Preschool for All, developed under the leadership of Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson, will give 3- and 4-year-olds in Multnomah County access to free, high-quality, developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive preschool experiences. The program is slated to grow over time, increasing the number of children and families that it serves each year.
Together, we can ensure children have the opportunities they need to learn and grow, and families have the support they need to earn a living. Measure 26-214 includes strategies to grow the program to full capacity at a sustainable pace while acknowledging existing system capacity constraints and avoiding unintended consequences for providers of color, small businesses, and the existing child care marketplace, especially infant and toddler care. Based on the Preschool for All Task Force recommendations, Measure 26-214 prioritizes adding capacity for children and families with the least access to a preschool today.
There are options that work for Every Family
Parents can choose the qualified preschool program that works best for their child and family. This includes options for public, private, home-based, center-based, and community-based providers, with full-year and school year options, and funding for working families who need before and after school care.
Preschool for All will be a voluntary, tuition-free program, and parents can choose the qualified preschool program that works best for their child and family.