Oregon Eyes Universal Preschool Within Four Years

Families with preschool-age children should watch for expert recommendations due in early November as the state plans a statewide program.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Child Care

Oregon Eyes Universal Preschool Within Four Years

Live Poll

Should Oregon expand government-funded preschool for all children?

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek promoted her push toward universal preschool at Harmony Montessori School in Gresham on October 23, telling families and state child care leaders the state needs to see expanded programs like Multnomah County's Preschool for All. An expert panel she convened in February is expected to deliver its first recommendations in early November, with families across the state watching how a universal program would be built.

Why it matters

Universal preschool would change child care costs and access for families statewide, and the governor's concern is that the program must be sustainable enough to reach its goals. Her stated worry about Preschool for All driving taxpayers out of the state shows how tightly funding and tax policy are tied to whatever the state builds.

Oregon expects roughly four years to ramp up to universal preschool, with the first expert panel recommendations due in early November. Multnomah County's Preschool for All is paid for by a marginal income tax on higher earners in that county alone.

The players

Tina Kotek

Oregon's governor, leading the state's push to build a universal preschool system.

Jessica Vega Pederson

Multnomah County Chair, who oversees the county's Preschool for All program.

The details

The state is working to fold existing early learning programs into a single system that is easier for families to navigate. Governor Kotek plans to reach universal preschool through a mixed delivery model, meaning public and private providers would both play a role. Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said the state work must not limit or undermine the county's universal preschool commitment, signaling that local and state efforts will have to be coordinated.

February: Governor Kotek convened the expert panel on universal preschool.
Summer 2025: Kotek warned that Preschool for All was driving taxpayers out of the state.
October 23, 2026: Kotek met with families at Harmony Montessori School in Gresham.
Early November 2026: The expert panel's first recommendations are expected.

The Home Front

Oregon's statewide plan builds on Multnomah County's Preschool for All, the local income-tax-funded model that the governor has both praised and criticized. The state is now weighing whether a broader program can be funded without pushing higher earners out of the state.

If you have a child approaching preschool age in Oregon, watch for the expert panel's recommendations in early November to understand what options may be available. Start gathering your current child care costs and schedule needs so you can compare them against any future program once details are published.

The takeaway

A statewide universal preschool program would take about four years to build and will likely rely on a mix of public and private providers. Keep a record of your current child care costs now so you can measure any future change against them.