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
Zach’s Place serves children ages 2.5 through 18, making us one of the few child care and respite programs in the Colorado Springs area that supports children across such a broad age range. This includes school-age children who need care before and after the school day as well as children who require specialized support during those hours.
During the intake process, we’ll ask for your child’s health records including current immunizations and a recent physical exam, any relevant care plans or IEP documents, emergency contact information, and details about your child’s needs, preferences, and daily routines. This helps us prepare to provide the most supportive experience possible from your child’s very first day.
Our team will provide a checklist during the enrollment process, which may include health records, emergency contacts, and any necessary care plans. Preparing these in advance helps ensure a smooth transition for your child.
Yes. Zach’s Place is specifically designed and staffed to support children with a wide range of developmental needs, including autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities. We are the only licensed child care facility in the Pikes Peak Region that specializes in care for children with disabilities alongside their typically developing peers. Our team works with each family to understand their child’s individual needs before enrollment.
Children in inclusive classrooms consistently develop stronger communication skills, greater empathy, and better social adaptability than peers in non-inclusive settings. At Zach’s Place, neurotypical children learn to collaborate with peers of different abilities, which builds the flexibility and perspective-taking that are proven predictors of long-term social and academic success.
Yes. Zach’s Place is a licensed Universal Pre-K (UPK) provider. Eligible families can receive up to 15 hours of free, high-quality preschool per week in the year before kindergarten. Some families qualify for additional hours depending on income and other factors. Contact us to check your eligibility.
Our staff are trained to support children across a broad range of developmental profiles in an inclusive classroom environment. Activities are thoughtfully adapted so that children with and without disabilities can participate together, each benefiting from the interaction. We maintain small group sizes, have an RN on staff, and coordinate closely with families to ensure each child’s individual needs are met throughout the day.
Families can contact Zach’s Place directly through our website or call our office to schedule a tour. We encourage parents to visit and experience our inclusive preschool environment firsthand.
Yes. Zach’s Place offers flexible short-term child care options for families visiting Colorado Springs or needing temporary support. Availability depends on scheduling and enrollment requirements, so we encourage families to contact us in advance.
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.
