Preschool Archives - Page 2 of 26 - Children's Institute

From Kinder Camp to Classroom: A Q&A with St. Helens Early Learning Director, Dani Boylan

By Suze Wehr | Aug 23, 2023

We're sitting across the screen with Dani Boylan, director of early learning at St. Helens Early Learning. This is her second year running Kinder Camp after several years of teaching preschool. Students from three schools (McBride, Columbia City, and Lewis and Clark) gather in the kindergarten classes of the latter’s elementary school, filling the hallways with joyful sounds. Though their program faced significant state budget cuts which limited the scope for 2023, teachers and administrators in St. Helens worked together to reorganize for the year. They made a plan that made the most of the resources available, setting up intentionally small class sizes and offering support for children with varying social emotional needs. I eagerly pull my list of questions in front of me, and we begin our virtual interview.

Kinder Camp teacher sits with a student in the classroom at Lewis and Clark Elementary.

Oregon Policy Preschool

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

Educators and Workforce Preschool Professional Learning

What We’re Reading: Early Educator Voices in Oregon

By Suze Wehr | Apr 17, 2023

Creating excellent early care and learning opportunities for children begins by supporting the skilled educators and caregivers behind the work. Too often, inadequate working environments and poor compensation cause significant difficulties for those trying to offer the best quality education and care. These conditions have been overlooked in the past despite their direct impact on skill development, teaching effectiveness, and well-being of providers and children. But with sustainable support strategies and in-depth analysis of areas in need of improvement, Oregon can transform the working environments of early educators for the better.

This image shows a black and white phot of three children reading together.

Benefits of Preschool Featured Programs Preschool What We're Reading Equity

What We’re Reading: Preschool for All

By Suze Wehr | Apr 13, 2023

What if there were a way to connect every 3- and 4-year-old in Multnomah County to free, inclusive, culturally responsive preschool experiences? This inspiring goal is coming to life through Preschool for All, a program built through long-term community engagement with parents, educators, policymakers, organizations and early childhood specialists. In just one year, Preschool for All has made the dream of preschool possible for more than 700 children at 47 sites in 16 zip codes across Multnomah County.

This image shows a black and white photo of a group of children sitting and holding books over their faces. The text says "What We're Reading"

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

Policy Trends Preschool 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.

Oregon Policy Podcast 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.

Podcast Preschool

Abogando por Preescolar para Todos con Yasmin Martinez y Bridget Cooke

By Rafael Otto | Jun 29, 2022

En éste podcast, una de las invitadas es Bridget Cooke, la directora ejecutiva de Adelante Mujeres, cuya experiencia incluye trabajar con familias y mujeres inmigrantes y organizaciones sin fines de lucro en Oregon, California y Chile. También estamos acompañados por Yasmin Martinez, una madre que aboga para los niños y las familias de su comunidad, el condado de Washington aquí en Oregon. Ambas están involucradas en el esfuerzo de traer preescolar para todos los niños de tres y cuatro años y están trabajando para llevar este empeño en la boleta electoral este noviembre.

CI Blog_Bridget Cook & Yasmin Martinez (1)

Parents and Families Podcast Preschool

Lacey Hays on the Power of Parent Voice & Advocacy

By Rafael Otto | Jun 29, 2022

On this episode of the Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto speaks with Lacey Hays, a parent and advocate in Washington County here in Oregon. She’s currently co-chair for the Early Learning Washington County Steering Committee and a member of both the Preschool for All Technical Advisory Committee and the Organizing and Outreach Committee. All of that work is in support of establishing Preschool for All in Washington County.

Podcast Preschool

An Update on Preschool for All Multnomah County with Leslee Barnes

By Rafael Otto | Jun 13, 2022

On this segment of The Early Link, we're following up with Leslee Barnes, Director of the Preschool and Early Learning Division at Multnomah County, who gives us an update on the implementation of Preschool for All (PFA) in Multnomah County. Barnes is a fourth-generation Oregonian who grew up in Northeast Portland, and a leading figure working alongside commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson, in the development of Preschool for All which was approved by voters in November 2020.