Under the current timeline, the Preschool and Early Learning Division will open the family application process for the first slots in mid-April 2022. All children who will be 3- or 4 years old by Thursday, Sept. 1 and have a parent or guardian living in Multnomah County are eligible for the program. The County will announce when the online application and other important information are about to go live in April.
“I’m excited to share that we are on track for the first group of Preschool for All slots to begin this September,” said Leslee Barnes, the Early Learning Division Director. “We are ready to open the first Preschool for All online application in just a few weeks.”
Families who currently have the least access to culturally responsive and inclusive preschool will be prioritized during the outreach and application process. That includes families identifying as Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), families with low-incomes, people experiencing homelessness, children with developmental delays, and families who speak English as a second language.
Voters overwhelmingly supported the Preschool for All ballot measure in November 2020. The approval of Preschool for All (PFA) will give 3- and 4-year-olds in Multnomah County access to free, inclusive, culturally affirming preschool experiences.
The program aims to fill a critical need during a devastating period for childcare providers fueled by the pandemic. There are 300 fewer providers operating in Multnomah County now than in February 2020. That represents a loss of more than 20 percent of childcare providers.
“We didn’t know how badly it was needed, how badly it would be needed,” Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson said. “I think this investment is really incredible, and the fact that we are able to bring in so many children in the first year through this pilot program is wonderful.“
Multnomah County will partner with 36 programs at 48 different pilot sites including schools, centers, and home-based sites. Of the small center and home-based pilot site directors, 68 percent identify as BIPOC, with Black and Latino leaders having the largest representation.
Of the 677 slots, 471 include existing slots in the community that may have been vacant or would otherwise be unavailable to families with lower incomes if it weren’t for Preschool for All. The pilot site locations are concentrated along the I-205 corridor, East County, and North Portland.
“As we build to a new system that provides universal access to preschool, it’s essential that we do that with intention and a focus on racial equity,” said Brooke Chilton Timmons, an analyst with the Early Learning Division. “The Preschool for All plan created a framework for our implementation that included stabilizing existing providers, creating opportunities for new providers, and offering support for providers to expand their businesses.”
The first year will include two main schedules for families: a full day schedule which offers up to 10 hours per day of care and a school day schedule which operates on a traditional school year calendar for approximately six hours per day. Some pilot sites offer care at hours for families with alternate schedules.
As the application process begins, the program is working on informing eligible families through a three-pronged outreach strategy: sharing information with organizations serving priority families, encouraging pilot sites to recruit families, and working with partner agencies to raise awareness.
Culturally-specific agencies will serve as family connector organizations. The organizations can help families complete applications and connect them with community resources. The first family connector organizations include Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Latino Network, Native American Youth and Family Center, and Self Enhancement, Inc.
The County has also identified a physical space—co-located with Childcare Resource and Referral—to house Early Learning Division staff and host trainings and professional development opportunities for preschool providers. The County is currently finalizing a lease agreement for a 12,071-square-foot space in the Downtown Rockwood Development. The full cost of the space will be covered by revenue from the Preschool for All tax.
“I’m really, really happy and excited that you’ve chosen to settle in Rockwood,” Commissioner Lori Stegmann said. “I can't think of a more deserving neighborhood to have this incredible amenity.”
After the first year, the program aims to gradually scale up until reaching full universal access in 2030. Commissioner Sharon Meieran noted the early success of the current timeline and asked how many might be eligible once the program reaches universal access.
“Right now if there aren’t additional investments from the State or Federal government we would anticipate having approximately 11- to 12,000 Preschool for All slots in 2030 when there’s full universal access,” Chilton Timmons said.
In the coming weeks, Multnomah County plans to publish a series of webpages on its public website walking families through the application process for the first 677 slots. Demand may exceed the number of slots. Families will be selected on a need-based basis.
“Immense gratitude for you and your teams—you’re doing a tremendous job,” Chair Deborah Kafoury said. “You have the full support of us here in Multnomah County at the leadership level.”