Strategic Planning & Policy Development Support

The contract seeks to develop a comprehensive five-year quality improvement plan aimed at enhancing early childhood education outcomes in Colorado by aligning existing quality standards with the goals of Universal Preschool and Colorado Shines. This initiative requires deep collaboration to harmonize program metrics, assessment frameworks, and service delivery models to ensure consistency, equity, and effectiveness across all participating early childhood providers. The contractor will be responsible for identifying gaps, recommending evidence-based improvements, and proposing actionable strategies that strengthen program integrity and promote continuous quality enhancement over the five-year period. In addition to plan development, the contract emphasizes the integration of policy structures between Colorado Shines and Universal Preschool to eliminate administrative redundancies and foster seamless access to resources and supports for families and providers. The contractor must assess current policy frameworks, engage with key stakeholders, and submit clear, feasible recommendations for policy changes that enhance coordination, transparency, and accountability. Success will be measured by the adoption of aligned standards, increased program coherence, and measurable improvements in child outcomes across the state's early childhood system. Work under this subcontract must be completed within a tight two-day response window following the posting date, underscoring the urgency and high priority assigned to this policy development effort by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.