In the first year of the pandemic, Colorado鈥檚 kindergarten enrollment plummeted. A year later, many young students are back in public schools, with statewide kindergarten enrollment trending back up.

Early childhood educators are leaving the field due to issues ranging from low wages to stress that were exacerbated by the pandemic. Now, it鈥檚 harder and more expensive for working parents to find spots for their young children.

Today on Colorado Edition, we talk to early childhood educators about how they鈥檝e been impacted by the ongoing pandemic. And we learn how the end of wildfire season can impact the mental health of firefighters.

Most schools in Colorado are back to in-person learning 鈥� which, for some students, has meant a return to a routine closer to the pre-pandemic 鈥渘ormal.鈥� But young students who spent a formative year at home are experiencing a more stark adjustment.

Destiny Martinez sits at a small table in the hallway of Murphy Creek, working on reading exercises with three second graders. The 23-year-old is a鈥�

A few months ago, Tricia Shields was having a regular day at work. 鈥淚 think I was daydreaming at my desk,鈥� says Shields, a resident of Parker, Colorado,鈥�

The first three years of a child's life are the most important to their development, according to a new, national report ranking how well states are鈥�

Starting next year, some parents in Larimer County will pay more for full-day kindergarten.The Poudre School District Board of Education voted to raise鈥�

Sarah Marsh is a preschool teacher who works with four- and five-year-olds at a school in Erie, Colorado. She loves her job."The moment where a kid first鈥�

鈥淕roovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown鈥� is the 2018 One Book 4 Colorado winner. The book, chosen specifically for 4-year-olds, was announced by Gov. John鈥�