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The state of child care in Colorado
A synthesis of everything Childcare Alerts tracks about Colorado child care — scale, quality, compliance, ownership, access, and news — from public records. Figures describe the public data; they aren't a rating.
Who runs child care in Colorado
How Colorado's licensed providers break down by ownership — independent vs. the national chains, and the private-equity firms or public companies behind them. About 2% are PE-owned or public chains.
■ Independent (93%) · ■ Private equity (2%) · ■ Public (2%) · ■ Nonprofit (2%) · ■ Family/Franchise (1%) · ■ Government (1%)
Largest chains here: KinderCare (76) · Primrose School (32, PE) · The Goddard School (27, PE) · The Learning Experience (21, PE) · La Petite Academy (13, PE) · Kiddie Academy (9)
Access
Counties with the fewest licensed providers in Colorado — a rough map of where families have the least choice.
San Juan (1 provider) · Jackson (1 provider) · Mineral (1 provider) · Crowley (1 provider) · Dolores (2 providers) · Custer (2 providers)
In the news
- Careless: Colorado’s Childcare Struggle Gwynedd Maldwyn (oFFAPb7she)Mshale · 2026-08-25
- New early child care, education center in Colorado Springs gets boost from credit unionColorado Springs Gazette · 2026-08-19
- UCCS Early Childhood Education Bootcamp helps aspiring child care providers navigate opening a centerKOAA News 5 · 2026-08-19
- Early Childhood Legislative Symposium: Funding cuts put services in jeopardyCanon City Daily Record · 2026-08-18
- LETTERS: Suing Big Tobacco; protect Head StartColorado Springs Gazette · 2026-08-18
Childcare Alerts is an independent service that synthesizes public Colorado child care records for education and research. It is not a rating or a safety verdict; the official state record always controls.