08-04-2025
Preschool For All opens new facility in NE Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Jered Bogli's son is in a Multnomah County preschool for all program and is grateful for how it's helped his family.
'The impact has made in our lives as a family I don't think I can accurately state here,' Bogli said. 'It was amazing to watch him flourish with the way that care has been coordinated between the county and the center, and from just that alone, he's grown so much from that.'
On Monday he joined county preschool leaders gathered at the newly opened that was purchased and upgraded with some of the preschool tax money.
Rachel Langford, the program manager for , said the new preschool had 'closed its doors to families and with funding and technical support supplied by the PFA Facilities Fund through Build Up Oregon, Dee (Hayward) was able to acquire this building and make needed improvements so that it could reopen and serve children and families through preschool.'
is funded by an income tax between 1.5% and 3% on high income earners to pay teachers and improve and expand facilities. There are currently 2000 kids in the program at more than 100 locations. very quickly as 1300 families have already applied for 3800 spots open.
MultCo Board of Commissioners delay Preschool for All tax hike
But concerns have been raised by some in the business community that families who can afford preschool should be paying — especially when it comes to extended before- and aftercare hours.
Leslee Barnes, the director, said they are 'really operating this initiative based on the preschool for all plan. And what we heard from that plan is that not only did we need to support those families with the least access, but it was that we need to design a whole system of care that included everyone. And that's why this is universal, much like the school districts are universal and are free to the public.'
Children with the least access to preschool for reasons such as family income or children of color are prioritized when it comes to deciding who gets the limited number of spots, Barnes said.
There is a work group of economists and business leaders that will take a closer look at how preschool for all is funded in the future — especially if the economy takes a dip along with tax dollars.
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