Unraveling Oregon’s 2023 Legislative Session: Wins, Missed Opportunities, and Powerful Advocacy for Early Childhood

By Celeste Yager-Kandle | Jul 12, 2023

On June 25th, the 2023 Oregon Legislative session officially ended. Despite an unusual session and some legislative misses, we still achieved positive outcomes for young children with persistent advocacy and the hard work of Oregon's Early Childhood Coalition, and community partners. Although our work is never done, we are making progress. With each step, we continue to drive policies that help make Oregon the best place to be a kid.

Oregon State Capitol - Unraveling Oregon’s 2023 Legislative Session: Wins, Missed Opportunities, and Powerful Advocacy for Early Childhood

News Policy Trends Equity

Oregon’s Push for Increased Public Investment

By CI Guest | May 23, 2023

This article was written by Nicole Hsu and originally shared through New America on May 15, 2023. The link can be found here. Across the nation, people are connecting the dots on just how critical strong early childhood infrastructure is for the nation’s...

Children in the classroom. Oregon’s Push for Increased Public Investment

Preschool Oregon Policy

The Power of Preschool Promise

By Celeste Yager-Kandle | May 19, 2023

Preschool Promise is providing opportunities for more young children in Oregon to access high-quality early learning and care. In 2015, Children’s Institute collaborated with 34 partner organizations to support Preschool Promise legislation. After its successful passage, the program launched in 2016 across nine regions, as a part of a larger statewide initiative to improve early childhood education, and partners with public and private providers to expand access to preschool and support the diverse needs of Oregon families.

Kids in class - The Power of Preschool Promise

Oregon Policy

Putting Children First: A Call to Action for Lawmakers

By Kali Thorne Ladd | May 3, 2023

Oregon faces many crises right now, but the needs of our children should be an urgent priority in this legislative session. Investments in early childhood are among the most important investments we can make. And while Oregon has made progress in this area, we must continue to invest in and strengthen the opportunities we create for children and families across the state.

Children Studying. Putting Children First: A Call to Action for Lawmakers

Early Works Policy Trends Preschool

Governor Kotek Visits Yoncalla Early Works in Douglas County

By Celeste Yager-Kandle | Feb 21, 2023

Governor Tina Kotek visited Douglas County as part of her One Oregon Listening Tour where she plans to visit all of Oregon’s 36 counties during her first year in office. On Friday morning, she stopped at Yoncalla Elementary School’s Early Learning Center—a...

Governor Kotek Visits Yoncalla Early Works

Preschool Policy Trends Preschool Landscape

Preschool for All is Changing Lives and Transforming Early Learning in Multnomah County

By Melissa Navas | Jan 25, 2023

Halfway into the school year, parents and providers say Preschool for All is working. Children are developing key social emotional and problem-solving skills, literacy skills, and beginning to learn key concepts they’ll need for kindergarten.

News Oregon Policy Equity

Oregon’s Kids Need Bold Leadership Now

By CI Communications | Sep 19, 2022

Our leaders must know that children are at the heart of a healthy and thriving state. That’s why yesterday in the Sunday Oregonian, Kali Thorne Ladd, CI’s chief executive officer, and Whitney Grubbs, executive director of Foundations for a Better Oregon, made the...

Podcast Oregon Policy Preschool

Portland’s Islamic Preschool Program Offers High-Quality Early Learning, Connects Students to Culture & Community

By Rafael Otto | Jul 11, 2022

On this segment of The Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto talks with Jawad Khan, chief programming officer at Muslim Educational Trust and a member of the Trust’s board of directors.

Child Care Oregon Policy Podcast Policy Trends

Prioritizing Early Childhood in Oregon: A Discussion with State Rep. Karin Power & Rep. Jack Zika

By Rafael Otto | Jun 22, 2022

In this episode, host Rafael Otto speaks with Oregon state representatives Karin Power (D), representing Milwaukie, Sellwood, and Southeast Portland, and Jack Zika (R), representing Redmond. Power and Zika serve as the chair and vice-chair of the House Committee on...

Podcast Oregon Policy

Building an Infrastructure for Early Learning & Care with Alyssa Chatterjee

By Rafael Otto | Jun 13, 2022

On this episode we chat with Oregon's Early Learning System director, Alyssa Chatterjee. She is the fifth Early Learning System director and will oversee the transition as the division becomes the Department of Early Learning and Care. Alyssa was among the first employees at the Early Learning Division, when it was formally created. She has served under Governor Kate Brown as deputy education policy advisor and has focused on early learning policy for the state since 2012.