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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…
Child Care and Development Fund State Plan 2019-2021 Open for Public Comment
May 24, 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…
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…
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…