Gov. Kotek, Community Leaders Discuss Expanding Affordable Childcare and Preschool: 'Not a Luxury, It Is a Lifeline'
GRESHAM, Multnomah County, Oregon — Governor Tina Kotek's Early Childhood Care and Learning System Roundtable met at Harmony Montessori school in Gresham on October 23, where Kotek sat down with community leaders and parents to discuss expanding affordable childcare and preschool across Oregon. Childcare, she said, is "not a luxury, it is a lifeline."
State Rep. Jules Walters attended the gathering. She described stepping away from her career more than 20 years ago as a mother of four who could not find affordable care: "I know how hard it is to find affordable childcare. Our system is struggling and these are not new issues." She said Oregon families should be thriving, and people should not be forced to leave the workforce.
Kotek joined the children on the floor for activities and took notes as participants shared stories and ideas. She said Oregon has some really important programs, "but it's not enough. We need consistency and reliability." "It is important for every parent to know that Oregon values your child," she added. "When you want infant care or preschool access, we have your back."
Participants said the resources a child can access should not depend on where a family lives or how much money they make; programs should be offered in multiple languages and be available across the state; and programs should include cultural components so all children feel safe and welcome.
Multnomah County's Preschool for All drew praise at the gathering. The program connects 3- and 4-year-olds to free, culturally responsive, inclusive preschools; it funded more than 3,800 seats in the current school year, with a goal of offering spots to all interested families by 2030. "What we have in Multnomah County is changing lives, but it should not be the only place in Oregon that has it," Kotek said.
Where funding for a universal program will come from remains unclear, as the federal government cuts programs such as Head Start. "We are going the other direction in Oregon," Kotek said. "We are doubling down so families and kids have what they need to thrive." She said the immediate need is creating a system that works for everyone: "We need to know what the goal is before we figure out how to pay for it."
Kotek convened the roundtable earlier this year. It is chaired by Kali Thorne Ladd, CEO of the Children's Institute, and Sara Mickelson, a national expert in early childhood systems, and is tasked with assessing state-funded early learning programs, identifying gaps and recommending a path to universal preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds in all 36 Oregon counties. The governor's office has previously stated 2031 as the target for implementing universal childcare statewide. The First Five Years Fund estimates that childcare challenges cost Oregon's economy about $1.4 billion a year.
Source: GSM·America
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：俄勒冈州州长 Tina Kotek。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons（Tony Miller 摄，公共领域）。 / Photo: Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, via Wikimedia Commons (photo by Tony Miller, public domain).
