Multnomah County's Preschool For All initiative is facing intense scrutiny over flawed data and transparency issues, but for the families who have secured a spot, the program has been nothing short of life-changing. Parents describe the free, high-quality preschool as a critical financial lifeline that has allowed them to remain in Portland and has provided their children with invaluable social and developmental opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- Portland's Preschool For All (PFA) program is providing free early childhood education to thousands of families, saving them significant portions of their income.
- Parents report transformative social and emotional growth in their children, many of whom were born during the pandemic.
- The program is under review for using flawed demographic data that overestimated the number of preschool seats needed.
- Despite administrative challenges, Multnomah County plans to nearly double the program's capacity to almost 7,400 seats by next fall.
The Financial Difference Maker
For many Portland-area families, the cost of childcare is a prohibitive burden. The Preschool For All program has removed that barrier, with profound effects on household stability.
Erina Perez, whose 5-year-old son Ziggy is in his second year of the program, explained that without it, her family would have faced a difficult choice. "I don’t know how we would have made it work otherwise," she said. The cost was so high that continuing preschool would not have been an option.
"We probably wouldn’t have continued preschool at all. Childcare would’ve eaten my entire salary." - Erina Perez, PFA Parent
This sentiment is shared by other parents like Ben Stewart. His 4-year-old daughter, Elden, also attends a PFA-funded school. For his family, the program was the deciding factor in whether they could afford to stay in the region.
"Preschool would’ve been about a third of our income," Stewart stated. "We wouldn’t have been able to afford it at all."
The news that his family had secured a spot came at a pivotal moment. After being laid off, Stewart was considering a lower-paying job in Seattle. "That same day we found out we got Preschool For All, it was like — OK, we can stay," he recalled. "We can actually plan."
More Than Just Savings: A Social Launchpad
While the financial relief is significant, parents emphasize that the program's true value lies in the developmental growth they see in their children. For many kids born during the COVID-19 pandemic, PFA has been their first consistent opportunity to socialize and learn in a group setting.
Perez noted a remarkable change in her son, Ziggy. "Socially, it’s been huge," she said. "He has real friendships now." This structured environment has helped him build connections and confidence that were difficult to foster during years of isolation.
Pandemic Generation
Many children currently in the Preschool For All program were born in 2020 or 2021. For them, preschool represents their first major experience with peer socialization and a structured learning environment outside the home.
Stewart described a similar transformation in his daughter, Elden. "She was painfully shy," he shared. The experience in her PFA classroom has helped her come out of her shell. "Now she’s making friends. That alone is incredible."
Parents are pleased that this growth happens in a nurturing, play-based environment. Perez noted that her son's school, which was not their first choice but exceeded all expectations, has cultivated a genuine enthusiasm for learning. "The teachers are amazing. The play space is huge. He actually looks forward to going to school," she said.
Administrative Hurdles and Data Discrepancies
The positive experiences of families stand in contrast to the administrative challenges facing the program. Recently, Multnomah County officials acknowledged that their initial projections for universal preschool were based on flawed data. The program was planned around a need for 11,200 seats, a figure cited to voters.
Revised Projections
A new demographic analysis has revised the number of seats needed to achieve universal access down to approximately 7,500. This has raised questions about the program's planning and transparency.
County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards has been a vocal critic, raising concerns about how long the program operated with incorrect numbers and whether key decisions were made without proper oversight. Despite these issues, the county is moving forward with a significant expansion, aiming to increase capacity from 3,800 to nearly 7,400 seats by the fall. This would put them years ahead of their original 2030 goal for universal access.
Parents are aware of the controversy but tend to focus on the program's tangible results. "I definitely think transparency is important," Perez acknowledged, adding that the pandemic introduced many unpredictable variables.
Stewart was more direct. "If the result is more kids getting access to preschool sooner, that doesn’t feel like the worst example of government dysfunction," he commented.
Navigating an Imperfect System
Even with its benefits, parents admit the enrollment process can be stressful. The program uses a lottery-style system where families rank their preferred schools without any guarantee of placement or that the hours will align with their work schedules.
"You don’t really know what you’re getting," Perez said. "And if it’s not the right fit, there isn’t always a fallback."
The uncertainty made long-term planning difficult for the Stewart family before they were accepted. "We confirmed enrollment three or four times because it didn’t feel real," he said. "There was no backup plan."
As Preschool For All continues its rapid expansion, families hope the county will preserve the core elements that make it successful: high-quality care, livable wages for educators, and a consistent, reliable system for children. They see the program as a community-wide investment.
"This benefits everyone," Perez concluded. "Not just kids: parents, workers, educators." For the families currently enrolled, the message is clear: despite its flaws, Preschool For All is an essential service that is fundamentally changing lives for the better.