June 30th deadline for recorded programs
and requirements for background checks 

Background check requirements for preschool recorded programs and school-age recorded programs have changed. Effective January 1, 2023, newly hired recorded program staff, volunteers, and those who may have unsupervised contact with children were required to enroll in the Central Background Registry (CBR). CBR enrollment only applies to individuals 18 years of age and older. 

Individuals not already enrolled in the CBR must submit a complete CBR application on or before June 30, 2023 to remain onsite after June 30, 2023. 

The Early Learning Division’s Office of Child Care manages the CBR. No other background checks now meet the statutory background check requirement for new recorded program personnel.  

Customer Service 1-800-556-6616 | occ.customerservice@ode.oregon.gov 

Visit the Central Background Registry website page to learn more and apply.  

The Launch of DELC and the ERDC Migration 

Oregon’s child care systems are coming together under the new Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) starting July 1, 2023. Over the next few years, DELC will create more efficient systems to help families access child care, and better serve children across the state.  

The creation of DELC and migration of ERDC on July 1 is only the beginning of the benefits providers and families can expect. Over the next few years, migrating ERDC to DELC will help:  

• Enable greater alignment across early learning and child care programs  
• Maximize state and federal funding for early learning programs  
• Create a more efficient and effective billing and licensing system for providers Support and strengthen the early learning and care workforce  

Read more about the new Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC)

Share your summer program photos! 

The Early Learning Division (ELD) – soon to be the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) is asking for YOUR help building our DELC photo library. Summertime is especially great for outdoor activity photos with program staff and the children you serve. If you’re hosting any family activities, we’d love to see those as well!  

Photos submitted to us will be shared on the DELC social media platforms and used to show real photos of Oregon’s child care and preschool programs.  

Please be sure to get the correct photo release form signed by any participating staff and families.  

You can submit the photos or video by sending them to through our Content Submission Form.  

EMPLOYMENT RELATED DAY CARE (ERDC) 

On July 1, 2023, Oregon is launching the new Department of Early Learning (DELC), bringing together the Early Learning Division (ELD) and the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program to unify, strengthen and expand Oregon’s early learning and care system. This transition will not change the way families get ERDC and other benefits. Families will continue to apply for and receive benefits through ODHS. 

For more information about what ERDC migration to DELC means for you, see the flyers below:

• Providers – What to Expect with ERDC Migration
• Families – What to Expect with ERDC Migration
• Partners – What to Expect with ERDC Migration

Along with the creation of DELC, Oregon is expanding access to affordable child care for eligible families through the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program. 

• On July 1, families will be able to receive cash assistance from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and get help paying for child care from ERDC at the same time. 
• The current TANF child care program will end because ERDC will provide families more flexible child care assistance. 

Additionally, there will be fewer reasons for child care assistance to end within 12 months. 

• Cases will no longer close if a family cannot find a provider within three months. 
• ERDC benefits will continue if a caretaker loses their job or stops attending school. 

We invite providers to share this information with families through the July 1 ERDC Flyers, available in five languages: 

Recent ERDC changes mean that students—in high school, a GED program, or college—no longer need to work to qualify for the child care assistance. In addition, all students would receive extra child care hours each week for study time. This expansion also allowed families to apply for ERDC while on medical leave from work, and to access their ERDC benefits while on medical leave for their own condition or their child’s. Furthermore, many families will now qualify for more child care hours due to a change in the way part-time and full-time coverage is calculated. For more information about past expansions to ERDC, see the flyers below: 

If a provider would like to be listed with ODHS as a program that accepts ERDC families, there is more information on the ODHS website about how to become listed. 

Watch videos of information sessions about employment related day care’s move to department of early learning and care. 

DELC Messaging

Oregon’s child care systems are coming together under the new Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) starting July 1, 2023. Over the next few years, DELC will create more efficient systems to help families access child care, and better serve children across the state. 

The creation of DELC and migration of ERDC on July 1 is only the beginning of the benefits providers and families can expect. Over the next few years, migrating ERDC to DELC will help: 

• Enable greater alignment across early learning and child care programs 
• Maximize state and federal funding for early learning programs 
• Create a more efficient and effective billing and licensing system for providers 
• Support and strengthen the early learning and care workforce 

Read more about the new Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).  

Jump-Start Kindergarten

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) recently released the Jump Start Kindergarten Toolkit. The toolkit includes resources for planning and implementing high-quality summer kindergarten transition programs such as inclusive family engagement and classroom curriculum examples, planning tools, and suggestions for ways to partner with local early learning providers. The toolkit also includes ready-to-print materials to help school communities promote early registration to kindergarten. 

If you are interested in learning more, please join us for a one-hour Jump Start Kindergarten Toolkit Information Session!   

Wednesday, July 12th, 2pm – 3pm: Register

For more information, please visit the Jump Start Kindergarten webpage. 

Child Care Market Price Survey

Oregon conducts a Market Price Survey (MPS) every two years to collect and capture the prices and supply of child care across the state. The 2022 Market Price Survey results are now available to the public.  

Information collected by this survey is used for regional and state policy–making to ensure families have equal access to child care. In addition, the data collected during the MPS influences the Oregon Department of Human Services’ maximum subsidy rates for the Employment Related Day Care program and is the basis for tracking child care deserts over time.  

Rate information is not shared with parents and families and is combined with other facilities’ data for state decision-making purposes.  

For more information and to read the 2022 report visit the OSU Child Care Market Price Study page.

COVID update

The Oregon Health Authority has updated COVID guidelines. You can find the updated guidelines on the Early Learning Division COVID-19 Resources website page. On that page you will learn about what is changing and what is staying the same for COVID-19 protocols.  

Visit the COVID-19 Resources website page. 

June is the Month for Celebrating Juneteenth and Pride

Although Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021, communities have been celebrating and remembering what happened on June 19, 1865 for many years. Juneteenth (also termed Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day) honors when the remaining 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Confederate states were legally declared free two years after Emancipation.   

Celebrate by attending Juneteenth events, virtual and in person, that are taking place across the state and nation. Recognize and honor this holiday with your early learning and care community.  

Explore the below resources and share with your network:   

• 5 Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth with your Family | PBS for Parents 
• 7 Books for Celebrating Juneteenth | PBS for Parents 

In Oregon, you can celebrate the LGBTQ+ movement and people in your community at various parades, festivals brunches and concerts. And, in the classroom you can share a number of activities with kids. 

Click below for more resources on how to support children, families, and staff.  

• LGBTQ+ Books for Parents and Children | Family Equality 
• Creating a Welcoming Early Childhood Program for LGBT-Headed Families | Head Start Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center 

SAVE THE DATE July Provider Info Sessions

There will be no Provider Information Sessions in June.
The next sessions will be: 

Wednesday, July 19| 6 – 7 p.m.   
All provider types. (Interpretation available)  
ZOOM REGISTRATION

Thursday, July 20| 6 – 7 p.m.   
All provider types. (Conducted in Spanish)   
ZOOM REGISTRATION

Starting July 1, 2023 families receiving cash assistance
can also receive help paying for child care

On July 1, the new Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) is expanding eligibility for affordable child care through the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program. Families will now be able to receive cash assistance from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and get help paying for child care from ERDC at the same time. The current TANF child care program will end because ERDC will provide families more flexible child care assistance.

Starting July 1, there will be fewer reasons for child care assistance to end within 12 months. Cases will no longer close if a family cannot find a provider within three months. ERDC benefits will continue if a caretaker loses their job or stops attending school.

We invite providers to share this information with families they already serve through the 7/1 ERDC Flyers, available in 5 languages (link in all languages below). Additionally, if a provider would like to be listed with ODHS as a program that accepts ERDC families, there is more information on the ODHS website about how to become listed.

OSU Child Care Desert 

What is a child care desert? A child care desert is an area where at least three children exist for every child care slot available. Severe deserts are defined as having at most one slot for every 10 children.  

According to a new report from Oregon State University, child care slots for Oregon’s young children grew by almost 5% from March 2020 to Dec. 2022. This was thanks, in part, to increased public funding for child care and early learning programs.  

“The increased availability of child care slots since 2020 demonstrates the effectiveness of public investments and federal relief. It’s a good sign, but we can’t lose momentum,” said Alyssa Chatterjee, Early Learning System director at the state Early Learning Division. “We need to continue these investments in early learning and child care, and communities agree.”  

Since March 2020, eight of Oregon’s 36 counties have moved out of desert status for preschool-aged kids, and another eight became less severe deserts for infants and toddlers.   

 “We’re seeing a lot of those counties coming out of desert status because of the additional supply being developed from public funding,” said Michaella Sektnan, co-author on the report and senior faculty research assistant in OSU’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Read the full release and view the OSU Child Care Desert Report. Or, see the infographics from the report.   

The report drew its data from multiple programs administered by the state’s Early Learning Division, including Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten, Preschool Promise and Baby Promise. Researchers also included numbers from federal Head Start/Early Head Start, tribal Head Start, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs. On the private side, data came from Find Child Care Oregon, which is administered by Central Coordination of Child Care Resource and Referral, with data gathering partnership from statewide Child Care Resource and Referral agencies.

Jumpstart Kindergarten Toolkit 

We are excited to announce the release of the Jump Start Kindergarten Toolkit! The toolkit provides resources for planning and implementing high-quality summer kindergarten transition programs, such as suggestions for collaborating with local early learning partners, family engagement and classroom curriculum examples, and ready-to-print flyers, banners and yard signs promoting early registration to kindergarten.

Provider Appreciation Day

A Letter from the Director 

This week, Oregon joins states around the country in recognizing the important work of child care providers, with Provider Appreciation Day on May 12th. We know that 95% of a child’s brain growth occurs before the age of five, and 65% of all children under the age of six have both parents in the workforce. With dedication and professional skills, child care providers create spaces that support children to learn and thrive while also making it possible for families to be successful in the workforce. Simply put, child care providers are the workers that make all work possible. 

But Oregon is in the midst of a child care crisis. With a limited availability of affordable child care across the state before the pandemic, we know that over 7% of the early learning and child care workforce has left the industry, further impacting families and preventing parents from returning to the workforce. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we recognize the important role that child care providers play in Oregon’s economy and children’s development. The creation of the Department of Early Learning and Care is a positive step forward in unifying and strengthening high-quality early learning and care for Oregon families and children. 

Child care providers don’t just make it possible for families to work. The earliest years of a child’s life are critical – they lay the foundation for the brain and body architecture that will support a child’s ability to learn, and for lifelong social, emotional, and physical health. This Provider Appreciation Day, let’s show our gratitude for those who support the social, emotional, and physical care of our youngest children.  

Provider Information Sessions 

The Provider Information Sessions are video webinars on a variety of topics that affect Oregon providers. It is a resource for providers to receive more in-depth information on important changes and announcements. You can subscribe to news and updates (including Save the Dates for Information Sessions) by signing up for the Child Care Update. 

Topics to be discussed: 

• Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) Launch: What to Expect    
• ERDC Migration to DELC and July 1 Eligibility Changes     
• Central Background Registry (CBR) Updates  

Wednesday, May 17 | 6 to 7 p.m. All provider types. (Interpretation available)
Zoom Registration

Thursday, May 18 | 6 to 7 p.m. All provider types. (Conducted in Spanish)
Zoom Registration

These are virtual events. Registration is required to attend via Zoom. You may submit questions in advance on the registration form. You may also participate on ELD’s Facebook page live stream at the same time. ELD staff will monitor the Facebook comment section for questions. 

Note: Attendees using interpretation services (Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and ASL) should join the session via Zoom. 

Rule Advisory Committee (RAC) Public Hearings 

Employment Related Day Care Program Ruleset
Tuesday, May. 16, 2023 at 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Please arrive to the meeting no later than 4:55 p.m.  

You may also submit public comment on the rules in Word or PDF format to Crys O’Grady, Rules Coordinator. Public comment closes Friday, June 2 at 5 P.M.  

Proposed Rule Language  

View Notice of Proposed Rulemaking here, which contains the most updated rule language. Further versions will be posted here when available. ERDC Noticed Rates 

Note: Rule language is draft and subject to change. 

Virtual Access  

Please register by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16. Click here to register. Please arrive to the meeting no later than 4:55 p.m. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The meeting location is accessible to people with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to Crys O’Grady by email at Crys.OGrady@ode.oregon.gov.  

Certified Child Care Centers RAC
Thursday, June 1, at 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Please arrive to the meeting no later than 4:55 p.m.  

You may also submit public comment on the rules in Word or PDF format to Crys O’Grady, Rules Coordinator. Public comment closes Wednesday, June 14 at 5 P.M.  

Proposed Rule Language 

View Notice of Proposed Rulemaking here, which contains the most updated rule language. Further versions will be posted here when available.  

Note: Rule language is draft and subject to change.  

Virtual Access 

Please register by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 1. Click here to register. Please arrive to the meeting no later than 4:55 p.m. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The meeting location is accessible to people with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to Crys O’Grady by email at Crys.OGrady@ode.oregon.gov. 

Raise Up Oregon Draft Second Edition
Comment Period Closed 

Thank you to all who provided feedback on the first draft of the second edition. Your input helps shape the actions of government agencies and improve early learning and care in Oregon.    

Through surveys and focus group sessions facilitated by Early Learning Hubs across the state, we heard from nearly 1,000 individuals representing families, professionals, and communities in Oregon.   

The development of this second edition included a review of nearly 80 documents from partner agencies. From strategic plans to community engagement sessions to agency assessments and research, the second edition considered the lived experiences and feedback from Oregon communities. Leadership groups within the early childhood system helped shape the draft goals and objectives before the strategies were developed and released as the second edition draft.     

ELD on Instagram! 

Have you heard? The Early Learning Division (ELD) has launched an Instagram account! The ELD Instagram will share information with community members who are interested in learning more about the ELD and partner programs. Instagram posts will be especially helpful for families with children ages 0 to 5.    

Please encourage the families you serve to follow us: @oregonearlylearning  

If you would like your program to be highlighted on our Instagram or other social media pages, please submit your photos and release forms to this online form.   

Provider Report Explores Pandemic-Driven Decisions

The COVID-19 pandemic brought widespread disruptions, closures, and chaos to early learning and care services and systems designed to support family well-being. To understand how state and local agencies could better support Oregon-based child care programs and help them remain open during public health emergencies or other situations that create pressure for closures, researchers at Portland State University (PSU) Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services (CCF) and OSLC Developments, Inc. (ODI) conducted a study. 

The goal of this study was to learn from home-based child care providers who made the decision to close permanently during the pandemic and understand why they closed, and what, if any, supports might have enabled them to stay open and continue to serve families with young children. 

Home-based providers represent an important component of the child care system and provide much-needed care for many of Oregon’s families who identify as Black, indigenous, and persons of color. Further, home-based providers may be less likely than center-based programs to have cash reserves and other resources that might help them stay in business during emergencies such as that posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To learn more, read the executive summary (multiple languages) and the entire report. 

Deadline approaching: Early Learning Higher Education Consortia

The Early Learning Division is pleased to announce the funding of Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA) for the Early Learning Higher Education Consortia. This funding will be provided to the following community colleges: Blue Mountain Community College, Chemeketa Community College, Clackamas Community College, Columbia Gorge Community College, Lane Community College, Linn-Benton Community College, Mount Hood Community College, and Portland Community College. 

The Early Learning Higher Education Consortia focuses on removing barriers and opening access to early childhood education degree completion. By establishing partnerships with universities, colleges, Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, and other groups, the consortia may:  

• Expand access to ECE career pathways  
• Reduce financial and non-financial barriers 
• Empower more students to attain ECE degrees and certificates 

The Consortia Request for Applications (RFA) closes May 8, 2023. For more information on the IGA and RFA, visit the consortia RFA page.

Healthy Families Oregon Celebrates 30 Years

Healthy Families Oregon (HFO) is celebrating 30 years of supporting families in building a strong foundation for our communities and families. 

HFO is a free, voluntary home visiting program offering support and education to Oregon families who are expecting or parenting newborns. 

During home visits, each family’s values and strengths are honored. Trained staff support and empower parents to build nurturing parent-child relationships, learn about child development, and access community resources. Families choose to participate in weekly home visits for six months or longer, depending on what they need and want. The visits can continue for up to three years. 

To learn more about HFO and find a program near you, visit the HFO webpage. 

Department of Early Learning and Care
Driving Principles Finalized

After extensive internal and external partnerships, feedback sessions and community input, the soon-to-be Department of Early Learning and Care has finalized its mission, vision and values statements. Here are the official statements; thanks to everyone who helped shape them! 

Mission 

The Department of Early Learning and Care fosters coordinated, culturally appropriate, and family-centered services that recognize and respect the strengths and needs of all children, families, and early learning and care professionals. 

Vision 

All children, families, early care and education professionals, and communities are supported and empowered to thrive. 

Values 

Equity: We are committed to dismantling the systems of oppression that harm and create disparities for communities who are historically and institutionally excluded. We are adopting anti-racist principles, expanding access to services, and ensuring community representation and shared power in agency efforts. We are fostering a culturally responsive environment in which all individuals can experience a sense of belonging as they access programs, services, and resources. 

Respect: We believe that family is a child’s first teacher. We are committed to nurturing family partnerships built on mutual respect. We recognize and value the knowledge and experiences of families, early care and education professionals, and community partners. 

Trust: We value the public’s trust through honesty, transparency, and keeping our commitments. 

Relationships: We acknowledge the importance of nurturing relationships in the field and with community. We listen to, support, collaborate with, and celebrate the professionals, families, and children in our communities. 

Safety: We put safety and well-being first for our children, families, and early learning and care professionals. 

Continuous Improvement: We set goals, seek input from community, and use data to improve quality of service and programs, increase quality and efficiency, and drive innovation. 

Integrity: We are accountable for our actions, our decisions, and our work to reliably achieve high-quality outcomes. 

Reminders

• Share feedback on Raise Up Oregon, Second Edition
  Does Oregon’s plan for early childhood address your community’s priorities? Let the state know what you, your children, and your family need by completing a feedback form. The deadline to give input is 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 30. Visit the RUO page for more information.   
• May Provider Information Sessions: Mark Your Calendars
  Wednesday, May 17 | 6 to 7 p.m. All provider types. (Interpretation available)
  Thursday, May 18 | 6 to 7 p.m. All provider types. (Conducted in Spanish)
  More details and a link to register will be coming soon. Watch previous information sessions on the ELD’s Provider Information Sessions page. 

Save the Date: May Provider Information Session 

Mark your calendar for the next events in our series of provider information sessions:  

Wednesday, May 17 | 6 to 7 p.m. 
All provider types. (Interpretation available)

Thursday, May 18 | 6 to 7 p.m. 
All provider types. (Conducted in Spanish)

More details and a link to register will be coming soon. 

Watch previous information sessions on the ELD’s Provider Information Sessions page. 

DEADLINE TODAY! Apply for Certified Center RAC 

The Early Learning Division’s Office of Child Care (OCC) will be updating the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) for Certified Child Care Centers. A Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) will provide valuable feedback on the proposed rules and identify financial and equity effects that might result from the proposed updates. 

ELD invites you to apply for the Certified Child Care Center Rules Advisory Committee. Committee members may include:: 

• Directors/representatives from certified child care centers from across the state 
• Parents/family members of children in these types of programs 
• Community partners working with young children in child care settings 
• Early Learning Hub representatives 
• Tribal Nation representatives 
• Child Care Resource and Referral representatives 

Participants will be compensated for their time and insights. The application deadline is April 14. RAC meetings—approximately five are planned—will run late April through May.  

If you have questions, please contact Abby Strom at abby.strom@ode.oregon.gov. 

Reminders

• Share feedback on Raise Up Oregon, Second Edition
  Does Oregon’s plan for early childhood address your community’s priorities? Let the state know what you, your children, and your family need by completing a feedback form. The deadline to give input is 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 30. Visit the RUO page for more information.   
• Early Learning Higher Education Consortia: Request for Applications
  A Request for Applications (RFA) for the Early Learning Higher Education Consortia is open to government agencies, private or public entities, and nonprofit organizations for the fiscal year 2023-2025. The deadline to submit an application is Monday, May 8. Save the date! ELD is hosting an informational webinar on Tuesday, April 18 from 10 to 11 a.m. For more information and to attend the webinar, visit oregonearlylearning.com/administration/grant_oportunities/  

Apply today for Certified Center Rules Advisory Committee 

The Early Learning Division’s Office of Child Care (OCC) will be updating the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) for Certified Child Care Centers. A Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) will provide valuable feedback on the proposed rules and identify financial and equity effects that might result from the proposed updates. 

ELD invites you to apply for the Certified Child Care Center Rules Advisory Committee. Committee members may include:: 

• Directors/representatives from certified child care centers from across the state 
• Parents/family members of children in these types of programs 
• Community partners working with young children in child care settings 
• Early Learning Hub representatives 
• Tribal Nation representatives 
• Child Care Resource and Referral representatives 

Participants will be compensated for their time and insights. The application deadline is April 14. RAC meetings—approximately five are planned—will run late April through May.  

If you have questions, please contact Abby Strom at abby.strom@ode.oregon.gov. 

Watch for an email regarding
Preschool Development Grant survey  

The Oregon Early Learning Division (ELD) would like to hear from early childhood education and care providers and learn about their experiences during the past year. The ELD is asking for your feedback, as it does every year, on how to best support providers. Center- and family-based owners, directors, teachers, assistants, and aides (whether currently employed or not), please share your experiences in this 30-minute survey. 

If you are eligible to participate in the survey, you will receive an email with a link. Look for an email from “The Preschool Development Grant” in March and April. Check your spam folders. 

The survey deadline is Monday, April 17. All eligible providers who complete the survey will receive a $25 gift card. 

If you have questions or think you should have received an email but didn’t, contact Denise Ford with ODI at denisef@oslc.org or 916-205-6851. 

Share your feedback on
Raise Up Oregon, Second Edition 

Help make sure the state’s plan for early childhood meets your needs! The second edition of Raise Up Oregon is open for public feedback. Your input can help shape the actions of government agencies and improve early learning and care in Oregon. 

Visit the RUO page to share feedback on the draft plan. The deadline is 5 p.m. Sunday, April 30 

Raise Up Oregon is the state’s plan for the early childhood system and is in partnership with six agencies: Oregon Department of Education, Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care, Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Housing and Community Services, and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. 

For support or if you have any questions, please contact Remember.Watts@ode.oregon.gov. 

March Provider Information Sessions:
Slides and recordings online 

Thank you to everyone who attended our March sessions! The slides and recordings for the English and Spanish sessions held March 21 and 22 are now available. In these sessions, ELD shares the latest updates on the transition to the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), the Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program, and the DELC branding process. 

NAEYC’s 2023 Week of the Young Child®: April 1 to 7 

The first week of April is recognized as the Week of the Young Child®. This is a time to celebrate early learning, young children, early educators, families, and communities! 

Use these helpful resources to plan program activities and share on social media: 

• Music Monday: Support math readiness through music! 
• Tasty Tuesday: 14-day salad: Using project-based learning to grow micro greens 
• Working Together Wednesday: Cardboard challenge: Introducing new skills in authentic ways (blog) 
• Artsy Thursday: The making of an art museum: A preschool project 
• Family Friday: Five Rs for promoting positive family engagement 

To view more resources for the Week of the Young Child visit the NAEYC website. 

Early Learning Higher Education Consortia   

The Early Learning Division is pleased to announce the funding of Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA) for the Early Learning Higher Education Consortia. This funding will be provided to the following community colleges: Blue Mountain Community College, Chemeketa Community College, Clackamas Community College, Columbia Gorge Community College, Lane Community College, Linn-Benton Community College, Mount Hood Community College, and Portland Community College. 

The Early Learning Higher Education Consortia focuses on removing barriers and opening access to early childhood education degree completion. By establishing partnerships with universities, colleges, Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, and other groups, the consortia may:  

• Expand access to ECE career pathways  
• Reduce financial and non-financial barriers 
• Empower more students to attain ECE degrees and certificates 

A Consortia Request for Applications (RFA) process for the fiscal year 2023-2025 will open early April 2023 with applications due May 8, 2023. For more information on the IGA and RFA, visit https://oregonearlylearning.com/administration/grant_oportunities/

Help us improve our website  

We are building a new website to make information and services easier for all visitors to find. 

We need your help to make sure this new site is as easy to use as possible. So, we invite you to do a card sort activity. This is a fun and easy way to help us organize our new website in a way that makes sense to you. 

How does a card sort work? 

We will provide you with a set of cards that represent different pages and sections of our website. We will then ask you to sort them into different sections. Put them wherever makes the most sense to you. Your input will help us to understand how to group our content. 

There are no wrong answers. We don’t ask who you are, and the information is only to make the new website better. 

We would greatly appreciate your participation in this 10-minuite activity. To participate, click on the link for your preferred language: Card sort in English  |  Card Sort in Spanish 

The deadline to participate in the card sort is April 15, 2023. 

March Sessions Rescheduled 

MARCH PROVIDER INFORMATION SESSION   

Join us in March to learn about the below topics: 

• Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program Update 
• DELC Branding 
• Updates/Reminders 

NEW DATE: Tuesday, March 21 | 6 to 7 p.m.
All provider types. (in Spanish)
MEETING LINK

NEW DATE: Wednesday, March 22 | 6 to 7 p.m.
All provider types. (in English)
MEETING LINK
(interpretation available in Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese and ASL)

Certified Center Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) 

The Early Learning Division’s Office of Child Care (OCC) will be updating the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) for Certified Child Care Centers. OCC will create a Rules Advisory Committee to gather valuable feedback on proposed rules and identify financial and equity effects that might result from the proposed updates. The application period opens March 20 and closes April 14. Watch for more information on the ELD website: https://oregonearlylearning.com/RAC#CC  

Oregon Spark: Apply to be on the redesign team before March 20 

The Research Institute at Western Oregon University (WOU) invites families and early learning and care professionals to help redesign the statewide Quality Recognition Improvement System—also known as Spark. WOU and Community Wealth Partners have created a listening, learning, and redesign process led by people who have children or currently work with young children. 

Members of this team will listen and gather information from families and early learning and care professionals in their communities through surveys, virtual or in-person conversations, and interviews. They will then review feedback and develop recommendations.  

Members of this team: 

• Earn $50 per hour 
• Work about 50 hours from late March through July 2023, including one weekly online meeting 
• Receive help with technology, child care, and training 

We encourage people who speak Spanish, English, and/or are bilingual in English and another language to apply. 

The deadline to apply is Monday, March 20. To submit an application, email the below information to Walter Howell at whowell@communitywealth.com (English) or Idalia Fernandez at ifernandez@communitywealth.com (Spanish): 

1. Name, phone number, email address  
2. Town/city where you live   
3. Languages you speak (including ASL) 
4. Brief answers to these questions in a few sentences:  
   • Why do you want to be part of this listening team? 
   • What is most important to you in child care and early education? 

Find more information on the Spark website. Please feel free to contact Spark if you have questions. 

Watch information sessions about Employment Related Day Care’s move to Department of Early Learning and Care 

Learn about the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program, how it is funded, and how it will operate under the new Department of Early Learning and Care in two pre-recorded live information sessions that we held in late February and early March. 

Early Learning Transition Check-In: A Collaborative Engagement with Community 

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Early Learning Division (ELD) are collaborating with communities across the state to redesign the Oregon Kindergarten Assessment.  

In fall 2022, ODE and ELD tested a newly designed tool, the “Family Interview” in a district pilot. The family interview questions and training materials were developed following feedback from family listening sessions in spring 2022 and from the project’s advisory panel.  

To gather feedback from the fall 2022 pilot, ELD and ODE partnered with Oregon’s Kitchen Table (OKT). OKT conducted nearly 20 community conversations with families and educators on the process and their experiences. Visit https://oregonearlylearning.com/PreKCheckin#Fall-2022-Pilot to learn more about this pilot and recommendations from OKT. 

Reminder: March Provider Information Session 

Don’t forget the next events in our series of Provider Information Sessions:  

Wednesday, March 15 | 6 to 7 p.m. 
All provider types. (Interpretation available)

Thursday, March 16 | 6 to 7 p.m. 
All provider types. (Conducted in Spanish)

The agenda and links to register will be available by March 4 on the ELD website. That page also contains links to previous information sessions. 

March is Preschool Education Awareness Month 

National Preschool Teachers Appreciation Day is March 17! We want to thank Oregon’s early childhood educators for helping to shape the young minds of children in our communities. With thoughtful curriculum practices, your work makes a lasting difference for children and families in Oregon.  

Other observances to note: 

• Month of March: Disability Awareness Month and Women’s History Month 
• March 10: National Preschoolers Day 
• March 14: National Children’s Craft Day 
• Upcoming: The first week of April is the NAEYC’s 2023 Week of the Young Child®  

ELD on Instagram!  

Have you heard? The Early Learning Division (ELD) has launched an Instagram account! The ELD Instagram will share information with community members who are interested in learning more about the ELD and partner programs. Instagram posts will be especially helpful for families with children ages 0 to 5.   

Please encourage the families you serve to follow us: @oregonearlylearning 

If you would like your program to be highlighted on our Instagram or other social media pages, please submit your photos and release forms to this online form.  

Report highlights top concerns of early educators 

Early Learning Division partnered with University of California-Berkeley on a study exploring the work environments of center-based and home-based early educators. The study is the first of its kind since the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 1,000 Oregon early educators shared their lived experiences with work conditions that affect practices and well-being. Here are some key takeaways: 

Supported staff want to stay: To recruit and maintain high-quality staff, programs must offer supportive working conditions for their early educators.  

Training and support needs: Many Oregon early educators reported a lack of training in several areas and a lack of options for sustained, long-term training or opportunities for peer-to-peer learning. 

Language and cultural diversity: Multilingual educators in Oregon feel they have less power in their program setting and that their input is not valued. 

Adult well-being suffers: Early educators reported struggling to afford housing, health care, food, and other basics for themselves and their families. They also reported unhealthy or unsafe conditions, such as not being able to take breaks. 

Family child care providers are facing challenges: Few family child care providers can employ assistants to help them in their work. Taking on this responsibility has negative effects on them financially and emotionally.  

You can find both the executive summary and the full report on the UC-Berkeley website. 

Oregon Spark: Apply to be a member of the redesign team  

The Research Institute at Western Oregon University (WOU) invites families and early learning and care professionals to help redesign the statewide Quality Recognition Improvement System—also known as Spark. WOU and Community Wealth Partners have created a listening, learning, and redesign process led by people who have children or currently work with young children. 

Members of this team will listen and gather information from families and early learning and care professionals in their communities through surveys, virtual or in-person conversations, and interviews. They will then review feedback and develop recommendations.  

Members of this team: 

• Earn $50 per hour 
• Work about 50 hours from late March through July 2023, including one weekly online meeting 
• Receive help with technology, child care, and training 

We encourage people who speak Spanish, English, and/or are bilingual in English and another language to apply. 

The deadline to apply is Monday, March 20. To submit an application, email the below information to Walter Howell at whowell@communitywealth.com (English) or Idalia Fernandez at ifernandez@communitywealth.com (Spanish): 

1. Name, phone number, email address  
2. Town/city where you live   
3. Languages you speak (including ASL) 
4. Brief answers to these questions in a few sentences:  
   • Why do you want to be part of this listening team? 
   • What is most important to you in child care and early education? 

Find more information on the Spark website. Please feel free to contact Spark if you have questions. 

Presentations on the upcoming
Department of Early Learning and Care

On February 27, February 28, and March 1, ELD staff presented on the new Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) at the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education. Click below to watch recordings and learn more about DELC. Closed captioning is available for the recorded meetings.   

• February 27: Agency Purpose, Budget, and Programs  
• February 28: Programs, Office of Child Care, and Employment Related Day Care 
• March 1: Strategic Priorities, Policy Packages, and Looking Ahead