Application Status
The Preschool for All Pilot Site Application is now open March 7th through April 7th.
There are two times a year when you can apply to be a Preschool for All Provider. One is in the spring, and the other is in the summer.
Not many PFA seats are given out during the spring application time and the application is mostly for providers who:
- Are already qualified and did not meet the most recent facility readiness deadline
- Are already qualified and did not get PFA seats
- Want to apply for the BuildUp Oregon facilities fund? You have to apply and get accepted into Preschool for All first to get this funding.
Application Overview
The Preschool for All Pilot Site application opens twice a year: in the late winter/early spring and the summer. Providers who score 70% or above on their application become a qualified provider. Becoming a qualified provider does not guarantee that a provider will receive a Preschool for All contract. Qualified providers remain qualified for five years and do not need to reapply each year.
Preschool for All providers must have at least three years of experience operating preschool. Experience in operations or management in early learning for groups between 0 and 5 years will be considered.
Each location's licensing history will also be reviewed as part of the process. We encourage providers to regularly review their licensing history in the child care safety portal to ensure that it is accurate. If you have questions about your licensing history, please reach out to the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Child Care Licensing Division.
Slot Allocation
Each year, a group of PEL staff and PFA partners decide on the total number of PFA slots qualified providers get. All qualified providers are considered.. The group makes slot decisions based on different information:
- how many slots providers ask for
- preschool site location(s)
- family needs, and
- the provider’s experience working with PFA priority populations
The group also uses the following standards when decided on the number of PFA slots for new PFA Providers:
Certified Family Child Care
- New providers who offer infant/toddler care can receive up to 12 seats in their first year
Registered Family Child Care
- New providers can receive up to 6 seats in their first year
Child Care Centers
- New Child Care Centers can receive up to 20 seats in their first year
For culturally specific organizations, non-profits, and Head Start agencies, with previous early learning experience they can receive up to their desired amount of seats.
Application Process Steps
- Step 1: Providers apply.
- Step 2: Providers whose applications score 70% or above become qualified. All providers are notified via email if they qualified or not.
- Step 3: Additional information about qualified providers is reviewed for:
- Experience in early learning management and operations
- Licensing history
- Alignment with PFA program expectations (this includes the provider’s application, website, and publicly available information)
- Step 4: Preschool for All staff follow-up with qualified providers if there are questions about the program meeting PFA expectations. These questions may include inclusion, avoiding suspension and expulsion, and program hours.
- Step 5: Preschool for All slot allocation. Qualified providers who meet the years of experience, licensing expectations, program hour requirements, and who are committed to following PFA policies continue in the process. All providers are notified if they will receive PFA slots.
Applications by Setting Type
If you are a:
- Family Child Care (FCC) Provider or an
- Owner of a Single-Site Center that is licensed for less than 100 children
Please follow the application instructions on this page.
If your organization/business is a:
- Center licensed for 100 children or more,
- Center with more than one location,
- Non-Profit or Community-Based Organization,
- Public Charter School, or a
- Private School
Please use the RFPQ instructions on this page.
If your organization is a:
- School District or a
- Government Organization, including Public Colleges and Universities
Please follow the application instructions on this page.