The City of Aspen and Kids First offer Financial Aid for qualifying families to help pay for any child age 5 or under attending licensed childcare in Pitkin County. The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must live or work in Pitkin County, must be working during childcare hours on the days you receive assistance, and must use licensed childcare in Pitkin County.
Financial Aid is based on the parent's ability to pay, much like Financial Aid for higher education. When families apply with us, we calculate their annual gross income, the number of children using childcare, the number of days they attend childcare, and the annual cost of that care. Using 10-15% as a guideline, Kids First pays the amount above that which parents can afford.
Completed applications must be to Kids First prior to these dates:
FEBRUARY 1 for tuition assistance beginning March 1
MAY 1 Annual Deadline -- All participants must re-apply using their most
recent year's Federal Income Tax Return
AUGUST 1 for tuition assistance beginning September 1
NOVEMBER 1 for tuition assistance beginning December 1