April 2024 Newsletter

News and Updates from the Multnomah County Preschool & Early Learning Division

A Note From Our Director

Dear Preschool for All Community,

The family application for 2024-25 Preschool for All seats is open! Each year around this time, I get the opportunity to visit new PFA sites, and it’s always a highlight for me. We’ve got such a good variety of settings and providers with such a strong diversity of backgrounds. I love to hear their stories and share their excitement as they take this new step in their business by partnering with Preschool for All.

As we step further into 2024, I want to make sure you've seen our latest Preschool for All Implementation Update. We're proud of the strides we've made this year.

With just under 1,400 seats available this year, over 2,000 next year, and a goal of universal access by 2030, Preschool for All is on track to give every child the opportunity to thrive.

And as the Implementation Update shows, our program is not just about funding seats, but also about strategic and much needed investments in infrastructure, teacher recruitment and training, and support for small, diverse child care businesses. 

Our first two program years have been marked by many significant milestones in our journey toward universal preschool, and it is my pleasure to highlight some of these developments that demonstrate our commitment and progress.

Sincerely, 

Leslee Barnes

Preschool & Early Learning Division Director



The 2024-25 PFA Family Application is open!

Families can now visit pfa.multco.us to apply for the 2024-25 preschool year! The program is free, and new seats start in September 2024. The last day to apply will be April 30, 2024.



The Hadiyah Miller Scholarship Fund: Celebrating a Legacy

Across Oregon’s early childhood landscape, certain individuals stand out for their unrelenting dedication, progressive thinking, and advocacy. Hadiyah Miller, who passed in September of 2022, was one of those change-makers, leaving an indelible mark on the field through her commitment to anti-bias education, classroom practices centered in justice, and the wellbeing of young learners and the adults who care for them.

As we reflect on her career and enduring impact, it is with deep respect and gratitude that we announce the opening of the Hadiyah Miller Scholarship Fund. This fund is a 'thank you' for her enduring legacy and commitment to uplifting the next generation of early childhood educators.

Read more on our blog.

The PFA Facilities Fund is Now Open!

We've partnered with BuildUp Oregon to administer the PFA Facilities Funding. They will provide expert guidance to providers, child care centers, and affordable housing developers looking to preserve or increase slots in either Multnomah County’s Preschool for All program, or a facility co-located within affordable housing anywhere in the state. You can learn more at www.BuildUpOregon.org.

With the stability of PFA funding to fill in their gaps, 20% of Preschool for All providers who participated in 2022-23 were able to expand into a second location for their next year in the program. The Preschool for All Facilities Fund will accelerate this growth and create new opportunities for providers to expand their programs and open new facilities.



New Research Briefs from our External Evaluators

We're thrilled to share the first two research briefs from our external evaluation partners at Boston University's Center on the Ecology of Early Development. These briefs provide valuable insights into the impact and progress of Preschool for All in Multnomah County.

The first brief, Centering Equity in Planning & Implementation of Multnomah County Preschool for All, highlights the program's success in centering families in the planning process and providing access to free preschool for families from priority populations.

The second, Envisioning Success in Multnomah County Preschool for All, shares data collected from community leaders, preschool pilot site program directors, and families with children enrolled in PFA to better understand how the community envisions and defines success for PFA. 

Board of County Commissioners Receives PFA Implementation Updates and Discusses Possible Delay for Planned PFA Tax Increase

The Board had two recent opportunities to learn more about and discuss Preschool for All. You can watch the Board briefing on PFA implementation and a work session regarding a proposed delay in the planned PFA tax increase.

April 17, 2024: Facilities Funding Webinar for child care providers. Register!

April 22, 2024: PFA Pilot Site Application for providers closes. Learn more.

April 25, 2024: Chair's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget is released. Learn more.

April 30, 2024: PFA Family Application closes. Learn more and apply!

April 30, 2024: PFA Advisory Committee Meeting. Learn more.

May 14, 2024: Community Partner Meeting, 12pm. Learn more and register.

A Resource to Help You Speak Confidently about PFA

We've developed a short Fast Facts resource that addresses common questions about Preschool for All. Share this info with your friends and neighbors!

Plant a PFA Supporter sign this spring!

Preschool for All supporter signs are blooming around the county!

Would you like one, or several to share in your community? Fill out this survey to help us determine the best way to get them to you.

If you see a sign in the wild, snap a picture, post it on Instagram and tag us @multcopreschoolforall!

KGW: PFA Helping Families During Crisis in Child Care Affordability

Across the county and beyond, people are struggling to meet the rising costs of raising a family. This recent piece by KGW shows how Preschool for All is an integral part of our community's response to this crisis.



The Preschool for All Plan called for the creation of a mixed delivery preschool system that includes schools, community-based organizations, child care centers, and preschool in family child care settings. One reason for this is that a mixed delivery system enables families to choose a preschool that reflects their culture, communicates in their language, and meets their scheduling needs.

This recent letter from the U.S. Office of Early Childhood Development outlines more reasons that a mixed delivery approach is best for children, families, and the early childhood system as a whole.



Resources on Early Literacy

Children's Institute recently published a new resource page with a compilation of evidence-based literacy practices and tools for children, birth to grade 3, that families and caregivers, early learning practitioners, and policymakers can use to support children in developing early literacy skills. 

Check it out!

Preschool Marketplace & the Ready for Pre-K Partnership

PFA is proud to work alongside Head Start, Preschool Promise, and other free and reduced cost preschool programs! The Ready for Pre-K partnership and Preschool Marketplace initiative help families navigate application and enrollment processes and find the program that's the right fit for them.

Read the first ever Preschool Marketplace Annual Report to learn more about this work!



Feedback or ideas for our upcoming newsletter issues?

We'd love to hear from you!



Preschool For All

Contact us at preschoolforall@multco.us