Historical Overview
1993
- Licensing regulations were being reviewed and rewritten. Five Colorado Child Care Association (CCCA) Board members were invited to serve on the Child Care Licensing Review Task force.
- Cost Quality research was underway; many CCCA members participated in the study.
- Governor Romer established a task force on Professional Standards; CCCA Board members sat on this task force.
1994
- CCCA met with the Joint Budget Committee on reimbursement rates and succeeded in keeping a 4.45% reimbursement rate increase and payments for registration, activity fees, and 7 days of absences.
- CCCA State Board testimony held licensing fee increases to 300-600% instead of the up to 1000% being called for.
- CCCA participated in revised Rules and Regulations Governing Sanitation of Child Care Center.
1995
- CCCA was called upon to respond to the Cost Quality and Child Outcomes Report.
- CCCA completed position papers on key issues including unfair competition.
- CCCA's work with licensing focused on key quality indicators, risk factor ratings, and quality standards.
1996
- Board member Larry Neal joined in meetings with the Colorado Department of Education specific to Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) implementation.
- Membership surveys conducted by CCCA revealed the top five concerns of our members:
1. Department of Human Services (DHS) Rules & Regulations
2. Staff Credentialing
3. Professional Development
4. Quality Improvement Efforts
5. DHS Reimbursement Rates
1997
- CCCA endowed the Foundation for Child Care Excellence, which helps to fund emergency child care, scholarships, and quality programs.
- CCCA successfully excluded 3-year-olds from the Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) in the School Finance Act.
1998
- U.S. Representative Bob Schaffer introduced CCCA into the Congressional Record.
- CCCA was influential in the counties' decision to raise reimbursement rates.
- CCCA signed a partnership agreement with Office Depot Business Services Division to offer our members discounted prices on numerous products.
1999
- CCCA, along with the National Child Care Association (NCCA), pushed to update the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
- CCCA testified before the Interim Committee on Child Care.
2000
- CCCA worked with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to institute a staffing crisis appeal process.
- André Ransom, CCCA Board member and past president, was appointed to the Oversight and Review Committee to set criteria for tax check-off grants.
- Larry Neal, CCCA Board member and past president, was appointed to the Child Care Commission.
- CCCA, in partnership with the Department of Human Services and the Colorado Office of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CORRA), initiated the first of two playground grant programs.
2001
- CCCA worked diligently to ensure the best outcomes related to the Nurse Practice Act and the new medication administration requirements.
- CCCA received two awards from the National Child Care Association (NCCA): The Guiding Star Award for Leadership, and the Brightest Star Award for Overall Achievement.
- CCCA received the President's Award for Recycler of the Year from Colorado Recycles.
2002
- CCCA participated in the Child Care Forum, a dialogue with public officials in response to cut backs in the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP).
- CCCA co-sponsored with the Colorado Children's Campaign a series of open houses, called "Donut Discussions," for political candidates that were hosted at members' centers.
2003
- CCCA succeeded in amending the Booster Seat Bill.
- The CCCA Political Action Committee was formed.
- Two CCCA Board members were appointed to the Child Care Commission.
- The Foundation for Child Care Excellence helped to fund the "Economic Impact of Child Care in Colorado" study.
2004
- The CCCA Web site was developed and recognized by NCCA as an award-winning member service.
- CCCA successfully sponsored HB 04-1254 to prevent non-involved parents being notified when providers are investigated.
- CCCA partnered with CORRA (Colorado Office of Resource and Referral Agencies) on the second of two grants for playground surfacing.
- The Foundation for Child Care Excellence helped to fund a study of unlicensed care in Colorado.
2005
- CCCA's 20th Anniversary.
- CCCA completed a two-year commitment to the Health Regulations rewrite.
- CCCA and NCCA celebrated changes to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) becoming permanent.
- Executive Director Kathryn Hammerbeck was appointed to the Early Childhood and School Readiness Commission.
- CCCA was invited to participate in the Denver Public Schools Task Force on Early Education and School Readiness.
- CCCA joined the Early Childhood State Systems Team.
2006
- CCCA was invited to participate in the E-470 Education Master Plan Task Force.
- CCCA successfully supported SB 06-045, which requires fingerprint background checks for legally exempt providers.
- CCCA became a Smart Start Colorado partner.
2008
As the early childhood profession has moved from “day care” to “child care” to early education/child development, many of our members have branded their programs with early education descriptors: learning center, child development center, and academy, to name a few. In 2008, the Board of Directors decided that it was time that CCCA update its image to reflect the early education services provided by its members. Our new name - the Early Childhood Education Association of Colorado - and our new logo and tag line not only emphasize early education, but the nurturing care that is an important part of our programs.