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Portland’s Universal Pre-K Proposal Was Hailed as a ‘National Model.’ How’s the Rollout Going?
- Tram Gonzalez opened Color Wings Preschool in Portland, Oregon, where 10 of the 15 enrolled children attend for free under the Preschool for All initiative.
- The initiative, passed in 2020, provides startup grants and tuition reimbursements, benefiting both program owners and families.
- Multnomah County's Preschool for All initiative was seen as a national model for universal preschool, with a focus on proper funding and community needs.
- The program's success is credited to strong leadership, steady funding from an income tax on high earners, and an inclusive preschool model.
- The rollout is progressing well, exceeding goals of preschool seats and focusing on quality, equity, and data reporting.
- Program director Leslee Barnes emphasizes the intentional, slow and steady approach to build a sustainable system.
- Preschool for All aims to provide 11,000 preschool slots by 2030, with funding for facility improvements and teacher wages.
- Lead teachers under the initiative must earn a minimum of $29.42 an hour, aiming for $39.23, along with benefits like insurance and retirement plans.
- Gonzalez praises the program for enabling her to pay staff well, providing steady monthly funding linked to enrollment, and supporting her dream of expanding.
- Overall, while acknowledging the imperfections, participants express gratitude for Preschool for All's positive impact on early childhood education in Multnomah County.
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