Throughout August, the Board of County Commissioners in Multnomah County is hosting a series of public meetings focused on the Preschool for All (PFA) initiative. This program, which was approved by over 64% of voters, aims to provide free preschool for every 3- and 4-year-old in the county by the year 2030.
The meetings will create a platform for updating the community on the progress towards universal preschool coverage while discussing the economic benefits associated with such initiatives.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage with the Board as they explore potential changes to the program, including tax indexing and other adjustments. A public listening session in the evening will be conducted to gather community feedback and include local voices in the decision-making process.
Recently, a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was established as required by the ballot measure to provide financial analysis and recommendations regarding the PFA taxes. The TAG has launched a new website where community members can find the latest updates on their initiatives and progress.
While the TAG will review proposals in the near term, a more extensive evaluation of the tax structure is expected to occur in the following months. Comprehensive economic recommendations are anticipated for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners in early 2026.
As the PFA program enters its fourth year, it is set to provide nearly 4,000 children with free preschool seats across more than 200 locations in the upcoming school year. A significant focus of the program is on supporting working families, offering them around 10 hours of daily preschool coverage.
In its pursuit of universal access by 2030, PFA emphasizes equity to improve access for traditionally underserved demographics. The successful expansion of the program requires substantial investments in workforce development, facility growth, and improving curriculum quality.
Evidence of PFA’s commitment to equity can be seen in the recent applicant statistics. Notably, 59% of applicants came from families earning at or below 350% of the Federal Poverty Level, and 56% were for children identified as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color.
The program is also designed to cater to diverse communities throughout Multnomah County, offering services in multiple languages. Personnel stationed at over 200 PFA sites deliver curriculum in 26 different languages, with more than 25% of these locations providing language immersion programs to help children build strong language skills.
The schedule for the upcoming public meetings on Preschool for All is as follows:
On August 6, 2025, the first Board briefing will be held from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm at the Multnomah County Board Room. This session will cover the mechanics of indexing and parameters for tax changes in 2026.
A second briefing will take place on August 19, 2025, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, focusing on the economic benefits and overall value of PFA, along with discussions regarding the path to universal coverage.
A work session is scheduled for August 20, 2025, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, which will feature discussions of Board proposals. Later that same day, an evening public listening session is set for 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
On August 21, 2025, the first reading on Board proposals will occur from 10:35 am to 11:35 am, leading into a second reading and vote the following week on August 28, 2025, from 10:40 am to 11:40 am. All events will take place at the Multnomah County Board Room located at 501 SE Hawthorne, Portland.
Community engagement and participation in these meetings are encouraged, as the Board of County Commissioners aims to hear the perspectives and feedback of local residents regarding the future of the Preschool for All initiative.
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