What does Denver’s mayor mean by ‘universal childcare’? We could find out in 2027

Mayor Mike Johnston says the city of Denver could take a step toward a “universal” childcare program next year, launching a pilot program as soon as August.

“The first stage of the process for me is us listening to family members and providers about what’s working, what’s not working, what they want the system to do,” the mayor told a gathering of early-childhood educators on Friday.

Johnston first announced plans for the “universal” childcare program at his State of the City speech this year, making it clear it would be a priority in his campaign for reelection.

Now, the mayor said, a task force has gathered inputs from around the city, and an initial proposal could be developed within three to five months.

He said it’s possible a pilot program would be launched by the 2027-2028 school year, with any adjustments to the program implemented after.

The program could also rely on funding from Proposition NN, which voters approved earlier this week . The proposition will eliminate TABOR refunds for the foreseeable future, redirecting that money toward education.

“We would love to see the state’s support and partnership to prove this as a model for the rest of the state,” Johnston said. “We think a significant amount of the dollars should come to Denver both because we have a large number of kids and a large number of … families in need.”

The mayor plans to work with state and federal partners to usher in funding, including Gov.-elect Phil Weiser’s administration next year.

“We have talked to Phil about this a number of times,” Johnston said. “I think he shares this as a top priority and so we’re really excited that he’ll be a great partner to help us figure this out. He’s paying careful attention to this project and our effort here.”

When asked whether the program could happen without Proposition NN funding, the mayor said he thinks “it’s all feasible either way.” He added that the following months will decide many of the variables necessary to build a working program.

“We haven’t figured out the program design to know the cost — but one really important thing to know is I think people, often the public, think the money is the hardest problem,” he said. “What a lot of the providers know is that’s actually not the only hard problem.”

New Mexico could be a model

The city’s new Haynes-Gary childcare task force, named after longtime advocates Anna Jo Haynes and Nancy Gary, recently brought together leaders in childcare and education to explore the idea of universal childcare.

The group hosted several public meetings and outreach events across the city to hear from parents, providers, educators and community members. Those results will shape the pilot program design, the mayor said.

Johnston mentioned the state of New Mexico as an example. It is the first and only state to offer universal childcare to its families. The program is open to all regardless of income, though state law requires high-earning families to front some of the costs.

Johnston said success will depend on finding educators, filling positions and linking parents to providers — not just finding money.

“We’re trying to first respond to how to build a system that best serves them and then figure out what that system would cost,” he said.

Johnston indicated a sliding-scale paying system might be an option, mentioning the Denver Preschool Program, which follows that structure for its tuition.