The Challenge
Colorado’s Universal Preschool (UPK) program launched as a major statewide effort to provide free, voluntary preschool access for children in the year before kindergarten. As a new and complex system, it required families, providers, and communities to quickly understand eligibility, enrollment, and how to participate.
Awareness gaps, confusion about the process, and variations in local implementation created friction at a critical moment. At the same time, the rollout carried significant visibility and scrutiny, as it was a top priority for the Governor and closely watched by legislators, stakeholders, and the media. The challenge was to deliver clear, consistent, and timely communication that built understanding, trust, and confidence—while driving enrollment during a high-stakes launch.
Our Approach
SE2 led communications strategy and messaging to support a clear, coordinated rollout of UPK across the state. This included developing plain-language messaging that simplified complex program details—helping families understand who qualifies, how to enroll, and what to expect.
SE2 worked to align messaging across audiences, ensuring consistency for families, providers, and community partners, even as implementation varied locally. Communications were designed to anticipate and address common points of confusion, reduce uncertainty, and build trust in the program.
Through this strategic approach, SE2 helped create a unified narrative for UPK—making a complex, high-profile policy initiative more accessible, understandable, and actionable for Coloradans.
The Impact
SE2’s work established a strong, strategic foundation for the Universal Preschool communications rollout. The client expressed confidence in the clarity, consistency, and usability of the messaging, noting that it provided a solid framework to guide communications across audiences and partners.
With aligned messaging and a coordinated approach in place, CDEC was better equipped to navigate the complexity of the launch—ensuring information could be delivered clearly and consistently during a high-visibility, high-stakes rollout.
