Multnomah County’s Preschool for All (PFA) program, which aims to provide free, universal preschool to all children in the county by 2030, will undergo a policy change in the 2025-2026 school year. The new policy will cap the number of “continuity of care” (COC) seats at 50% of the total available spots at each program site.
A COC seat is designated for children who are already enrolled and attending a PFA site but are not yet formally enrolled in the Preschool for All program itself. The policy will only apply to center-based child care providers, such as daycare centers, and will not affect family child care providers who run preschools in their homes.
While some families may be concerned that they will have to seek alternative care, Multnomah County officials have downplayed the potential impact. Ryan Yambra, a spokesperson for the county, noted that there are 3,000 slots available for the upcoming school year, and only six providers have reduced their available slots due to the new policy.
Yambra emphasized that the change is aimed at making the program fairer. He explained that more and more Preschool for All students were struggling to access spots at the most popular centers, prompting the need for the policy shift. Furthermore, the program has exceeded its funding expectations. In fiscal year 2024, the program generated over $187 million in revenue, far surpassing the expected $152 million. Additionally, the number of available seats has continued to increase each year.
“We are improving incrementally,” Yambra said. “We save the revenue and invest it back into expanding capacity.”
Some parents may wonder where their money is going, especially those whose children might be disenrolled due to the policy change. Yambra assured the public that the county is working with affected families and their child care providers to ensure their needs are met.
Regarding concerns about the location of PFA sites, which are predominantly in the eastern parts of the county, Yambra explained that the current locations were based on early partnerships and demand. He acknowledged that certain areas of the county face economic disparities, and the program is focused on serving those communities first. As the program grows, the county plans to expand the diversity of sites across the region.
Despite some slot reductions, Yambra noted that additional seats have been added by providers, and there is growing interest from other providers to join the program. Additionally, the county is set to train around 500 new educators to help expand the program’s capacity and workforce.
Multnomah County officials remain confident that the changes will support the overall goal of providing high-quality preschool to all families by 2030.
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