Since 2006, the Denver Preschool Program (DPP) has provided income-based tuition credits directly to a family’s child care provider of choice to help any Denver family (regardless of their income) afford high-quality preschool for their 3- and 4-year-old children. DPP also seeks to improve program quality, conduct community outreach, and advocate for early childhood education policy.
When DPP became interested in better understanding the supply of and demand for care in their program, they brought a working understanding of the supply and demand challenges facing families and providers across the city. DPP leaders then drew on the System Transformation for Equitable Preschools (STEP Forward with Data) Framework to examine supply and demand issues systematically by identifying guiding questions to understand their system; defining the focal population(s) they wanted to support; determining the appropriate data collection and analysis approach; and presenting findings through public-facing modes.
DPP knew that about 40 percent of Denver 4-year-olds were not receiving their tuition credits and primarily sought to identify and address the barriers that have kept these children’s families from accessing high-quality preschool. While DPP had long sensed where these gaps existed, the STEP Forward with Data Framework helped the team isolate answerable questions and examine the findings through an equity lens.
DPP’s approach outlined below illustrates how the program applied the Framework based on their specific goals and local context.
- Step 1. Identify guiding questions.
- Step 2. Define the focal population.
- Step 3. Determine data collection and analysis.
- Step 4. Display findings in public-facing formats.
Using its findings, DPP identified ways to close the gap in access to tuition credits by simplifying and integrating access to care, expanding the supply of care where families need it most, and designing for equity. To learn more about DPP’s process and the considerations that informed this work, including lessons that may be relevant for other communities undertaking similar efforts, read the full spotlight.
The STEP Forward with Data Framework
The Framework is designed to help leaders use data to promote greater equity at every step of the early childhood system. Leaders will better understand the experiences of children, families, or workforce members within their systems through 20 essential questions across six system steps. For more information, visit our website.
Acknowledgements: We sincerely thank Dr. Cristal Cisneros, vice president of evaluation and learning for the Denver Preschool Program, who contributed information that informed this Spotlight.
Suggested Citation: Lin, V. (2026). Spotlight on Denver’s use of the STEP Forward with Data Framework to map supply and demand for key neighborhoods. Child Trends. DOI: 10.56417/877a2693s