Colorado’s youngest citizens and their families received a positive boost in support after this year’s legislative session, in part due to several major policies passed into law. From implementing a new early childhood state department, improving access to health care for Colorado’s immigrant populations, and reforming our tax policy to support working families, Colorado took major steps toward making our state the best place to raise a family. 

For children to thrive, they need access to healthy and nourishing food every day. Clayton’s whole child, whole family approach to the early years puts health and wellness at the forefront of our work.  

Our school, Educare Denver, is part of a network of 25 early education schools across the nation that continually aims to better the lives of our children and families by researching best practices in early education. Since 2008, the Educare Learning Network (ELN) study has evaluated the progress of children and families enrolled in Educare and uses that data to provide practical suggestions for improving the program. Clayton’s Research & Evaluation Team has been an integral part of this study, working with our Educational Services Team to collect and analyze information from our students and families and provide that data to the national study.  

On April 25th, Governor Jared Polis visited Clayton Early Learning to sign House Bill 1295, a historic bill creating the Department of Early Childhood and providing universal preschool. In fall 2023, every 4-year-old in Colorado will have access to 10 hours of free preschool, saving families an average of $4,300 per year, while providing young children with the early childhood experiences they need for success in kindergarten and beyond. 

Diapers and wipes are essential for families with young children, but as any parent knows, they can be expensive. That is why Clayton is grateful to partner with WeeCycle, a nonprofit organization that has been serving Colorado’s families for over a decade with diapers, baby wipes, and gently used baby gear.  

Teaching can take a toll on educators, both mentally and physically, and in the past couple of years, it's gotten even harder. EMBRACE™ is a program created at Clayton that aims to help educators manage their day-to-day stress with mindfulness techniques. Since 2017, EMBRACE™ has been helping educators improve their mindfulness, and Clayton’s Research & Evaluation department recently analyzed the overall effectiveness of the program with promising findings.