News
Latest News
Early Learning Division Response to State Audit on Background Check Process
June 3, 2020
(Salem, Ore) – The Secretary of State (SOS) released an audit today that identifies some areas where the Early Learning Division (ELD) can work to strengthen safety for children and background check processes for child care providers. The audit was initiated in part because of an awareness by the Governor’s…
Early Learning Division Announces Emergency Child Care Grant Program
April 30, 2020
(Salem, Ore.) – Today, the Early Learning Division (ELD) is releasing details of an Emergency Child Care grant program to assist open child care providers during the COVID-19 crisis. The grant program uses resources allocated to Oregon through the federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act and other Child Care…
Managing stress, supporting children during the COVID-19 outbreak
April 28, 2020
No matter what scenario your family is living with, the COVID-19 outbreak has presented challenges and added stressors for parents and caretakers. According to Oregon State University Assistant Professor of Practice & Parenting Education Specialist Shauna Tominey, stress comes out in different ways for children and adults. Children can…
Oregon’s Governor Extends Emergency Child Care Order with Stay Home, Save Lives Order
April 23, 2020
(Salem, Ore.) – Governor Kate Brown today issued Executive Order 20-19, aligning the effective date of her emergency child care directives with other social distancing orders. The order maintains the closure of licensed child care facilities unless approved to provide Emergency Child Care, and it remains in effect until lifted…
How to Support Your Kids through COVID-19
April 21, 2020
This article was originally published by My Oregon News on April 20, 2020. By Melanie Mesaros Early learning experts tackle questions from families of school-aged children and younger on managing stress during COVID-19 outbreak OREGON – Families may be juggling a number of different scenarios during the COVID-19 outbreak. We…
How to Find Emergency Child Care in Oregon
April 13, 2020
This article was originally published by My Oregon News on April 10, 2020. By Melanie Mesaros Oregon has the ability to serve approximately 10,000 children; learn who can access child care OREGON – While licensed child care is closed in Oregon, Emergency Child Care is available for those who must…
Early Learning Division Supports Emergency Child Care Programs in Response to COVID-19
March 24, 2020
(Salem, Ore) – As part of Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Order 20-12, child care providers have been ordered to close unless they are providing emergency child care. While the executive order was issued to ensure the safety and health of Oregonians, the governor and the Early Learning Division (ELD) recognize…
Early Learning Division Announces Temporary Changes to Child Care Rules in Response to COVID-19
March 18, 2020
(Salem, Ore) – The Early Learning Division (ELD) is announcing new guidance and temporary changes to support child care providers serving families who provide health, safety, and other essential services to their communities during the coronavirus public health emergency. Authorized under Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Order 20-08 issued on…
Oregon expands child care benefits to support families and providers during spread of COVID-19
March 17, 2020
Salem, OR -- To support Oregon’s working families dealing with the spread of COVID-19, Governor Brown directed the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Early Learning Division to make changes to child care benefits. The temporary changes, which are effective immediately, will help more low-income, working families access child…
Child Care Facilities Can Remain Open Through Latest Order
March 17, 2020
(Salem, Ore) – Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced new social distancing orders on March 16, 2020 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which include canceling events and gatherings larger than 25 people. This limit does not apply to child care facilities, which can remain open at this time. “Child…
Child Care Providers in Oregon Not Required to Close During State of Emergency
March 13, 2020
(Salem, Ore) – Following Governor Brown’s statewide school closure announcement in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the Early Learning Division (ELD) is not requiring child care facilities to close at this time. School closures will likely increase the need for child care. “Child care is a critical support for working…
Early Learning Division Extends Deadline to Access Early Learning Funding
March 13, 2020
(Salem, Ore) – The Early Learning Division (ELD) is extending the deadline to apply for Student Success Act grants to Monday, May 4, 2020. The extension includes the four programs within the Early Learning Account: Preschool Promise, Early Childhood Equity Fund, Preschool Promise Fiscal Agent and Oregon Pre-kindergarten. The extension…
State agencies issue COVID-19 guidance to Oregon schools and universities
March 9, 2020
Media contacts: Allyson Hagen, 503-449-6457, allyson.hagen@dhsoha.state.or.us Marc Siegel, Oregon Dept. of Education: 971-239-7982, marc.siegel@state.or.us Endi Hartigan, Higher Education Coordinating Commission: 971-701-4032, endi.hartigan@state.or.us State agencies issue COVID-19 guidance to Oregon schools and universities Health officials recommend taking steps to prevent infection and keeping schools open (Portland – March 8, 2020) Public…
Oregon Kindergarten Assessment Results for 2019-20
February 6, 2020
The first few years of a child’s life are a critical time for high quality learning (Salem, Ore) – The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Early Learning Division (ELD) today jointly released results from the 2019-20 Oregon Kindergarten Assessment, which were largely unchanged from the previous year. The…
Funding Opportunities Open to Expand Preschool and Early Learning Services in Oregon
January 31, 2020
(Salem, Ore) – The Early Learning Division is now accepting applications to expand culturally specific early learning programs and infant, toddler, and preschool education programs to serve Oregon’s youngest children and families. The funds are available thanks to the Student Success Act – a historic $1 billion annual investment in…
Keep Kids Safe Update
October 16, 2013
URGENT UPDATE: The Oregon legislature passed a bill allowing the production and selling of the “Keep Kids Safe” license plates with the additional charge going to county programs which help prevent child abuse. In Deschutes County the examples are the relief nurseries and parenting classes. The legislation requires we sell…
URGENT: Keep Kids Safe!
October 10, 2013
In 2011 House Bill 3250 was passed by the Oregon Legislature to allow the sale of the Keep Kids Safe (KKS) License Plates through the Oregon DMV and Children's Trust Fund of Oregon. The net proceeds go back to Oregon counties for proven child abuse prevention programs. Children's Trust Fund…
Infographic: Read Aloud
September 4, 2013
15 minutes can add up quickly, as this infographic from www.readaloud.org shows.
Too Small to Fail
June 21, 2013
"These aren't ivy league universities. These are our homes...our future depends on healthy children and strong families." Hillary Clinton
Infographic: A Successful, Productive Adult Starts at Birth
June 21, 2013
What do you think of this path?
The School Ready Child
March 22, 2013
How does a child become "school ready?" This infographic explains: The School Ready Child infographic by sramzee.
COSA Statewide Early Learning Conference: November 7-9, 2018
October 16, 2018
2018 Statewide Early Learning Conference Join the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators for their sixth annual Statewide Early Learning Conference. This year at the Hilton in Eugene. This conference energizes and empowers attendees to face changes and gain skills. With over 50 sessions, exciting networking opportunities, and thought-provoking speakers, attendees will leave…
You’re invited! Provider engagement session/webinar information
October 12, 2018
October 12, 2018 The Early Learning Division Office of Child Care is hosting a series of in-person Engagement Sessions and Webinars to gather your feedback on upcoming rule changes – including questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, concerns, you name it! As you know a small set of changes to the child…
Oregon Early Childhood Summit: October 24, 2018
October 11, 2018
Oregon Early Childhood Summit: Supporting All Kids in our Programs and Classrooms Watch the Recording Here Join Dr. Walter Gilliam and a panel of colleagues from diverse early childhood settings in Oregon to discuss social emotional development, equity, expulsion, and relational health for our youngest Oregonians. To be held at the…
Reminder: Child Care Rules Community Engagement Sessions This Week
August 6, 2018
Reminder: The Early Learning Division Office of Child Care will be holding online rules engagement session for all licensed child care providers this week. Please see below for additional details. The Early Learning Division recently passed Temporary Rules for each facility, effective July 1, 2018. The Division has also opened…
Child Care Rules Open for Public Comment: Governor’s Directive for Parent Notification
August 3, 2018
The Office of Child Care (OCC) has rules available for public comment from August 1 - September 18, 2018 at 5pm. Comments can be sent to Peter Blume via email at early.learning@state.or.us or via postal service to 700 Summer St NE, Suite 350, Salem, OR 97301. A summary of these…
Child Care Rules Community Engagement Sessions: August 2018
August 1, 2018
The Early Learning Division recently passed Temporary Rules for each facility, effective July 1, 2018. The Division has also opened rules on the Central Background Registry, training requirements, serious injury and reporting, safe sleep, and the use of restrictive infant equipment for public comment through August 20, 2018. Learn more…
Healthy Families Oregon, a Healthy Families America affiliate, Accredited by Prevent Child Abuse America
July 23, 2018
Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) recently announced that the Healthy Families America (HFA) affiliate, Healthy Families Oregon (HFO), has been reaccredited as a provider of high-quality home visiting services to families who want to learn about building a strong relationship with their baby and improving their child’s health, nutrition,…
Child Care Rules Open for Public Comment: CCDF, HB 4065 and Infant Needs
July 17, 2018
As mentioned last month, the Office of Child Care has suspended the larger child care rule process and split it into two phases. The first phase ensures the Office of Child Care meets the new legal requirements for the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), the statutory requirements of HB 4065,…
Oregon Prekindergarten Extended Head Start Duration Pilot
July 11, 2018
The Early Learning Division (ELD) is partnering with six Oregon Pre-kindergarten (OPK) Head Start grantees to offer extended services to participating children and families beginning in the 2018-19 program year. ELD will provide additional funds to grantees to transition 170 enrollment slots from part-day to extended-day services. Along with the…
Temporary Rules Adoption: Some Child Care Rules Effective Immediately
June 29, 2018
On June 11, 2018, the Early Learning Division Office of Child Care received a directive from the Governor’s Office to address an urgent need to increase the availability of information to parents about the child care programs where their children are enrolled. “One of the highest priorities as a state…
Child Care Rules Update: June 22, 2018
June 22, 2018
The Office of Child Care received substantial feedback on proposed rule changes for all child care settings during the public comment period that closed May 21, 2018 and has continued to receive questions and feedback. In an effort to allow more time for public comment, as well as offer additional…
UPDATED: Child Care and Development Fund State Plan 2019-2021 Open for Public Comment
June 7, 2018
Notice of Public Hearing and Comment: The Child Care and Development Fund State Plan maps Oregon’s response to federal requirements under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014. The state plan serves as the application for Child Care and Development Fund allocations and provides descriptions of, and…
New Drinking Water Advisory for Vulnerable Populations Applies To: Vulnerable Populations of the City of Salem, City of Turner, Suburban East Salem Water District, and Orchard Heights Water Association
June 6, 2018
Applies To: Vulnerable Populations of the City of Salem, City of Turner, Suburban East Salem Water District, and Orchard Heights Water Association Does Not Apply To: Healthy individuals over 6, Keizer, Private drinking water wells Results from water quality samples received Wednesday morning (June 6, 2018) indicate that cyanotoxins are…
DRINKING WATER ADVISORY LIFTED: SAFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS
June 4, 2018
The City of Salem has lifted its water advisory for Salem, the City of Turner, Suburban East Salem Water District, and Orchard Heights Water Association. Analysis of drinking water samples collected Wednesday, May 30 and Thursday, May 31 confirm toxin levels are below Health Advisory Levels, and the water is…
Salem drinking water contaminated, children shouldn’t drink tap water
May 29, 2018
DO NOT DRINK THE TAP WATER – MAY 29, 2018 INFANTS, YOUNG CHILDREN, AND OTHER VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS Applies to City of Salem, City of Turner, Suburban East Salem Water District, and Orchard Heights Water Association https://www.cityofsalem.net/Pages/drinking-water-advisory.aspx WHY IS THERE AN ADVISORY? Low levels of cylindrospermopsin and microcystin (cyanotoxins) have…
