Affordable Child Care in Colorado Springs
What Families Need to Know
Finding quality child care in Colorado Springs that fits your budget shouldn’t feel impossible. Between rising costs of living, limited openings at reputable centers, and the pressure of choosing the right environment for your child, many families feel stuck before they even get started.
At Zach’s Place at the Laurie Hillyard Family Center, we believe every child deserves a nurturing, enriching environment — regardless of household income. Our sliding-fee-scale model and community-supported mission make affordable child care a reality for families across Colorado Springs.
Why Affordable Child Care Matters to Colorado Springs Families
The average cost of full-time daycare in Colorado Springs approaches $20 per hour — a figure that puts quality care out of reach for many working families. Yet choosing a lower-cost option shouldn’t mean sacrificing safety, structure, or a caring environment for your child.
Zach’s Place was founded in 1998 with a simple belief: no family should be turned away because of an inability to pay. More than 25 years later, that commitment still guides everything we do.
How Our Sliding-Fee Scale Works
At Zach’s Place, your child care costs are based on your household income — not a flat rate. This means:
- Families with lower incomes qualify for reduced rates
- Families with higher incomes pay closer to the standard rate
- Every family, regardless of fee level, receives the same high-quality, compassionate care
Our rates can be as low as $9 per hour, compared to the Colorado Springs area average of nearly $20 — a difference that can add up to thousands of dollars each year for a family.
Because Zach’s Place is supported by foundation grants, individual donors, and community sponsors, we’re able to keep rates accessible without compromising the quality of care your child receives.
Get Care. Give Care.
When you choose Zach’s Place, you’re not just finding affordable child care for your family — you’re helping make care possible for another.
Our “Get Care, Give Care” model means that families who pay at or near the standard rate help subsidize care for families with greater financial need. It’s a community-minded approach to child care that reflects our mission to promote, strengthen, and support individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.
Think of it this way: you choose Zach’s Place because it’s the right place for your child. And in doing so, you help ensure another family — one that may not have any other options — gets the same quality care.
What Your Child Gains at Zach’s Place
Affordable doesn’t mean basic. At Zach’s Place, children of all abilities benefit from a rich daily experience that includes:
Inclusive Learning Environment
Our classrooms bring together children with and without disabilities, creating natural opportunities for empathy, cooperation, and social growth. Research consistently shows that children in inclusive settings develop stronger communication skills and a deeper sense of community.
Life Skills Development
From preparing simple meals and personal hygiene routines to community outings at local Colorado Springs destinations like Garden of the Gods and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, our programming builds the practical skills that serve children for a lifetime.
Creative and Physical Activities
Art projects, music, gardening through our Gardens Grow program, and outdoor play are woven into every week. Children stay active, curious, and engaged in an environment where learning feels like fun.
Qualified, Caring Staff
Every member of our team is trained to support children with diverse developmental needs. We maintain small group sizes to ensure your child receives individualized attention in a safe, welcoming space.
Universal Preschool (UPK): Free Preschool Hours for Colorado Families
Zach’s Place is a licensed Universal Pre-K (UPK) provider, which means eligible Colorado families can access up to 15 hours of free, high-quality preschool in the year before kindergarten — at no cost.
Some families qualify for additional hours based on income, work schedule, or other qualifying factors. If your child will be kindergarten-age in the coming school year, contact us to find out whether you qualify for free preschool hours through Colorado’s UPK program.
Flexible Scheduling That Fits Your Life
We understand that child care needs aren’t one-size-fits-all. Zach’s Place offers:
- Full-time and part-time enrollment options
- Before and after school care
- Weekend care availability
- Summer programming
Our doors are open Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and our team works with families to find scheduling arrangements that actually work — not just what’s convenient for us.
Colorado Tax Credits for Child Care Contributions
Colorado offers a Child Care Contribution Tax Credit for donors who contribute to qualifying nonprofits like Zach’s Place. If you’re a business owner or individual looking to offset tax liability while supporting accessible child care in the community, we’d be glad to tell you more about how this works.
Come See Zach’s Place for Yourself
If you’re searching for affordable child care in Colorado Springs, we invite you to visit us. Schedule a tour of Zach’s Place at the Laurie Hillyard Family Center and see firsthand what makes our inclusive, community-supported environment different.
Every child deserves a great start. At Zach’s Place, we make sure cost is never the reason a child misses out on one.
📞 Call us: 719-447-8983 | 📍 4795 Granby Cir, Colorado Springs, CO 80919
FAQs about SKSF Child Care in Colorado Springs
Look for programs with a structured daily routine, trained and credentialed educators, small group sizes, a play-based and life-skills-integrated curriculum, and a track record in your community. Ask about teacher-to-child ratios, how the program handles transitions, and whether it supports children with diverse learning needs. Zach’s Place checks every one of these boxes — and we’re happy to answer any questions during a tour.
Zach’s Place operates on a sliding-fee scale based on household income, which means costs are adjusted to reflect what your family can realistically afford. Rates can be as low as $9 per hour for qualifying families. To find out what rate applies to your family, contact us to schedule an intake assessment — we’ll walk you through everything in a private, no-pressure conversation.
Yes. Our staff are trained to support children with diverse developmental needs in a structured, nurturing environment. We encourage families to share specific care details during enrollment discussions so we can ensure the best experience.
Enrollment is easy. Complete an application at sksfcolorado.org, then gather your child’s current shot records and a recent physical. We’ll schedule a site visit and intake assessment to get to know your child and make sure we’re a great fit. We encourage families to apply early — spaces fill quickly, especially for UPK-eligible children.
We understand that families sometimes need child care for a limited time due to travel, relocation, medical appointments, or unexpected situations. Our team works with families to explore short-term enrollment options based on space and staffing availability. We encourage you to call us today to see if Zach’s Place is a fit for your short-term child care needs in Colorado Springs.
To overcome inclusion barriers, childcare providers should engage in ongoing staff training focused on inclusive practices, develop strong partnerships with families to tailor individualized supports, and collaborate closely with early intervention specialists. These strategies enhance providers’ ability to create supportive, adaptable environments that meet the unique needs of children with disabilities within Colorado Springs inclusive child care programs.
Inclusive child care refers to early childhood programs that integrate children with disabilities alongside their typically developing peers, providing adapted activities and individualized support. In Colorado Springs, such inclusive settings are vital as they foster life skills development, cognitive growth, and social competence for children with disabilities, ensuring they have equal opportunities to learn and thrive within a supportive community.
Absolutely. Zach’s Place is an inclusive child care center that welcomes children of all abilities. Neurotypical children benefit from learning alongside peers with diverse needs — gaining empathy, communication skills, and a broader perspective on the world from an early age.
How do inclusive child care programs support life skills development for children with disabilities?
Inclusive child care programs intentionally design or modify activities to promote critical life skills such as motor skill development and language acquisition. By integrating these focused approaches within an inclusive atmosphere, children with disabilities in Colorado Springs gain foundational abilities necessary for overall growth and future societal participation while benefiting from peer interactions and play-based learning.
These programs also provide valuable resources and support for families, helping them navigate the challenges of raising a child with disabilities. By offering inclusive child care options, Colorado Springs is not only promoting equality and inclusivity but also fostering an environment where all children can thrive and reach their full potential.
Respite care is planned, temporary care specifically designed to give caregivers of individuals with disabilities a break from their caregiving responsibilities. Unlike general child care, respite care is provided by staff trained in supporting individuals with a range of developmental and physical disabilities — and is specifically intended to support the sustainability of family caregiving. At Zach’s Place, respite care and child care exist side by side, and children in both settings receive the same high-quality, inclusive experience.
