Oregon's free preschool program hits major delays
The Early Learning Division has struggled to secure contracts with preschool providers for the Preschool Promise program, and is behind on vital paperwork.
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The Early Learning Division has struggled to secure contracts with preschool providers for the Preschool Promise program, and is behind on vital paperwork.
Staffing shortages have caused delays in getting contracts to nearly 250 involved preschools.
The Oregon Department of Education's Preschool Promise program doled out millions over the last two years in a early-childhood program, despite many centers having few to no students.
Oregon is rolling out new child care supports, but advocates say it's ‘just a drop in the bucket’ for a crisis that’s hampering economic growth.
Those three- and four-year-olds comprise a much smaller group than the 12,000 students the voter-approved program aims to serve by 2030. But Leslee Barnes, director of the Department of County Human Services’ Preschool & Early Learning Division, points out it is well within the year-by-year projection of enrollment for the program, surpassing the first year minimum of 500 students.