Enrollment Process

We are currently accepting applications for enrollment on a rolling basis.

If you are interested in enrolling your child, please view our virtual tour and fill out the application below. Once a spot is offered, we are happy to give you an in-person tour.

Enrollment Application Process

The Auraria Early Learning Center serves students, employees, and community members and accepts enrollment applications on a rolling basis. If a space is not currently available, your child’s application will remain active in the enrollment pool until one of the following occurs:

• Your child is enrolled
• Your child ages out of eligibility
• You request removal of the application
• You do not respond to an enrollment offer
• You do not respond to AELC’s request to confirm continued interest

Families are expected to respond to all AELC communications within 24 hours to remain active in the pool.

Enrollment Windows

The center conducts enrollment windows for Fall, Summer, and Spring semesters. Current enrollment periods include:

Applications are reviewed and prioritized based on multiple factors, including (but not limited to) campus affiliation, sibling enrollment, child’s age, and date submitted. Space is limited and enrollment is not guaranteed. In some cases, an enrollment offer may not be extended for 1–3 years due to limited availability.

Application & Fees

Please complete an application for each child you wish to enroll.

A $50 application fee per child is required at the time of submission. Applications are not complete and cannot be considered until the application fee is received. Under Colorado law (SB 25-004), application fees are used to cover administrative costs and include specific refund rights.

Application Fee Refund Policy

If your student is offered a spot and you refuse it, the entire application fee is retained.  If you are not offered a spot within six months of submitting a completed application, AELC retains $25 of the application fee to cover administrative processing and the remaining $25 may be refunded if a written request is submitted. If you request and are issued a refund, your submission will be removed from the waitlist. You will need to submit another enrollment inquiry to be added back on the waitlist to restart the enrollment application process. Written refund requests must be emailed to: emily.nelson@ahec.edu

Enrollment Offers & Declines

If AELC offers a placement and the family declines the spot, the application fee is not refundable.
Families who decline an offer may request to remain in the application pool for one additional enrollment round. After two declined offers, the application will be removed, and a new application and fee will be required to reapply.

Registration Fee

If a space is offered and accepted, a $100 registration fee and pre-registration form are required within 24 hours to secure the placement. Once received the family will have 2 weeks to complete necessary paperwork requirements per licensing and AELC policy. Incomplete packets will not be accepted, and family may forfeit spot if not received.