Student Success Act

Overview

Early Learning Account

Click here to learn about grant award decisions.

What is the Student Success Act?

Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed House Bill 3427, the Student Success Act, into law on May 20, 2019. This law aims to correct three decades of underinvestment in our schools and our children and includes sweeping provisions for new and improved services for children and families.

The Act funds three accounts:

The Early Learning Account (at least 20 percent)
Student Investment Account (at least 50 percent)
Statewide Education Initiatives (up to 30 percent)

The Early Learning Division is responsible for implementing the majority of the investments made through the Early Learning Account. For information on the Student Investment Account and the Statewide Education Initiatives and the special education portions of the ELA, visit the Oregon Department of Education’s website.

What are the focus areas for the Early Learning Account investments?

Too many children have not had the opportunity to reach their full potential because of the limited supply of early childhood education and gaps between which families can and cannot afford access to this limited supply. The investments within the ELA are focused on correcting this inequity, with services targeting the prenatal to five period by providing services to both children and their families who face economic challenges.

The ELA investments will ensure more of Oregon’s youngest children in low-income families can enter school ready to learn. Annual funding of $200 million will support the expansion of existing early care and education programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and their families. In addition, the funding creates new programs, including an Equity Fund, a parenting education program, and a new state investment in the early childhood workforce. This investment – when paired with our current programs – will help us reach approximately 15,000 children, or 15 percent of children living in low-income families and approximately 60 percent of families in poverty.

When will children and families start to benefit from the Student Success Act?

Because funds don’t become available until next year, expanded programs and services won’t begin until September 2020. We anticipate starting in fall of 2020 there will be 15,000 children supported through enhanced or new programs.

What will be happening over the next year?

Work begins with Early Learning Hubs leading a process to plan for placement of new slots within their community and directing funding.

How are you ensuring these resources best meet the needs of communities and families?

The next several months will be the time to hear from families and others interested in these investments. It will be important to hear diverse voices, particularly in communities who have historically been underserved across Oregon. Our 16 Early Learning Hubs will play a critical role in working with communities to identify the needs of families and most effectively leverage local resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to see the Frequently Asked Questions.

Request for Applications

Overview

The 2019 Oregon Legislature passed the Student Success Act, which included the creation of a new Early Learning Account to fund investments focused on increasing access to high-quality early care and education for historically-underserved children under the age of five and their families.

Early Learning Account Grant Award Decisions

Early Learning Account “Intent to Award” letters for Student Success Act programs will be announced by July 2, 2020 for the following areas: Oregon Pre-kindergarten (Prenatal-5), Early Childhood Equity Fund, Preschool Promise, Healthy Families Oregon, and Parenting Education.

The awards will only be a portion of the funds that were budgeted for the second year of the biennium as part of the Early Learning Account investments. COVID-19 has impacted the state economy and state budget. More guidance is expected from state policymakers on how to address the deficit impacting the programs and delay in the timeline.

Please watch for updates from the ELD. If you have any questions, contact:

Preschool Promise Program and Fiscal Agent
psprfa@ode.oregon.gov

Oregon Pre-kindergarten
OPKRFA@ode.oregon.gov

Early Childhood Equity Fund
ECEFRFA@ode.oregon.gov

Healthy Families Oregon
elizabeth.underwood@ode.oregon.gov

SSA Grant Award FAQs – Updated September 15, 2020
English
Spanish

RFA Response and Review Process Updates

Funding applications for the 2020 program year are now closed.

The Early Learning Division would like to thank applicants and partners for reaching another milestone in the Student Success Act. On Monday, May 4, 2020 applications for Early Learning Account funds closed for the following programs:

Preschool Promise
Preschool Promise Fiscal Agent
Early Childhood Equity Fund
Oregon Pre-kindergarten

The ELD received a total of 377 applications. For more information on RFA response and review process, view the documents below.

Early Learning Account RFA Response Report: 2019-2020
English
Early Learning Division Grant Application Review Process: March 2020 (Updated May 25th, 2020)
English
Grant Application Review Committee Membership
English

Preschool Promise

This grant opportunity will expand the Preschool Promise Program to serve approximately 3,865 children. The Preschool Promise Program is a high-quality, publicly-funded preschool program that serves children ages three and four in families living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, children in foster care and children from other historically underserved populations. The program is delivered in a variety of settings including centers, homes, and schools.

New and existing providers must apply through this application and will be scored and reviewed against other applicants regionally.

Webinars

Request for Application (RFA) Overview Webinar – English – Recorded on February 10, 2020
PSP RFA Overview Webinar PowerPoint Presentation English
Learn about the application process, eligibility, timeline and more.

Request for Application (RFA) Overview Webinar – Spanish- Recorded on February 10, 2020
Solicitud de Aplicación Presentación Informativa (Webinar) – Español
Learn about the application process, eligibility, timeline and more.

Tribal Grant Opportunities Webinar – Recorded on April 23, 2020 (English)
Learn about specific opportunities available to Tribal Governments.

Preschool Promise Provider RFA Questions and Responses

Responses to submitted questions – Preschool Promise

Responses to submitted questions – Preschool Promise (Spanish)

View Sector Plans by clicking here

RFA Materials

Preschool Promise Request for Applications – Amended March 17, 2020
English
Spanish
Preschool Promise Request for Applications – January 30, 2020
English
Spanish
Self-Assessment Checklist for Program Participation
English
Spanish
Slot Allocation Estimates 2020-21
English
Spanish
Support Sessions – Attend an In-Person Application Session
English
Spanish
Technical Assistance Opportunities
English
Spanish

Early Childhood Equity Fund

The Early Childhood Equity Fund was created as part of the 2019 Student Success Act and will provide about $10 million annually in grants to support a broad range of culturally specific early learning, early childhood and parent support programs, including:

Parenting education
Parent-child interactions
Kindergarten transition
Tribal language preservation and revitalization

The fund aims to close opportunity gaps for children and families who experience systemic disparities because of any combination of factors, such as race, income, zip code, or language through funding early learning services rooted in culture, home language, and lived experience. Applicants must apply through this application, which will be reviewed and scored against other applications statewide.

RFA Materials

Early Childhood Equity Fund Request for Applications
English
Spanish
Early Childhood Equity Fund Request for Applications Updated with Addendum – February 24, 2020
English
Spanish
Early Childhood Equity Fund Request for Applications Updated with Addendum – March 16, 2020
English
Spanish
Support Sessions – Attend an In-Person Application Session
English
Spanish
Technical Assistance Opportunities
English
Spanish

Oregon Pre-Kindergarten

The Oregon Pre-Kindergarten program was created by the 1987 Oregon Legislature to provide comprehensive preschool services modeled after the federal Head Start program, adhering to the federal Head Start Program Performance Standards and the Head Start Act. Oregon modeled the Oregon Pre-Kindergarten program after Head Start to expand high-quality early learning opportunities for the lowest income and highest need preschool children from prenatal to five years.

In addition to the Student Success Act, House Bill 2025 extends the age range of Oregon Pre-Kindergarten services to include prenatal through age three services, allows for extended day services for preschool aged children, and includes requirements for lead teacher and teacher assistant salaries.

Webinars

Oregon Pre-Kindergarten – Recorded on February 26, 2020 (English)
Learn about the application process, eligibility, timeline and more.

Oregon Pre-Kindergarten – Recorded on February 10, 2020 (English)
Oregon Pre-Kindergarten Application Request for Application

Tribal Grant Opportunities – Recorded on April 23, 2020 (English)
Learn about specific opportunities available to Tribal Governments.

Oregon Pre-Kindergarten RFA Questions and Responses

Responses to Submitted Questions – Oregon Pre-Kindergarten RFA (English)

RFA Materials

Oregon Pre-Kindergarten Request for Applications
English
Oregon Pre-Kindergarten Request for Applications Updated with Addendum – March 16, 2020
English
Oregon Pre-Kindergarten Request for Applications Updated with Addendum – March 19, 2020
English

Preschool Promise Fiscal Agent

Oregon’s Early Learning Division is inviting applications from interested and eligible entities to serve as Preschool Promise Fiscal Agents. Preschool Promise Fiscal Agents will be eligible to provide technical assistance to Preschool Promise Program Providers on a variety of business and administrative functions. Applicants must apply through this application which will be scored and reviewed against other applicants.

Webinars

Fiscal Agent Webinar – Recorded on February 10, 2020 (English)
PSP Fiscal Agent Webinar_2.10.20

Tribal Grant Opportunities Webinar – Recorded on April 23, 2020 (English)
Learn about specific opportunities available to Tribal Governments.

Preschool Promise Fiscal Agent RFA Questions and Responses

Responses to Submitted Questions – Preschool Promise Fiscal Agent RFA

RFA Materials

Preschool Promise Fiscal Agent Request for Applications
English

Outreach Materials

Early Childhood Equity Fund Application Flyer
English
Spanish
Preschool Promise Application Flyer
English
Spanish

Preschool Promise Graphic/Social Media (English)

Preschool Promise Graphic/Social Media (Spanish)

Early Childhood Equity Fund Graphic/Social Media (English)

Early Childhood Equity Fund Graphic/Social Media(Spanish)

Pre-Application Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to see the Frequently Asked Questions.

Early Childhood Equity Fund

Families from historically underserved populations have the least access to early learning programs. The Early Childhood Equity Fund will provide grants for beginning or expanding kindergarten readiness and family support programs that reflect the unique culture, language, and lived experience of children of color and Native children.

Early Childhood Equity Grant Manual

Early Childhood Equity Fund Sample Grant Agreement

Early Childhood Equity Fund Fact Sheet– English version

Frequently Asked Questions – Equity Fund

Webinar: Overview of Oregon’s Early Childhood Equity Fund

(Previously recorded on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019)

Presenters:

Amanda Manjarrez, Chalkboard Project
Amanda Cross-Hemmer, Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services
Callie Lambarth, Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services

View Recording

Early Childhood Equity Fund Rules Advisory Committee

The ELD formed a Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) to advise on developing the Early Childhood Equity Fund Rules. Meetings were held in December 2019 and January 2020. Committee membership reflected a diverse group of stakeholders:

Annalivia Palazzo-Angulo	Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality
Coi Vu	Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
Jaylyn Rae Suppah	Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Kali Thorne Ladd	Early Learning Council / Kairos PDX
Maritza Romero	Lower Columbia Hispanic Council
Rep. Diego Hernandez	Oregon State Legislature
Ruby Ramirez	Oregon Community Foundation
Sadie Feibel	Latino Network
Sue Miller	Early Learning Council
Matt Morton	Meyer Memorial Trust
Andrea Valderrama	Coalition of Communities of Color

The RAC developed eligibility and scoring criteria to target the efforts of the fund to align with the direction in the legislation. It calls for promoting the capacity of culturally specific organizations to deliver early learning, early childhood and parent support programs.

Resources

The Center for Improvement of Child & Family Services at Portland State University: Building the Case for Culturally Specific P-3 Strategies in Oregon

Providers and partners who receive funding from the state through an ELD contract or agreement are required to complete an equity training. Click here for more information.