Speaking Freely: Preschool for All's Promises

Preschool for All's key promise is a guarantee for a preschool spot for every 3 to 4-year-old in Oregon's largest county by the year 2030. Voters approved preschool for all in November of 2020, but the planning began well before that and before the pandemic. Rachel Pearl with Multnomah County's Preschool and Early Learning Division says it came at a time of unusually high strain for local families and their children. The pandemic drastically changed the landscape for childcare. We hear from her and other county leaders, and many parents who say the program is essential for their families.