Reinvesting in the Preschool for All Initiative

Making preschool accessible to Multnomah County’s children and families is, by far, one of the best investments we can make in our future. A strong body of research shows the tremendous impact of high-quality early learning programs on a child’s brain development, school readiness, and family well being. This is why the County’s Preschool for All Initiative is advancing a ballot measure that will provide public funding to ensure that all of our kids have access to preschool!

In July 2019, Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson and the Preschool for All Task Force released the Preschool for All Report on the current state of preschool in Multnomah County, which included recommendations for how we can provide equitable access to early learning for all children. This report was just the first step to making universal preschool a reality -- we’re not done yet! We are proud to support Phase II of the Preschool for All initiative by investing an additional $5,000, along with the expertise and influence of our Partnership. SVP Partners are helping with  coalition building, finance strategy, early childhood program development, infrastructure planning (e.g., real estate), and campaign support. Achieving Preschool for All will take a commitment from our whole community. Building the awareness, coalition, and strategy to win at the ballot box in November is under way.