Applications are now open for Preschool for All for the 2026–27 school year!
If your child will be 3 or 4 years old on September 1, 2026, and has a parent or legal guardian living in Multnomah County, now is the time to explore your options and apply. Families can apply this month at pfa.multco.us. Applications submitted during the spring application period are considered together, so this opportunity is not first come, first served.
That means families don’t need to rush through the process. In fact, we encourage the opposite! Take time to look through your options and think about what matters most for your child and family before you submit your application.
Preschool for All is built on family choice. Families can choose and rank up to eight preschool sites on their application, and the best applications are thoughtful ones – the ones where families take time to explore programs, think about location and schedule, and choose the options that feel right for their child and family. PFA includes a wide range of settings, including centers, schools, and home-based programs, because high-quality preschool can look different for different families.
And this year, one message matters especially:
Please don’t count yourself out!
In our earlier years, some families may have assumed that Preschool for All was meant for someone else. This year, we want families across Multnomah County to know: this opportunity is for you, too.
Preschool for All was created so that families across Multnomah County can access free, high-quality, culturally responsive preschool. The program continues to grow each year, with more preschool sites, more participating providers, and more opportunities for families to find a program that works for them.
For families, that means this is a good time to apply. For the community, it means this is a good time to help spread the word!
Ways to help right now:
Preschool for All reaches more families when community members, partners, and supporters help amplify the message. If you want to support the program this month, here are a few simple ways to help:
Share our outreach flyers
If you work with families, have community space, or know places where parents and caregivers gather, help us get Preschool for All flyers into the world. You can download Preschool for All outreach flyers in multiple languages and share them where families will see them.
Engage with PFA on social media
Follow along, like posts, and share them with your networks. That kind of interaction helps more families see application reminders and helpful information! You can follow Preschool for All on Instagram and Facebook.
Request a supporter sign
A simple sign in your yard or window can help build visibility in neighborhoods and spark conversations with families who may not know they should apply. You can request a Preschool for All supporter sign to help spread the word!
Snap and share what you see
Throughout the month, if you spot a Preschool for All TriMet bus ad or see the Morrison Bridge lit up in PFA colors, take a photo, share it, and tag us! These visible reminders help more families know that applications are open and that Preschool for All is here for them.
Tell one family directly
Sometimes the most effective outreach is personal. If you know a family with a child who may be eligible, encourage them to take a look. Many families still assume Preschool for All is “for someone else.” A direct nudge can make all the difference.
Need help applying?
Families do not have to figure it all out on their own.
Preschool for All offers application support through the website, step-by-step videos, and direct support from the team. Families can watch Preschool for All family application videos to learn more about eligibility, how to choose preschool options, and what happens after they apply. Families can also get help with a Preschool for All application if they have questions or want support.
Preschool for All exists because our community believes young children deserve a strong start! Families, educators, providers, and partners have helped build this program, and that shared effort continues to matter. When more people help spread the word, more families can find and access preschool opportunities that work for them.
Applications are open now at pfa.multco.us.