Tag: CCU-April-2026

We Are Seeking Applicants for the Preschool Promise Rulemaking Committee (RAC)

Preschool Promise is an Oregon program providing state-funded preschool for low-income families, with a focus on accessibility. Input from diverse voices is sought through an application process.

April 15, 2026

Preschool Promise is a state-funded preschool program serving three- and four‑year‑old children from families earning up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), as well as children in foster care. The program operates through a mixed‑delivery model, meaning services are offered in a variety of settings. PSP settings include licensed certified center‑based programs, home‑based childcare, and schools. Participating organizations include culturally specific programs, school districts, Head Start programs, Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes, Relief Nurseries, education service districts, and community‑based organizations. This mixed‑delivery approach allows families to select the PSP setting that best meets their needs. 

 DELC is developing a set of rules to make Preschool Promise more accessible, consistent, and supportive for families throughout Oregon- especially low-income families who to access high-quality early learning opportunities. 

Apply today to give input on the Preschool Promise Program! 

We are seeking diverse voices to represent groups within Oregon’s Early Learning system. Committee members may include: 

  • Families with preschool aged children 
  • Preschool Promise families 
  • Early Learning and Care programs and providers, specifically who participate in DELC funded grant programs 
  • Representatives from other Publicly Funded Programs such as Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten, Head Start, Title 1, Migrant Education, Relief Nurseries, and others.  
  • Representatives from culturally specific, community-based organizations 
  • Early Learning Hub representatives 
  • Tribal Nations representatives 
  • Representatives from organizations that deliver early literacy programming 

Participants will be reimbursed for their time dedicated to this RAC and will positively impact Oregon’s children, families, early learning programs, and communities. Applications are due April 24, 2026. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 24, 2026 

Click here to access the Preschool Promise RAC ApplICATION

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Oregon Department of Education Releases Indigenous Family Special Education Guides

The Indigenous Family Special Education Comprehensive Guide and Mini-Guide Series have been released to support Native families with clear information about special education rights and services.

April 1, 2026

The Office of Indian Education (OIE) is excited to share the Indigenous Family Special Education Comprehensive Guide and the full Mini-Guide Series are now complete and ready to share with tribal partners, districts, ESDs, and most importantly – our Native families.  

You can read the entire article here: New Release: Indigenous Family Special Education Guides 

These resources will help ensure Indigenous families have clear, culturally grounded, and legally accurate information about their students’ special education rights and services. 

 Included in the Indigenous Family Special Education Guides:

  • Comprehensive Guide: The Journey to Ensure a Free and Appropriate Public Education for Students with Disabilities – A Guide for Indigenous Families
  • Mini Guides: Each mini-guide connects directly to the comprehensive guide and follows relatable family stories; grounding technical information in real experiences and plain-language explanations. 
  • Mini Guide 1 – Getting Started with Special Education – Navigating the Special Education Referral Process
  • Mini Guide 2 – Parent/Caregiver Rights in Special Education
  • Mini Guide 3 – Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
  • Mini Guide 4 – Discipline for Students in Special Education
  • Mini Guide 5 – Seeking the Right Support: Understanding IEPs and 504 Plans

All of these guides can be accessed on the new OIE Special Education Guides webpage.

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April 2026 Community Newsletter

April 2026 Department of Early Learning and Care Updates.

A Message from leadership

Do you want to receive this update in your email? Sign up for our Community Newsletter and Child Care Updates twice monthly send by subscribing here.

This month’s update from Director Alyssa Chatterjee

Greetings! Legislative session has wrapped up, cherry blossoms are in bloom, and we’re already thinking about next biennium. Here are some things that are top of mind for me:

2026 Legislative Session

The Legislative Session concluded with a bang! DELC received an additional $67 million in Federal Fund limitation – basically, permission – to use more of our Child Care and Development Funds (CCDF) to help address the budget needs of the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program. This allows us to use more federal funds to close our projected budget gap for the program, if needed. We did receive a small reduction to our internal operating budget called Services and Supplies, or “S&S,” which pays for things like travel and trainings for DELC staff that should be absorbable for this biennium. Please keep an eye out for additional government affairs updates as we move into 2027 planning. We appreciate your partnership and support this past session!

Agency Request Budget

As I mentioned in my last Chats, when one session ends, another begins. While we are not quite halfway through the 2025-2027 biennium, DELC is already starting to plan for the 2027 legislative session that will set next biennium’s budget. As we’ve been hearing, we continue to head into a more constrained budget environment, which means you likely won’t see a lot of big-ticket budget requests coming from agencies unless we can find a way to pay for them. However, it’s important that we still engage our communities – including you all – in the development of our Agency Request Budget (ARB) so that we can more fully understand the needs of our system. Read on for more information about our ARB Prep Webinar on April 14th; your input is critical in these early stages of the process.

Recognizing the Early Years

I can’t sign off without mentioning that April is home to both the Week of the Young Child (April 11-17) and National Home Visiting Week (April 20-24)! This is the 55th anniversary of WOYC, and the second annual Home Visiting Week. I am excited to see the continued recognition of the importance of these early years alongside the critical workforces that support children and families across Oregon. Read on to learn more about this recognition and how you can celebrate alongside us at DELC.

Carey’s Corner: What Am I Reading

We are excited to see the news that the third and final installment of the Oregon Child Care Infrastructure Fund (CCIF) were awarded by Business Oregon this month, highlighted in this Oregon Capital Chronicle article. Since fall 2024, more than 180 child care infrastructure projects in every Oregon county and eight federally recognized tribal nations have received a portion of the $50 million fund. Funds awarded are designed to establish, expand, and improve child care facilities across Oregon. Across these three rounds of funding, almost 2,000 applications were submitted, requesting approximately $820 million. The strengths this fund is building, the demand it documented, along with two 2025 reports – First Children’s Finance’s Navigating the Early Years: Recommendations to Support Oregon Child Care Businesses in the Critical Years after Launch, and the Northwest Native Chamber’s Tribal Child Care Needs Assessment that included insights on the CCIF process – are efforts bringing insights to child care access and affordability issues facing our state. 

On the national level, the National Children’s Facilities Network and the Reinvestment Fund released an analysis in 2022 describing findings from their mapping project of financial infrastructure that can support start-up funding to create new child care programs, working capital for business stabilization and maintenance, and growth capital for facility expansion and quality improvement. In addition, the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), a community development financial institution, ran a three-part blog series in Spring of 2025 showcasing innovative state strategies to fund early care and education (ECE) infrastructure and improve child care accessibility and affordability. Part 2 of the series highlights how California and Washington, D.C. leverage flexible capital to increase the supply and enhance the quality of child care. Their approaches are especially impactful for underbanked communities and undercapitalized ECE providers, where access to quality ECE services and capital is most limited. 

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DELC on Social: March Highlights

As we wrap up March, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media!

As we wrap up March, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media! It’s one of the easiest ways to stay up to date on child care resources, early learning news, and opportunities to get involved.

🔗 Follow us: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

We’re looking for community voices! 

Help shape Oregon’s early learning system by joining the Employment Related Day Care Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC). Parents, providers, and partners are encouraged to apply.

Apply by March 30, 2026

To apply and learn more visit: https://ow.ly/XXs150YrzwI

211info child care specialists help families navigate quality care options, and offer guidance on Employment Related Day Care (ERDC).

Learn more about how 211info child care specialists can help you find the resources you need: 211info.org/2024/12/help-finding-child-care.

Contact the 211info child care team for help today! Call 211, text the keyword “children” or “niños” to 898211, or email children@211info.org.

Want to search yourself? Go to findchildcareoregon.org.

Our child care team is available for calls, text, and email Monday through Friday, 7am-11pm, and weekends 8am-8pm.

Repost from NAEYC:

Can you believe it? The Week of the Young Child is under 40 days away 

Get ready to celebrate early learning, young children, and the educators, families, and communities who support them.

With themed days like Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, and Artsy Thursday, #WOYC highlights the power of play, creativity, and collaboration.

April 11–17, 2026

Share your celebrations using #WOYC26 and help shine a spotlight on early childhood education!

Learn More: https://bit.ly/2EINJfX

Help shape the future for Oregon’s children and families!

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care is looking for a collaborative and strategic Chief Financial Officer who is ready to lead with purpose. This executive leadership role plays a key part in supporting programs that help young children learn, grow, and thrive across the state.

Curious to learn more? We invite you to connect with us for a Virtual Informational Session on Tuesday, April 7 | 12:00–12:30 PM (PDT). Meet the hiring manager, hear about the role, and get your questions answered. To join visit: https://ow.ly/BRhW50YAUUE

🗓️Application Deadline: April 19. To view a complete job posting and to apply, visit: https://ow.ly/91Jk50YAUUC

If you’re passionate about making a meaningful difference and guiding impactful work, we encourage you to apply or share this opportunity with your network.

Oregon ELMS Update: What’s Happening and What to Expect

Oregon’s Early Learning Management System aims to streamline early learning services for providers and families, offering resources and training beginning Summer 2026 to enhance connection and efficiency.

April 1, 2026

Oregon’s Early Learning Management System (Oregon ELMS) is a new, online platform that will bring together providers, licensing specialists, ERDC payments, and service coordination in one place. The goal is to help providers and families access information, complete tasks, and stay connected to the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).

What is Happening Now?

Through Spring 2026, DELC is completing the development of Oregon ELMS to ensure it meets immediate needs.

What to Expect Next?

Over the coming months, DELC will continue to share monthly Oregon ELMS updates with key information. Training opportunities for providers, partners, and families will be available in early summer 2026, and step-by-step instructions will be provided ahead of any required actions.

What This Means for Providers

When Oregon ELMS becomes available in Summer 2026, providers will be able to:

  • Use one secure account to work with DELC in their preferred language
  • Keep key information (contacts, payments, documents, staff connections, CBR enrollment) in one place
  • Submit and track applications
  • Bill for ERDC payments
  • View notifications
  • Track training requirements

These changes are designed to reduce paperwork, save time, and make it easier to focus on supporting children and families.

Upcoming Provider Information Sessions

The Provider Information Session coming up on April 22 will include more information about Oregon ELMS. Register Here for the April 22 session.

How Partners Can Help

Partners play an important role in supporting a smooth transition. You can help by:

  • Reinforcing messages about Oregon ELMS with providers and families
  • Encouraging providers to watch for updates and review communications from DELC
  • Supporting awareness of upcoming training and preparation activities

More details will be shared in future updates as training dates and additional information sessions are confirmed.

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Upcoming Provider Information Session

Join the Oregon ELMS Information Session on April 22 at 6:00 pm via Zoom to learn about updates; registration required and interpretation services available.

April 1, 2026

Join us for the first Oregon ELMS Information Session on Wednesday, April 22 at 6:00 pm to learn about Oregon ELMS and other Agency & Program Updates.

This is a virtual event. Registration is required to attend via Zoom. You may submit questions in advance on the registration form.

Note: Attendees utilizing interpretation services (Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and ASL) should join the session via Zoom. For more information, please visit the registration page.

Click here TO Register for the provider informaTION Session

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National Home Visiting Week 2026: Celebrating Commitment, Connection, and Community

National Home Visiting Week recognizes Oregon’s home visiting programs, honoring the dedicated home visitors and promoting family support for healthy development and child abuse prevention.

April 1, 2026

National Home Visiting Week is a time to honor the powerful work happening across Oregon’s home visiting system which includes the Healthy Families Oregon and Relief Nurseries programs, and to recognize the families and communities supported through these relationship‑based services. Home visitors across both programs show up with compassion, skill, and consistency. They build trusting relationships, celebrate milestones, and walk alongside families through both joyful and challenging moments.

Through strength‑based, family‑focused home visits, these programs provide parenting support, education, and connections that promote healthy development and help prevent child abuse and neglect. Their shared commitment to early intervention and comprehensive family support continues to strengthen families and communities across Oregon.

National Home Visiting Week is a nationwide celebration of the impact of home visiting programs and the professionals who make this work possible. It is an opportunity to:

  • Celebrate and appreciate home visitors
  • Elevate family‑centered, relationship‑based support
  • Share the impact of home visiting with community leaders and policymakers
  • Build awareness and pride across the Healthy Families America network

As we recognize National Home Visiting Week 2026, taking place April 20–24, we are reminded of the dedication of our home visitors, the resilience of the families they serve, and the collective impact we make when we invest in strong, nurturing relationships from the very beginning.

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Week of the Young Child is Here

The Week of the Young Child celebration occurs April 11-17, 2026, marking its 55th year, honoring early learning, children, teachers, and families. Join via social media.

April 1, 2026

The Week of the Young Child (WOYC) celebration is happening April 11-17, 2026! This year marks the 55th year of WOYC and celebrates early learning, young children, their teachers, and families.

You can join the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) in this celebration by tagging the DELC social media pages on Instagram and Facebook in your WOYC posts. Are you doing a fun project in your preschool or child care program, or celebrating your team in some way? Show us what you are doing to celebrate this important week!

DELC Facebook: @OREarlyLearning
DELC Instagram: @orearlylearning

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Share Your Smiles and Staff Pride for Provider Appreciation Day

Provider Appreciation Day on May 8 invites childcare providers to submit team photos for social media recognition. Submit photos with release forms by May 4 to participate.

April 1, 2026

Provider Appreciation Day is approaching on May 8, the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) would like to have the opportunity to highlight you and your staff on our social media and blog.     

Provider Appreciation Day is an annual celebration on the Friday before Mother’s Day that recognizes the work of childcare providers, teachers, and other educators of young children. If you would consider sending in a photo of yourself, your staff, or the whole team (no children pictured), we would love to celebrate this important day with you and honor your time and efforts in this way.    

Please be sure to fill out the attached photo release form and include signatures from each adult in the photo.    

You can submit your photos to our inbox at delc.communications@delc.oregon.gov.

Please do not include children! While we would love to highlight your work directly with kiddos, we know it can be difficult to manage photo releases with families, and we do not want to burden you by asking you to make that happen.      

Any photo submitted by 4 pm on Monday May 4 will be included in the DELC celebration posts as long as photo releases are provided. Thank you for your consideration.    

Photo-Release-Form-DELCDownload

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