Portland, OR — In response to Governor Kotek’s recent statement regarding Multnomah County’s Preschool for All program, the following joint statement was issued by Black Parents Initiative, Family Forward, Friends of Preschool for All, Oregon Working Families Party, and Portland for All:

“Governor Kotek is right about one thing: Oregon families deserve better. But undermining a voter-approved solution that’s working for thousands of children and families in Multnomah County is not the answer.

Preschool for All is working — for children gaining access to free, high-quality preschool; for early educators earning fair wages; and for families finally getting a little breathing room. Voters demanded change, and Multnomah County is delivering it.

You can’t build a universal system overnight. It takes time, trust, and sustained investment to scale equitably. That’s what Preschool for All was designed to do — and it’s making steady, community-driven progress.

We agree Oregon needs broader solutions. But progress here should be a model, not a scapegoat. If equity and sustainability are truly the goal, we have to start by listening to the people most impacted — families, providers, and the local leaders doing the work every day.

We welcome collaboration. But so far, local communities haven’t been consulted. If the Governor wants to fix what’s not working in Oregon’s childcare system, she should start by asking the people who are making it work.” 

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