Preschool for All’s roll-out is on track. Approved nearly 2 to 1 by voters in 2020, Preschool for All will make free, high-quality preschool available to all children in Multnomah County by 2030, funded by a small income tax on the wealthy. It is well on its way to deliver on its promise, with 3,800 spots for families available in 2025-26. The program creates more facilities, strengthens the local workforce and builds the financial reserves needed to keep this program whole, regardless of economic downturns or what happens in Washington, D.C.
But Multnomah County’s Preschool for All program is under attack from the richest, most powerful people in the County, with the Governor doing their dirty work. Gov. Tina Kotek spent weeks pressuring County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson to freeze collection of the preschool tax, and tried ramming a last-minute bill to kill PFA outright, SB 106, through the Legislature at the end of session. While that undemocratic move failed, we know we have to fight for this program if we want it to survive.
We have worked too hard to develop, win and create the best preschool program in the country to let this happen. Can you contribute to the organizing to defend Preschool for All?