Making Universal Preschool a Reality: Preschool for All and the League

A recent county audit looked into PFA. It was much-publicized that the audit said, “Leaders need to address risks to expansion.” However, the audit goes on to note that the program is actively doing so. Part of the audit reads “There are risks that insufficient capacity will be created. Or that the program makes unnecessary investments if it does not monitor the market.” But it also acknowledges that it is hard to predict the exact capacity that will be needed. PFA is monitoring the market to understand the capacity that’s needed.

The audit says, “The Preschool for All program is investing in two strategies to build capacity. A facilities fund provides grants and loans for preschools to expand or renovate. There are also investments in growing the number of teachers to work in preschools. People we interviewed said that facilities and workforce were the two biggest barriers to expansion.” Both the facilities fund and the workforce investment are relatively new, so there is no way to evaluate their effectiveness to date, but PFA reports that since March 2024, the facilities fund has invested over $23 million that will help create over 800 new seats and preserve programs that might have had to close otherwise.

There is also a comment in the audit about New York City building public trust with a fast rollout. What it doesn’t mention is that 1) New York City received hundreds of millions from the state and 2) the initial rollout was for 4-year-olds only. There are also human costs to a fast rollout – this article calls out the professional burnout it caused and how the city ran out of steam when expanding to 3-year-olds.

Jessica Vega Pederson’s office released a very detailed response that goes through the audit recommendations one by one and details how PFA has responded or will respond.  Many of the changes are already being implemented.

Concern over the impact of the tax on high earners is an issue that the Metro Chamber of Commerce has raised.  It was part of the discussion when Governor Kotek’s Central City Task Force met.  More recent data, however, shows that rather than losing high earners, their number has grown.  

This analysis from an economist in City Councilor Mitch Green’s office provides the details on fiscal migration in Multnomah County.  

Furthermore, this analysis from Mary King, PSU Professor of Economics Emerita, shows that the number of affluent taxpayers is growing.

• FY 2024-25 – 2,200 PFA seats at 135 locations
• FY 2025-26 – 3,800 PFA seats anticipated
• FY 2030-31 – 11,000 PFA seats (goal) – universality 

• 17% of enrolled children have developmental delays or disabilities.
• 71% of enrolled families have low incomes/incomes at or below 350% of the Federal Poverty Level. This is equal to about $105,000 a year for a family of four.
• 65% of enrolled children identify as Black, Indigenous, or Children of Color.
• 30% of enrolled children speak a language at home other than English.
• 61 different languages are spoken by enrolled children

In 2024-25, over 75% of the small center and family child care sites have owners or directors that identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

PFA contracts with an outside consultant to evaluate family and provider satisfaction:

• 97% of families are satisfied or highly satisfied with their Preschool for All experience.
• 99% of families feel welcomed at their child’s school.
• 95% of families feel comfortable talking to their school leader if they had a problem.

The League supports federal programs to increase the education and training of disadvantaged people. The League supports federal efforts to prevent and/or remove discrimination in education, employment, and housing and to help communities bring about racial integration of their school systems.

Further Guidelines:  Child-care centers for preschool children to give parents the opportunity for employment.

Greatly increased educational opportunity through compensatory programs for disadvantaged groups beginning at the preschool level and extending through secondary education.

The League of Women Voters believes that the federal government shares with other levels of government the responsibility to provide an equitable, quality public education for all children from pre-K through grade 12. A quality public education is essential for a strong, viable, and sustainable democratic society and is a civil right.

The League of Women Voters believes that the first five years of a child’s life are crucial in building the foundation for educational attainment and greatly impact success or failure in later life. Additionally, the League believes quality, developmentally appropriate, voluntary early learning experiences should be available to all children, with federally funded opportunities going first to children of poverty and/or with special needs. The League believes that the federal government should support the following:

Research that demonstrates the importance of linking state and local community partnerships with effective early childhood education programs and services.

Early childhood education programs that include funding for parent education and involve child development, health, nutrition, and access to other supportive services such as mental health care for all children and their families.

Research that documents quality early childhood education programs.

Preventing and Reducing Poverty

In order to prevent or reduce poverty, LWVUS supports policies and programs designed to increase job opportunities; increase access to health insurance; provide support services such as child care and transportation; provide opportunities and/or incentives for basic or remedial education and job training; decrease teen pregnancy; and ensure that noncustodial parents contribute to the support of their children. 

LWVUS supports programs, services, and policies at all levels of government to expand the supply of affordable, quality child care for all who need it, in order to increase access to employment and to prevent and reduce poverty. 

The Oregon Constitution should provide for effective local government (1943, 1963) by:

Reserving to the Legislature authority to provide for local government flexibility to meet future needs. 

Allowing city and county home rule;

The League of Women Voters of Oregon believes that child care is a social and economic issue that reaches beyond the family into the community.  Quality child care needs to be available, accessible and affordable to all families for children of all ages and with differing needs.  

1. The League of Women Voters supports a diverse child care system to accommodate different parental choices and needs.  Such a system may include day care centers, group homes, and family day care homes.
   • The State of Oregon should establish appropriate standards to ensure that high quality care exists in all settings.  For centers and group homes: these standards should address facilities, staff qualifications, and number of children served.  Program, parent/care giver communication, administration and transportation should be included for centers and may also be considered for group homes.  There should be flexible guidelines for family day care homes because of the unique character of these facilities. 
   • The State of Oregon should enforce mandatory regulations by funding a sufficient number of inspectors. 
   • The State of Oregon should set requirements for adequate training for caregivers and ensure those training opportunities are available.  This could include state provision of training and/or state incentives for others to provide training. 
   • City and county governments should participate in enforcing health and fire standards. 
2. Affordable child care should be available and accessible for children with differing needs and in various age groups.
   • While parents have the primary responsibility for choosing child care, a coordinated effort between parents and government, together with providers, employers, and private groups is necessary to deliver quality child care at an affordable price. 
   • The State of Oregon should:
     • Provide financial assistance for child care expenses to low- and middle-income families based on need.  Such assistance could include tax credits for parents with a ceiling base on income. 
     • Support resource and referral programs.
     • Encourage employer involvement in the child care system. 
     • Encourage development of school-age child care programs. 

Parents in job training, in school, with special-needs children and/or needing respite care services should be eligible.