Will the Colorado Early Intervention budget be cut?
Colorado’s Early Intervention (EI) program faced proposed cuts in early 2025 due to a state budget shortfall, but those cuts were paused after public pushback. As of early 2026, services are still available, though long-term funding remains uncertain.
In early 2025, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood proposed reducing EI funding by about 10 percent in response to a projected state budget deficit. Initial proposals included limiting services to four hours per month and restricting eligibility to Medicaid-enrolled children.
These changes were scheduled to begin in March 2025 but were put on hold after strong advocacy from families, providers, and lawmakers. Since then, state officials have been working to stabilize funding, although financial pressure remains. Families can follow updates directly through the Colorado Early Intervention program.
Despite this uncertainty, EI services are still active and available statewide. The program supports children from birth to age three with developmental delays or disabilities and provides services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and developmental support at no cost to families. It is authorized under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Families are encouraged to apply early, since evaluations are free and early access to services is linked to better developmental outcomes. While EI funding may fluctuate, some services remain more stable. For example, ABA therapy coverage through Medicaid is typically separate. You can explore this further in Alpaca’s guide to insurance coverage or start the intake process directly.
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