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The Early Learning Division is moving and CBR Online Application outage
February 9, 2018
The Early Learning Division will be moving both of their Salem offices to the Veteran’s Building, 3rd floor. The ELD Central Office staff will move effective February 26, 2018. The ELD Division of State Lands staff will move effective March 5, 2018. The mailing address for this building is 700…
2017-18 Preliminary Kindergarten Assessment Results
February 8, 2018
2017-18 preliminary kindergarten assessment results show correlation with 3rd grade skills The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Early Learning Division (ELD) today jointly released results from the 2017-18 kindergarten assessment. This year, for the first time, there is a cohort of students who have taken both the kindergarten…
Public Testimony: Lead Testing in Licensed and Regulated Child Care Facilities
January 24, 2018
The Early Learning Council will continue to accept public testimony for lead testing water in child care facilities until 5pm January 25, 2018. Please send to alyssa.chatterjee@state.or.us. A link to public testimony that was received by the initial January 21, 2018 deadline can be found at this link: https://oregonearlylearning.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ELD-Public-Testimony-Received_LeadRules.pdf Added 2/23: Additional…
Oregon’s Infant Toddler State Self-Assessment is on the road!
January 23, 2018
This assessment is intended to gather information about Oregon’s infants and toddlers and their families and the services and systems in place to support them; with the goal of putting action steps in place to strengthen supports and services. The team, a partnership between the Early Learning Division, the Oregon…
Office of Child Care (OCC) Statutory Workgroup Meets January 17, 2018
January 11, 2018
The Office of Child Care Statutory Workgroup will meet on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. The meeting will be held in Salem, Oregon at the State Capitol, Room H470 from 1:00-3:00pm.* Agenda and meeting materials are posted below. The State Capitol is located at 900 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301. For…
A Visit to Tribal Head Start Programs – by Shawna Rodrigues
December 27, 2017
There are nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon, and five of these tribes have federally grant funded Head Start classrooms as part of their services for children and families. The unique government-to-government relationship that accompanies these grants means there is a specific Region (referred to as Region 11) that supports…
Community Action Helps Mom Start Child Care Center
December 27, 2017
Child Care Resource and Referral from Community Action in Hillsboro recently received a letter of appreciation from Norma, a working mom who successfully started a child care business in 2012. She took advantage of classes and guidance offered through Community Action and became registered and licensed. Norma used what she…
Rule Revision: Reposted Lead Testing in Licensed and Regulated Child Care Facilities
December 5, 2017
The Early Learning Council will begin rulemaking to adopt permanent administrative rules relating to testing water for lead in licensed and regulated child care facilities. These rules have been redrafted with some corrections and additions for public comment. Increasingly, information indicates lead is leaching into water through plumbing and piping. Young…
Get Involved: Infant Toddler State Self-Assessment
November 6, 2017
Parents and providers participation and feedback are crucial for the success of our statewide Infant Toddler assessment. There are several ways to get involved and share your experience: Focus groups: Would you like to help recruit and host a parent focus group so we can learn about parent experiences with…
Rule Revision: Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Rules
November 3, 2017
Oregon Administrative Rules - Oregon Department of Education, Early Learning Division OAR Chapter 414, Division 700 - Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Program The Early Learning Council will begin formal rulemaking to adopt rules governing the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit program. In 2003, the legislature enacted the Oregon Child…
Kidde Recalls Fire Extinguishers
November 3, 2017

The Early Learning Division received notification from the Consumer Product Safety Commission of a recall on widely used Kidde brand fire extinguishers. Please take time to check your fire extinguisher to see if it is part of the recall. Below is the recall summary. For more details and images of…
Rule Revision: Relief Nurseries
November 3, 2017
November 2, 2017 The Early Learning Council will begin formal rulemaking to adopt rules governing Relief Nurseries. ORS 417.788 directs the Early Learning Division to support relief nurseries statewide as funding becomes available. 417.788 (1). Section 28, chapter 624, Oregon Law 2013 requires the Early Learning Division to enter into…
Office of Child Care (OCC) Statutory Workgroup Meets November 6, 2017
November 1, 2017
The Office of Child Care Statutory Workgroup will meet on Monday, November 6, 2017. The meeting will be held in Salem, Oregon at the State Capitol, Room 350 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.* Agenda and meeting materials are posted below. The State Capitol is located at 900 Court Street…
Rule Revision: Enrollment in Central Background Registry
October 24, 2017
The Early Learning Council will begin rulemaking to adopt permanent administrative rules relating to enrollment in the Central Background Registry established pursuant to ORS 329A.030. The Early Learning Division Office of Child Care (OCC) administers the Central Background Registry (CBR) pursuant to ORS 329A.030. OCC conducts background checks on individuals…
Early Learning System Director Steps Up Safety Improvements
October 12, 2017
NEWS RELEASE Media Inquiries: ELD.Media@state.or.us Early Learning System Director Steps Up Safety Improvements Statement from Miriam Calderon, Early Learning System Director The Early Learning Division has issued an emergency suspension of a licensed child care center related to the tragic death of an infant. This baby and their family are…
Office of Child Care (OCC) Statutory Workgroup Meets November 6, 2017
November 1, 2017
The Office of Child Care Statutory Workgroup will meet on Monday, November 6, 2017. The meeting will be held in Salem, Oregon at the State Capitol, Room 350 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.* Agenda and meeting materials are posted below. The State Capitol is located at 900 Court Street…
Rule Revision: Enrollment in Central Background Registry
October 24, 2017
The Early Learning Council will begin rulemaking to adopt permanent administrative rules relating to enrollment in the Central Background Registry established pursuant to ORS 329A.030. The Early Learning Division Office of Child Care (OCC) administers the Central Background Registry (CBR) pursuant to ORS 329A.030. OCC conducts background checks on individuals…
Early Learning System Director Steps Up Safety Improvements
October 12, 2017
NEWS RELEASE Media Inquiries: ELD.Media@state.or.us Early Learning System Director Steps Up Safety Improvements Statement from Miriam Calderon, Early Learning System Director The Early Learning Division has issued an emergency suspension of a licensed child care center related to the tragic death of an infant. This baby and their family are…
Celebrating Head Start Awareness Month!
October 6, 2017
Thank you to Governor Kate Brown for proclaiming October as Head Start Awareness Month. The Early Learning Division is excited to celebrate Head Start Awareness Month. This is the time of year that Oregon Head Start Pre-Kindergarten programs from across the state connect with their partners to share about exciting…
2017 Lynne Angland Award Recipients Announced
September 28, 2017

The Early Learning Council announced today the two recipients of the 2017 Lynne Angland Award. The Lynne Angland Award recognizes people and organizations who improve safety, quality, affordability and access to child care in Oregon at both the state and local levels. Lynne Angland was a passionate visionary dedicated to…
Preschool for All: Investing in Equity
September 21, 2017

The Portland State University Early Childhood Council is hosting a free all-day event on October 13th: Preschool for All, Investing in Equity. The Oregon Early Learning System Director, Miriam Calderon, will be a featured speaker. Topics include how to address gaps in access to early childhood education and how to…
Office of Child Care (OCC) Statutory Workgroup
August 24, 2017
The Office of Child Care (OCC) Statutory Workgroup will meet on Monday, August 28, 2017, 9:00 to 12:00 noon*. The meeting will be held at the State Capitol Building, Room H470. Statutory Workgoup Agenda Aug 28 meeting DRAFT Agenda: Approve meeting minutes (June 29, 2017 meeting) ORS Chapter 329A overview…
Save the date October 27th – Teen-Parent Program Conference
August 17, 2017
Save the date - October 27th, 2017 (9 am to 3:30 pm) Teen-Parent Program Conference 6th Annual Teen-Parent Program Fall Conference 2017 The Teen-Parent Program Conference is organized by the Early Learning Division of the Oregon Department of Education to gather staff involved with coordination and day-to-day work of Teen Parent…
Child Care and the Solar Eclipse of 2017
August 14, 2017
The Early Learning Division is providing the following documents to help you prepare your program and families for the upcoming solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. The health and safety of children and staff is important during the solar eclipse event. What: During the solar eclipse, the moon will cover…
Division for Early Childhood’s 33rd Annual Conference
August 4, 2017
The Division for Early Childhood’s 33rd Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families is coming to Portland in October 2017. The Division for Early Childhood (DEC), a division of the Council for Exceptional Children, is the principle organization for professionals who work in Early Intervention…
Important: CBR Processing Timeline – July through October
July 10, 2017
When the Office of Child Care receives a completed Central Background Registry application form and fee, and there are no issues, processing time is normally 3-5 business days from the date the form is received at Central Office before the letter for fingerprinting is mailed out. (During the busy season of late-July thru October, process time…
Child Care Statutory Authority Workgroup Meeting
June 28, 2017
At the April 27, 2017 Early Learning Council meeting, the Council adopted the charter for and directed the Early Learning Division to convene a Child Care Statutory Authority Workgroup. A copy of the charter can be found here. The Workgroup is scheduled to convene its first meeting on Thursday, June…
Earned Income Tax Credit
June 26, 2017

Your household may qualify for a bigger refund with an Earned Income Tax Credit. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal tax credit for working people with low to moderate income. To qualify, you must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if you do not…
AMENDING RULES GOVERNING VEHICLE USE
June 13, 2017

The Early Learning Council will consider formal rulemaking to amend rules governing vehicle use in Registered Family Child Care Homes (OAR Chapter 414, Division 205); Certified Family Child Care Homes (OAR Chapter 414, Division 350), Certified Child Care Centers (OAR Chapter 414, Division 300), Regulated Subsidy Family Child Care Homes…
Kindergarten Assessment Results Remain Stable
March 11, 2017

The Oregon Department of Education released results last week from the fourth annual Kindergarten Assessment (KA). The assessment is given each fall to entering kindergarteners and provides a snapshot of students’ foundational skills in three core areas of learning and development: early literacy, early math, and approaches to learning. “At Early…