What is Preschool Promise?
Preschool Promise is a statewide, publicly funded initiative by the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC). It is a free, full-time preschool option for kids ages 3 and 4, whose family income falls within 200% of the federal poverty level.

My child will turn 3-years-old a few days after September 1st, can I get an exception?
No, unfortunately the birthdate requirement is an Oregon law (ORS 329.172), and we cannot make age exceptions for Preschool Promise.

Do any Preschool Promise staff members speak languages other than English?
Yes, we have a Bilingual Coordinated Enrollment Specialist that speaks fluent Spanish. We are also able to access translation services for many other languages, upon request. Some Preschool Promise providers also offer dual language learning opportunities.

Is Preschool Promise run by the state?
While Preschool Promise is a statewide initiative and must follow state guidelines and regulations, in Oregon, each county’s Preschool Promise is operated slightly differently. In Lane County, the Preschool Promise Coordinated Enrollment staff working for Preschool Promise are part of the Early Childhood Hub of Lane County, housed by United Way of Lane County. Each Preschool Promise provider in Lane County applies to participate in Preschool Promise. Every provider must follow various state guidelines and regulations relating to the Preschool Promise grant.

How do I get into Preschool Promise?
The Preschool Promise (PSP) Coordinated Enrollment staff will process your applications for Preschool Promise, review documentation, and determine eligibility according to DELC requirements. Once eligibility is established, the PSP Coordinated Enrollment Staff matches your application to the preschool providers you listed as preferences on your application and coordinates with those providers on their program openings and/or waitlists. Preschool Promise Coordinated Enrollment will contact you if you are offered placement at one of your preferred providers. If you accept placement, Preschool Promise Coordinated Enrollment will send a confirmation email to connect you and the provider via email. From there, the provider should reach out within 10 business days to welcome your family to their program and arrange a start date for your child!

How long does it take to complete the online application?
Typically, the process takes about 30 minutes. You are welcome to save an application and return to it when you are able. An application will not be considered for review however until it is complete, signed and submitted.

Do I have to create an account to apply?
Yes, if you apply through our online application, you will need to create an account. If you need help with this, please contact us.

What if I do not have access to a computer?
You can submit the application from a mobile device, or you can contact us to schedule an application appointment with a specialist to help you work through the process.

Is a paper application available?
Yes. To request a paper application, contact us. We do recommend that that you apply electronically to expedite the process.
Note: If you complete a paper application, our staff will enter the corresponding information onto the platform for you and create an online account for you as we must use the online platform for all steps of our process.

What will I need to apply for this PSP program?
When completing the application, you will need to provide proof of residency, income and child’s birthdate before your application can be processed.

What if I can’t provide the documents you’re asking for?
Please contact us! There are many situations in which documentation may not be accessible to your family. In those cases, we can provide a supplemental, narrative form to submit with your application.

What if I have concerns about privacy/confidentiality?
Preschool Promise Coordinated Enrollment staff adhere to DELC standards of confidentiality which include keeping data and applications securely stored and/or encrypted in both physical and digital forms. We also won’t share information with anyone that isn’t included in the waiver you sign on the application. If you have additional concerns, please contact us.

What should I expect after I turn in my application?
A Coordinated Enrollment specialist will be assigned to your application and will review the application for completeness and verify information and eligibility documents. The time between your submission and someone from Coordinated Enrollment reaching out may vary between 1-10 business days, depending on time of the year, volume of applications and other factors. Please make sure you have listed at least ONE current, reliable and monitored email address or phone number on your application where we can reach you with questions and updates. If we can’t contact you, we may not be able to process the application.

Once an application is processed, a specialist will reach out to update you on eligibility status. If ineligible for Preschool Promise, we will send you information on how to appeal or invite you to reapply when the situation changes. If eligible, you will hear from us next if your child is offered a seat at one of your preferred sites. If you decide to accept a placement, we will then send the program site your contact information, and we will send your family and the program a welcome email, connecting everyone!

Each site may have a slightly different orientation process, but all sites are required to reach out to your family within 10 business days of the Coordinated Enrollment welcome email. If you haven’t heard from the site within 10 business days, please reach out to either the site or Coordinated Enrollment staff so that we may help facilitate communication.

If eligible, is my child guaranteed a spot in Preschool Promise?
Unfortunately, an eligible application does not guarantee placement. You will be notified when there is an open spot at one of your programs of choice.

If I am found ineligible, what can I do? A parent may appeal a determination of non-eligibility by submitting a written request to Coordinated Enrollment staff at preschoolpromise@unitedwaylane.org. Enrollment staff must review the application and respond to parents within 10 business days of receipt of appeal. If the Coordinated Enrollment staff sustain the determination of non-eligibility, the parent may further appeal the determination via email to the Department of Early Learning and Care at ELD.PSPEnrollment@ode.oregon.gov.

What is housing adjustment?

Eligibility Specialists may make an adjustment to a family’s gross income calculation for the purposes of determining eligibility to account for excessive housing costs. A program may use available bills, bank statements, and other relevant documentation provided by the family to calculate total annual housing costs with appropriate multipliers to:

A. Determine if a family spends more than 30 percent of their total gross income on housing costs and

B.If applicable, reduce the total gross income by the amount spent on housing costs that exceed more than 30 percent.

Housing costs means the total annual applicable expenses on housing which may include rent or mortgage payments, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, utilities, interest, and taxes on the home. Utilities include electricity, gas, water, sewer, and trash.

How do I apply the housing adjustment flexibility to the family income?

To determine the housing cost adjustment for a family, follow these steps: Step 1: Identify the family’s gross annual income. Step 2: Determine if the family’s gross annual income is above or below the federal poverty line. If the family’s gross annual income is below the federal poverty line for a family of their size, the family is “income eligible” for Preschool Promise services and there is no need to apply a housing adjustment. If the family’s gross annual income is above the federal poverty line for a family of their size, proceed to Step 3. Step 3: Identify the family’s annual housing expenses based on documentation. Step 4: Determine if the family’s annual housing expenses are more than 30% of the family’s total gross income. If housing costs are less than 30% of the family’s gross income, no housing adjustment may be applied. If housing costs are more than 30% of the family’s gross income, proceed to step 5. Step 5: Adjust the family’s income by subtracting the family’s annual housing expenses that are more than 30% of the family’s gross income from the family’s annual gross income. Eligibility Specialist can use the following Housing Calculator as a tool and resource: https://headstart.gov/ housing-cost-adjustment-calculator

Are programs filled on a first-come, first-served basis?
No, the intent of the Preschool Promise Program is not to enroll students on a first-come, first-served basis. We run a randomized, computer generated lottery to fill seats in the summer before the beginning of the next school year. Due to processing time, to be considered for a lottery, there may be an application submission due date. However, we will still continue to process all applications as they come in, running lotteries as seats open up throughout the year.

Does Preschool Promise prioritize certain families?
One priority of the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) is to ensure continuity for families that receive services, this includes the following groups of children:

• Children who are currently enrolled in Preschool Promise who wish to transfer to a different site.

• Children who are enrolled at a Preschool Promise site whose family has been paying out of pocket (or by some other means).

• Siblings of children currently enrolled in a Preschool Promise Program.

• For some school districts, children living within the school catchment area.

Additionally, DELC and Early Learning Hub regions are committed to serving children who are currently or historically marginalized and/or furthest from opportunity, to increase equitable access. Our region’s priority populations have been identified as:

• Children/ families who are emerging language learners

• Children with special needs who have an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)

• Children who live in rural/ geographically isolated communities where there is no Preschool Promise

• Children living in socially complex families: including children of teen parents; parental incarceration; parent receiving treatment for substance abuse; parents who have cognitive limitations/ intellectual disabilities; and student parents.
  
  

This is why a complete application--filled out to the best of your knowledge/ability with accompanying verifying documentation-- is in your best interest!

What kind of settings does Preschool Promise offer?
Preschool Promise offers preschool in:

• School District settings– A Preschool Promise that is inside of or on the grounds of a public school.

• Home-Based settings- A Preschool Promise that is inside of a specially designed part of a teacher’s home.

• Center-Based settings– A Preschool Promise that is inside of a building for early learning.
  

How are Preschool Promise settings the same?
Each Preschool Promise setting follows all of the same Preschool Promise requirements, including:

• 18 students or less for every classroom.

• At least one teacher for every nine students, as well as one teacher assistant.

• High-quality preschool teaching and learning with the goal of academic and social/emotional kindergarten readiness.

• Following Oregon Health Authority’s health and safety requirements.

• Working with Early Childhood CARES to serve children with special needs.

• Developmental screenings and parent-teacher conferences for all students.

• Play grounds and or play areas.

• Programs may be licensed or license exempt.

• Accessing quality improvement coaching.
  

Is there a Preschool Promise site near me?
Currently, Preschool Promise sites are offered in the following areas in Lane County: Cottage Grove (4 sites), Creswell (2 sites), Dorena (1 site), Mapleton (1 site), Junction City (1 site), Pleasant Hill (1 site), Vida/Blue River (1 site), Springfield (7 sites), Eugene Bethel School District (3 sites), Eugene 4J School District area (6 sites). Please view the provider profiles on our website for more detailed information.

If I’m placed at a site, will we need to reapply next year?
No. The great thing about becoming enrolled in Preschool Promise is that there is no need to reapply for the next year. Age-eligible children may participate in the program until they are eligible for kindergarten.

Is transportation available to Preschool Promise sites?
Most Preschool Promise programs do not provide transportation, but some do! Preschool Promise providers will identify transportation in their profile, if provided. Transportation, when available, may be restricted to only certain neighborhoods in a community. Please view the provider profiles on our website for more information.

What are the days of operation and hours?
Each Preschool Promise provider sets their own operating hours and calendar schedule, while meeting their publicly-funded grant requirements. Please view the provider profiles on our website for more information.

What if we are interested in transferring to another Preschool Promise site?
Families can reach out to Coordinated Enrollment staff at any time and for any reason to request to be placed at a different Preschool Promise site as a transfer priority. However, the option to transfer will depend on the availability of open slots at that time. We will do everything possible to accommodate your request. If we can’t accommodate your request, we will put you on a transfer wish list, which we consult every time we have a mid-year opening. If you are moving out of Lane County, to a different location within the state of Oregon, please inform us and we can help to try to arrange a transfer to a Preschool Promise program near you.

What other things should I look for when I’m choosing a Preschool Promise site?
This will be based on each family’s needs, as each family and child is unique. Some families may necessarily be more focused on items such as location, transportation options and daily operating hours. On the provider profiles on our website there will be more detailed (and filterable!) information, including diversity and specialties of staff, a sample daily schedule, a sample menu and a service calendar for the year.

What do I do if I have an issue with my child’s Preschool Promise site?
We first ask that you discuss your concern with the staff at your child’s Preschool Promise site. If this isn’t possible, please contact us as soon as possible so that we may help with your concern within our capacity. We also highly recommend visiting the Department of Early Learning and Care’s website about Child Care Safety.

I have other questions about Preschool Promise Coordinated Enrollment, who should I contact?

Contact us at any time by email: preschoolpromise@unitedwaylane.org or by phone: 541-741-6000 ext. 201.