children is one book to 300 kids. Research shows that 75% of children who are not proficient readers by the end of 3rd grade are four times less likely to graduate high school, and 52% percent of Colorado 4th grade students are not reading at grade level. Access to books is not enough. Studies confirm that ownership and choice of books increases students’ motivation to read and increases reading achievement. Book Trust was founded in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2001 with the mission to engage every child in book choice and ownership to cultivate literacy-rich communities. At schools across Colorado, Book Trust serves students in Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grade. During each month of the academic year, students choose two to three books, at no cost to them, from the Scholastic Book Clubs’ flyer. Teachers and students celebrate the arrival of book orders and students read at school and at home, sharing with one another and engaging family members in the reading process. Over the course of the school year, students will add up to 25 books to their home libraries. “Book Trust is an equity game changer, creating a culture of literacy in the classroom and the living room,” explained Kellie O’Keefe, President and CEO of Book Trust. “We are honored to partner with EPIC – a true champion for early childhood literacy. Together, we can ensure Book Trust students discover the joy and power of reading.” Reach Out and Read Colorado encourages early reading and advances literacy messaging to families with young children by supplying books to children through their primary health care provider within the context of well-child visits. As a trusted messenger, the pediatrician can increase awareness of early literacy and encourage families to read with children. Greater than 90% of young children visit their pediatricians. During a visit, the child receives a book with a literal or figurative prescription to read, including shared reading within the family. Shared reading is a key component in promoting language development in young children and nurturing emergent literacy skills. […]