Multnomah County Preschool for All is safe — for now

After months of public pushback, Multnomah County Commissioners were well aware of the community’s disapproval of the proposed revisions to the Preschool for All program funding. The proposed tax indexing from one commissioner in particular would have decimated the program’s funding, forcing the program to close entirely.

So we showed up. We made noise. And we made our issues heard. We didn’t let the continued attacks on Preschool for All or the interests of select wealthy residents stop us.

On August 13th, concerned parents, caregivers, and community members packed the room at the town hall at Latino Network’s La Plaza to discuss
On August 20th, we packed the room once more at the Multnomah County public hearing. We submitted more than 80 pieces of power personal testimony, highlighting the critical nature of the Preschool for All program.
And on August 21st, the Commissioners postponed a vote on indexing — for now — until they know more about the impacts indexing would have. Immediately after the vote took place, Family Forward and Preschool for All parent, Melissa Burgess, spoke with media on the front steps of the County building, and the coverage was great. (See some of the news stories below.)

Family Forward Executive Director, Candice Williams, shared in her testimony on the 20th:

My name is Candice Williams. I am a parent, the Executive Director of Family Forward Oregon, and a member of the Preschool For All Advisory Committee. I am honored to be here in support of Preschool for All, a program that 64% of Multnomah County voters supported in 2020.

Though Preschool for All notably reduces inequities, it is a program that benefits all families. It reduces financial stress, stimulates the local economy, increases workforce participation, and boosts the wages of early educators.

Our children, unable to vote and unable to advocate for themselves at the ballot box, are an easy target for some. Though the program may be low-hanging fruit for Portland’s ultra wealthy and special interest groups, our elected officials must center our children when making policy decisions.

Despite the need, we’ve witnessed the intentional defunding of services at the federal and state levels, including cuts to DELC and its statewide program, Preschool Promise. In step with these attacks on our children’s future, proposed changes to Preschool for All’s funding will feel destructive to the families who have yet to access this amazing resource. Just recently, a high-income earning parent asked me, “When will it be our turn?”

Should the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners pass the proposed tax indexing change, we risk underfunding the program and undermining the progress we’ve made toward universal early childhood education in our county. It would cause irreparable harm to our community at large and the families, teachers, and providers who currently and in the future would come to rely on the program.

Any changes to the program’s infrastructure should be made with key stakeholders and the general public providing input. Until that input is received, we strongly urge the Board to hold off on any changes to Preschool for All funding.

We implore you to be courageous in the face of false scarcity. Give Preschool for All a chance to succeed and reach full universality.

Though the Commissioners ultimately decided to curb the indexing vote, the future threat of a vote looms — and that doesn’t sit right with us.

With the help of local media, we made sure people knew that this attempt to kick the can down the road doesn’t mean we will let our guard down. We will continue to fight for this voter-approved program and for our community’s future generations. Join us for future efforts to protect this vital program! Sign up for our email alert s to ensure you’re in-the-know about upcoming opportunities.

Multnomah County Preschool for All is safe — for now

Media Coverage

Photos