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Free Preschool
Preschool Promise
Help your child start strong with Preschool Promise.
Preschool Promise is a state-funded program that provides free or low-cost preschool access to children in need. Preschool Promise prepares young children for kindergarten by offering quality early education.
Eligibility Requirements
200% FPL income limit
Preschool Promise is available to most families living at or below 200% of the poverty level with children 3-5 years old.
Age
Child must be age 3 or 4 as of the September 1st that falls before the start of the school year.
| Household | 100% FPL | 130% FPL | 200% FPL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 People | $20,440 | $26,572 | $40,880 |
| 3 People | $25,820 | $33,566 | $51,640 |
| 4 People | $31,200 | $40,560 | $62,400 |
| 5 People | $36,580 | $47,554 | $73,160 |
| 6 People | $41,960 | $54,548 | $83,920 |
| 7 People | $47,340 | $61,542 | $94,680 |
| 8 People | $52,720 | $68,536 | $105,440 |
Steps to Enrollment
- Make Sure You Qualify
Ensure you qualify for the program’s income requirements and that your child is the right fit for this program.
- Apply for Preschool Promise
Use this form to apply to Preschool Promise. If you are approved, we will reach out to you with nearby locations for your child to attend.
- Confirm your Eligibility
Confirm your eligibility with documents including your Household income, Child’s Birthday, and Oregon Residence.
- Speak with an Enrollment Specialist
Once you get approved, you’ll speak with an Enrollment Specialist about your preferences in a program (schedule, location, teaching style, etc.). Then, your Enrollment specialist will make a referral to the provider that is the best fit, and the provider connects with the family from there.
- Additional Options
Want to do your application with a staff member over the phone? Please leave a voicemail or text 503-437-5727 to schedule a time for a phone call.
Required Documents
Make sure you have the following documents available.
- For income verification
- Child Support Statements; or
- Foster child documentation; or
- Income Tax Form 1040 or 1040A; or
- TANF, SNAP, OHP (Parent/Guardian) benefits letter dated within the last 12 months; or
- Paystubs (3 most recent concurrent); or
- SSI letter; or
- Unemployment Statements; or
- W2; or
- Preschool Promise Family Income Statement Supplement Form: or
- Re-enlistment benefit
- For child’s age verification
- Copy of birth certificate; or
- Copy of hospital record; or
- Copy of pediatrician/doctor’s office paperwork; or
- Copy of child’s immunization record; or
- Health insurance documentation; or
- Foster care placement letter; or
- Legal document that shows child’s date of birth; or
- Preschool Promise Date of Birth Supplemental Form
- For residence in Oregon verification
- Current utility/service bill (electric, gas, water/sewer and waste); or
- Lease or rental agreement; or
- Identification card or Oregon driver’s license; or
- Paystub or W-2; or
- Benefits letter or screenshot of benefits account (Social Security, TANF, SNAP, OHP letter, etc.) dated within the last 12 months; or
- Foster care placement letter; or
- Secure address through Address Confidentiality Program
Preschool Promise Locations
Dayton Pirate Preschool
School District Program. Quality preschool program for children age 3-5 that allows self-directed learning. Strives to reach specific goals in three areas: social-emotional growth, cognitive growth, and physical growth. Offers both Preschool Promise and private pay slots.
Mi Escuelita Bilingual Preschool and Childcare
Home Based Childcare. This is a bilingual immersion program that provides developmentally appropriate instruction in both Spanish and English. All children deserve to be treated and respected as individuals in an environment that welcomes reason, exploration, question, and imagination. They provide a school year program for students 3-5 who qualify for Preschool Promise. The school has a limited number of private pay and scholarship positions for those that qualify.
Little Bird Childcare
Licensed Childcare Center. Little Bird Childcare is a Reggio Emilia-inspired program offering full- and part-time preschool and childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age. The Reggio Emilia Philosophy approaches early childhood education by valuing the child as strong and capable with knowledge. The idea grows with the child’s natural feeling of curiosity. This style teaches the child about the world and their place in it.
Willamette Education Service District
Licensed Childcare Center. Provides support services in classroom and home settings for children from 0 to 5 who have a developmental delay or disability. Preschool Promise is a separate service from the other services WESD currently provides. These classrooms are not part of the EI/ECSE program and are not a special education placement. The Preschool Promise classrooms are guided by the belief that children learn best through play and practice. Classrooms are facilitated by an instructor and an instructional assistant with up to 18 children.