News and Updates from the Multnomah County Preschool & Early Learning Division | | |
Dear Preschool for All Community,
This November, gratitude is at the heart of our work. Each day, we’re thankful for the families, educators, community partners, and taxpayers whose support makes Preschool for All possible, and for the resilience our community continues to show through challenging times.
We also know that many of our neighbors are facing new hardships. The recent reduction in SNAP food benefits affected thousands of Multnomah County families, making it harder to put food on the table. And recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity has caused fear and uncertainty for many families.
Our role at Preschool for All is to listen, stay informed, and act where we can. In response to these events, our team quickly shared multilingual food resource information with providers and families, helping connect them to food resources through 211, the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC), and Multnomah County’s food resource page. We’ve also reaffirmed our commitment to County and State guidance that upholds safety, dignity, and sanctuary for all residents.
Even amid difficulty, there are successes to celebrate this month. Preschool for All continues to grow, with new seats, new providers, and new opportunities for families to participate in shaping the program’s future. You’ll find stories in this issue about mid-year expansion, community engagement, and the incredible educators who make PFA thrive.
Thank you for being part of this community and for all you do to support children and families in Multnomah County.
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Rachel Pearl
Interim Director
Preschool & Early Learning Division (PEL)
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Welcoming New Providers & Celebrating Mid-Year Seat Growth
Preschool for All is growing again! We’re excited to welcome new providers and celebrate the addition of more than 240 new PFA seats this winter. These new openings mean over 3,800 tuition-free preschool seats are available through PFA this school year!
The mid-year expansion includes both new provider partners and current partners adding more PFA classrooms. It’s one more step toward our goal of universal preschool for all kids in our county by 2030.
Watch KGW’s coverage, which includes interviews with a PFA parent and provider!
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St. James Child Development Center on the Power of PFA
At St. James Child Development Center in downtown Portland, director Patrick Earnest says the impact of Preschool for All is unmistakable. “PFA is literally life-changing for our families,” he shares.
With 60 preschool seats, including 20 PFA seats and 15 more on the way, Patrick has seen firsthand how families describe the experience. “It feels like winning the lottery!” He encourages other providers to join the program, noting that “it’s doing so much good for everybody.”
Watch this video to hear Patrick’s story and see how Preschool for All is transforming opportunities for children and families!
Building and Supporting the Early Learning Workforce
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Preschool for All is investing in the people who make preschool possible. In 2024-25, more than 850 individuals participated in coaching, scholarships, college programs, and culturally responsive training funded by PFA!
These investments recruit new educators, support professional growth, and raise wages for preschool teachers.
Read our Fall 2025 Workforce Development Brief.
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Community Voices Help Shape Preschool for All
PFA was created by and for the Multnomah County community, and we continue to rely on community voice to guide our work. Recently, Lara Media Services led an extensive engagement process that connected with more than 2,000 residents through surveys, focus groups, and interviews.
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Their Community Engagement Report highlights what families, providers, and partners shared about what’s working well and where there’s room to grow. This report was designed to inform the Technical Advisory Group that will make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners about potential changes to the PFA tax.
We created a companion document – PEL Reflections on Lara Media Community Engagement Findings – to show how we’re already acting on community feedback, where we see opportunities for improvement, and how we’ll continue learning and adapting as PFA grows.
Together, these two new publications paint a picture of how the community’s insights are shaping the future of Preschool for All.
PFA Launches Family Engagement Committee
This year, we’ll launch the new PFA Family Engagement Committee, and we’re inviting families and community partners to apply! This committee is a place for families to share their ideas and experiences to help improve PFA.
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Members will meet quarterly, and will be compensated for their time. The group will represent the diversity of families across Multnomah County, and will help ensure that family voices are at the heart of Preschool for All.
The application is open through December 5, 2025. Apply for the PFA Family Engagement Committee or share with someone who might be interested!
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PFA at the Board of County Commissioners
The Board of County Commissioners continues its active engagement on the future of Preschool for All. Following up on important discussions held this summer regarding the path to universal access, major cost factors, and the strong economic and community benefits of PFA, the Board is planning a series of meetings over the coming months.
The next two Board sessions are scheduled for November 18 and December 16. November 18 will focus on the work and purpose of the Technical Advisory Group and the Program Advisory Group. This will include a presentation that was originally scheduled for the Thursday, November 6 work session. PEL will brief the Board on December 16. We’ll continue to share updates as the Board moves toward key decisions about PFA's universal expansion.
National Children’s Funding Project Highlights PFA
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Multnomah County’s Preschool for All program is featured in a profile by the Children’s Funding Project, a national organization that helps communities create sustainable public funding for kids. The profile highlights how local voters made PFA possible – approving a dedicated tax in 2020 to fund free, high-quality preschool for every 3- and 4-year-old by 2030.
The Children’s Funding Project recognizes Preschool for All in Multnomah County as a national example of what’s possible when equity, community partnership, and strong public investment come together to expand opportunity for young children and families!
Read the full profile.
| | Important Dates & Upcoming Events | | |
Tuesday, November 18, 2025: Board of County Commissioners work session on Preschool for All
Friday, December 5, 2025: Applications close for PFA’s new Family Engagement Committee. Apply for the Family Engagement Committee now!
Tuesday, December 9, 2025: PFA Advisory Committee Meeting. Learn about the Advisory Committee.
Tuesday, December 16, 2025: Board of County Commissioners briefing on Preschool for All
Now through January 2025: The PFA Family Application is open!
Hundreds of new PFA seats have been added for the current 2025-26 preschool year. Families who didn’t apply in the spring can submit an application anytime through January 2026. Apply for the 2025-26 preschool year!
Families who applied in the spring and are on a waitlist can update their preschool choices. For help with your application, or to update your current preschool choices, contact pfa.support@multco.us or call 503-988-7818.
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Share Your PFA Story
Have you and your child participated in Preschool for All? We’re looking for stories from families to help show the impact of the program, and to inspire others to join! Whether it’s a favorite classroom moment, a meaningful connection with a teacher, or how PFA supported your family’s journey, we’d love to hear from you.
Share your story with us.
Show Your Support for Preschool for All with a Sign!
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Now more than ever, it's crucial to show strong community support for initiatives that benefit everyone. You can easily demonstrate your commitment to Preschool for All by planting a PFA supporter sign in your yard or window, or sharing them in your neighborhood. Signs are available in English and Spanish.
PFA supporter signs are a great way to visibly advocate for accessible early childhood education throughout the county. If you'd like one, or several to distribute, please fill out this survey to help us coordinate the best way to get them to you.
And if you spot a PFA sign in your community, snap a picture and share it on Instagram! Be sure to tag us @multcopreschoolforall!
Start a Career in Early Learning
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Are you looking for a rewarding job that helps young children grow? There are many exciting opportunities to become an early childhood educator! Our Early Learning Works initiative with Worksystems offers training, career coaching, and even paid opportunities to help you start or grow your career in this important field.
Learn more about becoming an early childhood educator!
| | Families & Educators Thrive Through Preschool for All | | |
At Magic Shapes Child Care in SE Portland, provider Gabriela Delgado and the families she serves are celebrating big changes! After completing PFA’s Pathways Program and becoming a Preschool for All provider this fall, Gaby has been able to remodel her space, strengthen her team, and offer tuition-free, culturally responsive preschool to families who say the program has brought stability, confidence, and community – for parents and children alike.
Read Gaby’s story on our blog!
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Black Parent Initiative Joins PFA’s Family Connector Network
Preschool for All works with trusted community partners – which we call Family Connector Organizations (FCOs) – to help families learn about the program and get support during the application process.
We’re excited to welcome Black Parent Initiative (BPI) as our newest partner in this network, which also includes IRCO, NAYA, and Latino Network. Together, our FCOs help ensure families across Multnomah County have access to information, guidance, and preschool opportunities that meet their needs.
Learn how Family Connector Organizations support families.
Outdoor Education Thrives with Support of the PFA Facilities Fund
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Thanks to a grant from the PFA Facilities Fund managed by BuildUp Oregon (BUO), outdoor education is flourishing at Melody's Munchkins, a PFA site in Corbett! The center was able to install a perimeter fence, securing three acres of natural landscape.
This update has been a very positive change for the program, allowing their students to safely play and learn in nature every day. “Because they’re outside, students can run, yell, and climb. We don’t have to say ‘no’ as much to them.” The freedom to explore promotes autonomy, emotional regulation, and deep, hands-on learning.
Read more about the project on the BUO blog!
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National Spotlight: New Mexico's Bold Move Toward Free Universal Child Care
The push for universal access to quality early childhood education is gaining momentum across the country! In a recent piece, USA Today spotlights New Mexico’s groundbreaking initiative to implement free universal child care.
As Preschool for All continues to expand and deepen its impact here in Multnomah County, we’re inspired to see other states making major investments in children and families.
Read the USA Today article and see how programs like ours are part of a nationwide movement!
| | PFA Explained: How Feedback Shapes the Program | | |
Preschool for All was built through a community-driven planning process, and that same spirit continues today! Every year, the Multnomah County Preschool & Early Learning Division reviews data, gathers feedback, and makes improvements based on what we hear from families and providers. This process, called continuous improvement, is what helps PFA grow stronger over time.
Right now, PFA is in its initial implementation stage, meaning we’re still refining and adapting the program on the way to reaching full implementation by 2030. Listening deeply to the people most impacted by the program is a core part of how we’ll get there.
We collect feedback in many ways. Families and providers share their experiences through annual surveys, focus groups, and informal conversations. We also partner with Boston University’s Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED) for independent data collection. When we notice consistent themes, we make changes.
To strengthen this ongoing dialogue, PFA has launched new community engagement groups for providers and families this year! These groups will meet quarterly to share ideas that directly shape program policies, communication strategies, and resources. Many updates to program policies and practices – like reduced insurance barriers for family child care providers and establishment of a PFA family newsletter – grew out of conversations with members of our community. We’re looking forward to offering more structured opportunities for these conversations to take place.
By learning together, Preschool for All keeps evolving toward our community’s goal of universal, high-quality preschool that works for everyone.
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Feedback or ideas for our upcoming newsletter issues?
We'd love to hear from you!
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