*Note: Preschool for All wants to share information in any language our providers need. We also want the translation to be accurate and timely. Because of this, we have moved this month's Provider Newsletter to our website. To read this newsletter in another language, use your browser's translate feature (on a computer, right-click and select "Translate"; on a phone or tablet, use the "Translate" option in your browser menu). We're open to feedback on this new method of delivery! Please email us at preschoolforall@multco.us with any questions or ideas.
Note from the Director
Dear Preschool for All Providers,
As my time serving as Interim Director of the Preschool & Early Learning Division comes to a close, I want to pause and share my sincere gratitude with you. Stepping into this role last summer gave me the opportunity to work with providers across our community, and I am deeply thankful for the relationships built, the conversations shared, and the commitment you show every day to children and families. Your partnership, patience, and dedication have meant a great deal to me and to our staff during a time of transition.
While I will be returning my focus to my role as Interim Director within Multnomah County’s Department of County Human Services, I am not going far. I remain deeply invested in the success of Preschool for All and in the collective work to strengthen early learning across Multnomah County. It has been an honor to support PEL alongside such thoughtful, mission-driven providers and staff.
I am also thrilled to share that Danisa McLean joined us in January as the new Director of the Preschool & Early Learning Division. Danisa is a respected leader with proven experience in early education, and will help guide Preschool for All toward universal preschool access in our community. She is eager to formally introduce herself to you soon after she starts. I have great confidence in the leadership she will bring and the future ahead and I look forward to walking alongside her and supporting her in this next chapter.
Again, thank you for all that you do for our beloved community. I look forward to continuing our shared work in new ways.
With appreciation,
Rachel
Updates
Attendance Policy
We have added some additional language to the PFA Attendance Policy to clarify expectations when there is zero attendance for an extended period of time. The changes are in the Low or No Attendance section:
If the family is not responsive to the PFA Provider after multiple communication attempts and there are no known barriers or extenuating circumstances, the PFA Provider may unenroll the child from the program after three weeks of no attendance or 21 calendar days (no attendance and no communication response from the family).
If a child has not been in the program for 30 calendar days the PFA Provider must unenroll the child from the PFA Program even with on-going communication with the family. PFA Providers must give the family a 48 hour notice of the planned un-enrollment date and then un-enroll the child by the end of that identified date.
Please reach out to your Preschool Specialists if you have any questions.
Updated 2026-2027 PFA Teacher Wage Requirements
The PFA teacher wage requirements for the 2026-2027 program year were shared out by email last month. PFA providers are expected to meet wage requirements for all teachers working in classrooms with PFA seats.
Assistant/Aide Minimum Salary | |
|---|---|
| Year | Hourly Salary |
2026-2027 | $23.16 |
Lead Teacher Minimum Salary | ||
|---|---|---|
Qualification Level | Provider/Lead Teacher Minimum Hourly Salary | Provider/Lead Teacher Goal Hourly Salary |
Step 10/BA | $33.15 | $44.20 |
Step 9/AA | $28.18 | $37.57 |
*Step 7 | $24.86 | $33.15 |
*Lead teachers must be paid at the minimum $24.86 even if they are not yet at a Step 7.
How Wages are Calculated
Lead teacher wages are based on the average kindergarten teacher salaries for all K-12 public school districts in Multnomah County. Lead teacher minimum wage requirements are at least 75% of average kindergarten teacher salary in the county at the corresponding qualification level. Lead teacher wages are updated every two years. The last update to the lead teacher wages was for the 24-25 program year.
The assistant teacher wage is based on an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) of Multnomah County. Assistant teacher wages are changed annually.
Please reach out to your Preschool Specialist for questions.
Important Dates
The 2026-2027 PFA Family Application Opens on April 1, 2026
The application will remain open until April 30, 2026 and reopen later in the summer. We will notify providers of opening and closing dates by email and update pfa.multco.us. Families can complete this form to be notified on the application opening date.
Eligible families can apply on our website pfa.multco.us or with the help of a Family Navigator once the application opens. We will send a reminder email to providers on the opening day as well.
PFA Provider Portal
Provider Profiles
Every PFA site has a public provider profile on BridgeCare, our application and enrollment system. This is where families learn about your program and apply for PFA.
- Here are sample provider profiles in English and Spanish.
- Staff with PFA Provider Portal access will be able to review and edit profiles from Feb 13-27. After Feb 27, profiles will be locked and providers will not be able to make changes.
- Your profile shares important details like your contact information, program description, pictures, videos, and staff information.
- These profiles are a great way to tell families about your program! When families apply, they choose their top eight programs. Placement offers only go to families who have selected your program.
- We strongly encourage you to add a program description, staff details, photos, and videos. Families have told us that seeing this information is very helpful when they are choosing a program.
Need Help with the PFA Provider Portal?
Contact the Application and Enrollment Team at pfa.support@multco.us or call 503-988-7818.
PFA Provider Portal Access: New & Departing Staff
If you have a new staff member who needs access to the PFA Provider Portal, please contact us at pfa.support@multco.us.
If staff members leave your organization or no longer need Portal access, please contact us at pfa.support@multco.us to remove them.
Looking for a step-by-step guide on how to complete certain tasks in the Provider Portal?
Check out our instructional videos here. They're also linked in the FAQ section of the PFA Provider Portal.
Inclusion
Provider Resource: Scripted Stories
Scripted stories can be used to help an individual child, or groups of children, follow the expectations of activities, routines, and social situations. Scripted stories can also help a child understand what to expect during activities or routines, the expectations and perspectives of others, as well as providing instructions about what to do during activities. Check out this sample scripted story about friendship skills - it can be shared with the whole class and repeated with individual children or a small group for more intensive support.
Reminder: Inclusion Support Funds Application Opening
Inclusion Support Fund applications are reopening. For funds that start in April, the application opens February 23 and closes March 10.
This is the last application period in which to apply for new staff positions during the 2025-2026 program year. Our team is currently planning Inclusion Support Funds applications for the 2026-2027 program year. Please reach out to your Inclusion Coordinator if you have any questions!
Resources
Limited STEM Kits available for PFA Classrooms
Thank you for the tremendous amount of interest in STEM Kits we received in September! We appreciate your patience while our partners at Early Learning Multnomah assembled an additional 200 STEM Kits to promote culturally specific ways of engaging in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
PFA Providers that did not already receive a STEM Kit in September can schedule a pick-up time or drop-off time with their PFA Program Specialist or PFA coach.
- STEM Kits are limited to two (2) per PFA classroom, and are only available on a first come, first served basis.
- You can place a hold on this PFA Provider STEM Kit Pick Up Form, and follow up with your PFA Program Specialist or PFA Coach to arrange pick-up/drop-off time.
The PFA Provider STEM Kit pick-up form will be updated once all STEM Kits are claimed.
Upcoming Trainings and Professional Development
Scaffolding Family Engagement: The key to engaging ALL families in and out of school for PFA providers and educators
ParentPowered is partnering with Preschool & Early Learning to deliver a professional learning session focused on Scaffolding Family Engagement. The goal of the series is to equip early learning providers and educators with practical strategies to deepen family partnerships and build home-school connections throughout their preschool years.
We have offered eight virtual sessions over the last few months, please note that you only need to sign up for ONE session, but you may attend multiple sessions for refreshers if you would like to.
Virtual Dates:
- Tuesday, March 10, 2026 (6:00 PM -7:30 PM)
- Thursday, March 12, 2025 (1:00 PM -2:30 PM)
- Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (1:00 PM -2:30 PM)
- Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (6:00 PM -7:30 PM)
Interpretation will be available for all virtual sessions. Please inform us at preschoolforall@multco.us if interpretation is needed at least two weeks prior to the date you selected to attend.
Upcoming Curriculum Training Opportunities for Family Child Care (FCC) Providers and Centers: Teaching Strategies Gold
Introduction to Teaching Strategies Gold
These two part, six-hour sessions focus on formative assessment for responsive teaching, encouraging reflection on current practices. Participants will practice using various tools to gather authentic information about children's knowledge, skills, and abilities. The session will leverage developmental progressions to strengthen assessment decision-making and explore digital tools to improve family partnerships and two-way communication.
- Part One: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 (6:00-9:00 PM)
- Part Two: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 (6:00-9:00 PM)
- Register for the virtual session here
To receive certification, you must attend both parts of the training. If participants are joining from the same computer, the trainer cannot give them a certificate unless they also signed up for the workshop. If someone wants a certificate, they should sign up and complete this session separately.
Reminder: Oregon Center for Career Development (OCCD) will be hosting the OCCD Basics training for PFA providers and educators.
Join this session to learn about the Oregon Registry, how Oregon Registry Online (ORO) is designed for the Early Learning Professional, and what resources are available to help you achieve your professional development goals.
Russian Registration: Wednesday, February 25th, 6:30 PM
Spanish Registration: Wednesday, March 10th, 6:30 PM
In Case You Missed It…
Handy Links to Frequently Used Resources
- Version 4 of the PFA Program Guide in English, Spanish, and Russian
- PFA Provider Portal Handbook in English, Spanish, and Russian
- PFA Grievance Policy in English, Spanish and Russian
- PFA Family Handbook in English, Spanish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Dari, and Vietnamese
- PFA Provider Guide: Language Support in English, Spanish, and Russian
- The PFA Facilities Fund Intake Form
- BuildUp Oregon’s Program Guidelines
Post Your Job Openings with Early Learning Works and Multnomah County!
We are working on a Multnomah County job board to share openings at PFA locations! While that is finalized, you can use the Preschool for All Job Posting form created by Portland Community College Early Learning Works. Job Posting Forms are also available in Spanish and Russian. Simply upload information to the form about a job opening(s) you need to fill, and the information will be sent to our Early Learning Career Coaches. These coaches work with individuals seeking employment in the preschool field and can connect your team with qualified applicants! This form is intended to support, not replace, your normal recruitment and hiring practices.
This form will remain active until we launch an expanded job board visible to the public. We want to create a space to connect early learning and care employers with qualified candidates looking for paid employment in early learning and care.
These forms are available to ANY Preschool for All site. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Brady at christopher.brady@pcc.edu or 971-722-4305.