Policy Trends
Oregon’s Push for Increased Public Investment
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...
The Power of Preschool Promise
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.
Putting Children First: A Call to Action for Lawmakers
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.
Governor Kotek Visits Yoncalla Early Works in Douglas County
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...
Preschool for All is Changing Lives and Transforming Early Learning in Multnomah County
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’s Kids Need Bold Leadership Now
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...
Portland’s Islamic Preschool Program Offers High-Quality Early Learning, Connects Students to Culture & Community
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.
Prioritizing Early Childhood in Oregon: A Discussion with State Rep. Karin Power & Rep. Jack Zika
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...
Building an Infrastructure for Early Learning & Care with Alyssa Chatterjee
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.
Legislative Recap: 2022 Short Session Brings Big Wins
The 2022 legislative session came to a close on Friday, March 5, and as we welcome spring and a time of renewal, Children’s Institute is optimistic about the future of early childhood in Oregon.
In the short span of five weeks, the Oregon legislature passed several of the Early Childhood Coalition’s legislative priorities, ...
