Oregon Prekindergarten Head Start will now serve more families!

The Early Learning Division has announced where 298 new Oregon Prekindergarten Head Start (OPK) slots will be. We’re excited that nearly 300 additional children will be able to receive high-quality early learning opportunities next year. Not only will these funds help enrolled children and families, but they will increase employment opportunities in the state.

Following the legislative intent for these funds, as well as the principles of Oregon’s Equity Lens and the Early Learning Council’s policy principles, the Early Learning Division created a process to prioritize program expansion in high-promise communities. High-promise communities are defined as communities where there are significant numbers of families experiencing poverty, communities and children of color, a substantial number of children in Head Start waitlists, and capacity to serve children starting September 2016.

Eleven programs will receive expansion funding. The programs and number of slots awarded are as follows:

• Klamath Family Head Start 40
• United Community Action Network 40
• Albina Head Start 40
• Umatilla-Morrow Head Start 37
• Salem-Keizer Head Start 34
• Oregon Child Development Coalition 28
• Neighborhood House 23
• Head Start of Yamhill County 23
• Clackamas County Children’s Commission 16
• Clackamas ESD 13
• The Children’s Learning Center 4

To learn more about Head Start in Oregon including how to enroll children, please visit www.ohsa.net.