Friends of Preschool for All (@friendsofpfa) — Bluesky Profile

1 day ago

I don’t currently pay the Preschool for All tax because my taxable income is just under the $250,000 threshold. But I’ve run the numbers: if I were taxed on my $264,000 pre-deduction income, my contribution would be about $246 a year. Compare that to the $50,000 we once paid for childcare or the $36,000 cost of a strong preschool program in Portland. That is the equivalent of paying that tax for more than 140 years before it matched a single year of preschool tuition. Even if I paid $1,000 annually every year into my 90s, I still wouldn’t equal the cost of one year of care.

While some argue that people without children shouldn’t shoulder this tax, or that it drives high earners out of Multnomah County, I ask: have you really done the math? The return on this small investment is immense. Preschool for All doesn’t just help individual families, it strengthens our workforce, supports parents so they can remain in the economy, and invests in the next generation of students, workers, and community leaders.

As a so-called “high earner,” our family still lives paycheck to paycheck with a mortgage, car payment, medical expenses, and the daily cost of living. We don’t have a large savings account or a college fund for our kids. We can’t afford a Disneyland trip. But we can afford to live and work in Portland because Preschool for All makes high-quality preschool accessible.

Preschool for All is not just a program. It is a lifeline for middle-class families like mine, and an investment in a stronger, more equitable future for Multnomah County.” - Traci F

Traci continues:

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1 day ago

“I was born and raised in Portland, with deep roots in Multnomah County. Three of my four grandparents grew up here. When my partner and I decided to start a family, I knew I wanted to raise our kids in our diverse and vibrant Cully neighborhood. What I hadn’t fully considered, until our first child, Elliott, was born in June 2020 at the height of COVID, was just how overwhelming the cost of childcare, including preschool, would be.

When I returned to work just 12 weeks after maternity leave in Sept 2020, our only option was an in-home nanny, costing us $42,000 a year for one child. By the time our second daughter was born in 2022, that cost jumped to over $50,000 annually. As we started looking at preschool programs, nearly all high-quality options we found were around $3,000 per month, or $36,000 a year. For a middle-class family like ours, those costs were simply unsustainable.

That’s when we found Preschool for All. Elliott was offered a spot at GSR Preschool on 17th & Dekum, and my fears about sending my first child to preschool quickly turned into gratitude. GSR provides extended hours (6am to 6pm), which make it possible for working parents like me to balance careers and family. The teachers are highly qualified and deeply caring, nurturing my daughter’s love of learning. They provide healthy meals, and they’ve welcomed us into a true community that feels like a village. Most importantly, this extraordinary care comes at zero cost to our family.

Our opposition can afford to use magic math to lie with statistics (no, business taxes have not “increased by an astonishing 81%”, Oregon Business and Industry😒.)
Families working out their budgets at the kitchen table don't have that luxury. Traci in Cully walks us through her family’s example:

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2 days ago

“And these teachers don’t want to leave the kids, and the kids don’t want to see them go.”

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3 days ago

My family is the grateful recipient of a Preschool for All slot for Jimi, our 4 year-old, and are hopeful to continue with the program in the future for our 2 year-old, Joni. When our first child was born, I had a decision to make: continue to work basically to pay off childcare or quit working to provide childcare myself. I ended up choosing the latter, and we became a single-earner household. In a couple of years, we had our second, making it even more difficult for me to work outside of the house, even as expenses grew higher.

Having a bit of this financial burden eased through Preschool for All has had a drastic impact on our family. With a bit more space opened up, an opportunity came my way to become a co-owner in a small business. It allows for flexibility in my schedule to attend to my family as needed, but is really made possible by the supported childcare that Preschool for All has provided.

Isn't this what you want for your fellow Portlanders: the opportunity to not just survive, but to thrive? I understood the importance of this equity measure as soon as it was announced, and so did 60% of Multnomah County's voters. 2020 was a wakeup call around the importance of the childcare component in education. It is absolutely essential to the healthy functioning of the majority of families with children. This program is a small measure in leveling the playing field by allowing for caregivers to have time to support their families in other ways. 2020 was not that long ago, so please don't forget the hardships that were endured during the pandemic and understand why this program is so necessary.

Preschool for All allows for children who are experiencing food scarcity to have a place to go everyday where a meal is guaranteed, as food programs are a requirement for a school's participation in the program. It also allows for public oversight in cases of domestic abuse within the household. It fosters the building of social skills at a very formative time when they might not otherwise have such robust interactions with their peers. The program also takes measures to ensure that the education is inclusive and culturally responsive. Having a multiracial, multicultural family, I can't tell you how grateful we are that this is made a priority by Preschool for All.” - Tess H

Isn't this what you want for your fellow Portlanders: the opportunity to not just survive, but to thrive?

💛 Preschool is a place where community is built, which is why it’s so important that everyone is included. Yes, it allows parents to go to work, but it’s so much more than that!

Tess told us what it means to her:

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4 days ago

❤️

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4 days ago

Black text on playful red backgrounds: “I’m a Preschool for All provider that is expanding to open another commercial space. As a provider of 15 years I can see how Preschool for All has addressed many of the issues that have plagued the profession: lack of resources, low wages, and lack of support just to name a few."

"I'm a believer in the program and that any issues need to be given time to work themselves out. The program is a net benefit to the county and city and does NOT cause the wealthy to leave, but rather entices families to move here, frees up spending into the city at a time when incomes are being attacked by tariffs and inflation.” - Troy T, Preschool for All provider"

🏗️Preschool For All is designed to both offer existing seats for free *and* build new ones. Expansions that were impossible to fund on the private market are now within reach. Troy explains how:

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5 days ago

Did you (🫵) sign the petition to fully fund Preschool For All so it can go universal yet?
actionnetwork.org/petitions/fu...

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5 days ago

Screenshot of four different jobs from the NY Mag feature about what people make in NYC:
"Home Health Aide
$23,000
I've been a home health aide for ten years. My main patient last year was in Brooklyn. I spent most of my time taking care of her. I worked two days a week, and I was being paid for 13 hours of work each day - my agency, Loyal Home Care, budgets eight hours of sleep and three hours for mealtimes into our wages. But I was basically working 24 hours a day. She was active, and I was worried she would fall, so I would watch her all day and night. This is a pretty common experience for health aides. The agency can deny our overtime, but you can't deny a patient. When they say, "Oh, I need a drink of water; I need to use the bathroom," how could you possibly say "no" to them?
Bronx Day-Care Worker
$31,000
$16,600 from day-care profits
$14,400 from trainings and consulting
Last year, I lost a lot of kids. I live in the Bronx, and a bunch of families in my neighborhood lost their child-care vouchers. We're talking about people who make as much as I do; most of the moms I work with are home health aides. They can't afford full-time child care. If I have 16 kids, I can pay myself for 40 hours of work. But last year, I didn't, and obviously I'm still doing the same amount of work. I've been running the day care out of my home for more than seven years. It's a profession I entered out of necessity and have stayed in out of passion. I pay for everything - food, cleaning supplies, toys - and we have to meet the same requirements as a large company in terms of paying for liability insurance, which can feel pointless in this industry. I mean, if something happens to one of my children, I lose my license. End of story."

It's all so clear

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5 days ago

Black text on playful multicolored backgrounds: “My program usually includes students in elementary grades, but the preparation for school that is accomplished by Preschool for All is invaluable, for my organization and many others! Students who can't afford preschool before they start school are at a disadvantage. And, if they are fortunate enough to join enrichment classes like mine after school (usually through outside funding), their abilities in math, but also their skills of learning through peer interaction and the use of social norms becomes significantly thwarted, through no fault of their own.” - Kathy C, MathGamers LLC

Leveling the playing field starts early! Kathy explains how early learning sets up young kids for future success:

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6 days ago

Black text on playful multicolored background: “I am a mother to two children who are aged 4 and 2. Our excitement to have Preschool for All available to us has been over the moon. Our first born son Leonel is enrolled to start at a Preschool for All pre-k this fall. He is on the autism spectrum but I knew from my own personal experience, having once been a child who went to preschool while both my parents were working due to being low income, preschool was my safe space. I remember it still to this day. The teachers, the lunches, the memories.” - Stephany U. M., mom of two

❤️ Happy International Women's Day!

Did you know that Preschool For All is the ONLY Oregon preschool program to guarantee inclusion for ALL kids? Not leaving kids out means offering additional support for providers and parents, and Multnomah County is leading the way:

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1 week ago

"Black text on playful yellow backgrounds: “The value Preschool for All has added to my family’s life and the lives of my neighbors and friends’ families is enormous! We all know how expensive quality childcare is, and Preschool for All has allowed me to continue working to support my family while providing my son with a school community he loves.

The teachers love the students, my busy, only child has made friends, learned to write his name and the numbers 1-5, and my husband and I have felt enormous financial and emotional relief. We are even considering that we could have a second child if we knew this program would continue.

We have met neighbors who feel like they’ve won the lottery because their child is enrolled in Preschool for All. My sister’s twins are in a Preschool for All school. Southeast YMCA has hired more teachers and staff to support the program, adding jobs! We all know Portland has a lack of quality childcare/education jobs, and this is a way to continue to add to our workforce and elevate the pay of the people who work so hard to care for our city’s children.

Programs like Preschool for All also attract young families to our city!” - Emilie M"

🌱The financial relief that Preschool For All provides is making families like Emilie’s think about growing:

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1 week ago

"Black text on playful red backgrounds: “I have four certified in-home childcares in SE that serve 48 Preschool for All children, and their families. I employ 18 full-time staff members. No other program in Multnomah County matches Preschool for All’s model of funding the additional staffing needed to support lead teachers while they are working with children in the classroom including those with special needs and behavioral challenges. While other programs offer only training, ideas, and suggestions; Preschool for All delivers these along with classroom aids and specialized outside support."

"We rely on Preschool for All to remain financially viable. Without it, closures are likely. For the first time in my 35 years in childcare, I can offer my staff a living wage, full benefits, and health insurance. This was never possible before and will not be sustainable without Preschool for All. Preschool for All funds allow me to hire and keep highly qualified teachers who stay year after year, providing continuity that’s best for children, parents, and schools.

Parents often tell me: “Without Preschool for All, I would have had to quit my job.” Preschool for All is good for children. Good for families. Good for our economy.” - Melody N, Owner of Melody's Munchkins"

Preschool For All has been a game changer for preschool providers in our County. Keeping a big reserve tells providers like Melody that in case of an economic downturn, they won’t be left holding the bag. This keeps their doors open, letting parents go to work - creating a more stable economy✨

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1 week ago

Just a brag, I got a job and we'll now be paying $364/year to PFA. #blessed

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1 week ago

Great reporting and a good opportunity to reup for the public that my office has produced a series of reports, documents and letters that makes the economic case for why it's such a crucial program, while debunking claims or intimations that the tax was driving people out of the county.

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1 week ago

🧮Let's learn about this tax!

Use our handy tool here, and see if you recognize any names from the story! 👀
friendsofpfa.org/pfa-tax-calc...

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1 week ago

can we get confirmation that @tinakotek.bsky.social has absorbed this information

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1 week ago

New Preschool for All Data Challenges Idea That Wealthy People Are Fleeing County In the years since 2021, when Multnomah County began collecting its Preschool for All tax, much has been made about the effect the program may be having on county income demographics. County data from...

As PFA expands, so will economic benefits to our region.

PFA can boost parent earnings by over 20%, saving participating families $18,600 per child. This helps skilled professionals lay down roots – attracting and retaining workers while building a more prosperous community for every taxpayer.

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1 week ago

New Preschool for All Data Challenges Idea That Wealthy People Are Fleeing County In the years since 2021, when Multnomah County began collecting its Preschool for All tax, much has been made about the effect the program may be having on county income demographics. County data from...

"“Some business lobbyists have harped on this argument that PFA is causing tax flight among our highest-income earners, and expressing concerns that it erodes our tax base for all the public services that folks in the region rely on,” McNally told the Mercury."

✍️!
actionnetwork.org/petitions/fu...

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1 week ago

New Preschool for All Data Challenges Idea That Wealthy People Are Fleeing County In the years since 2021, when Multnomah County began collecting its Preschool for All tax, much has been made about the effect the program may be having on county income demographics. County data from...

👀
"the 2024 data suggests the number of high-income earners in Multnomah County bounced back after a dip in 2022 and 2023. That dip may have been caused in part by people filing their taxes late, or experiencing fluctuations in income."

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1 week ago

"Black text on playful multicolored backgrounds: “These were talented, brilliant young women—and parents. Their community should have been there to support them, not to penalize them for juggling so many roles at the same time. We preach the importance of family values, but without accessible and affordable childcare, we are essentially punishing young mothers and parents for pursuing education and careers. We are telling them that their dreams—and their children's future—are not a priority.

A program like Preschool for All is more than just a convenience; it is a vital tool for social justice and economic mobility. It is a way for our community to show it values every member and is committed to building a brighter, more equitable future for everyone. When we invest in universal preschool, we are not just investing in children; we are investing in parents, in families, and in the entire community’s well-being. The success of a community should not be measured by the wealth of its most affluent citizens, but by how well it supports its most vulnerable members. This program is a testament to our commitment to that principle.” - Carmen D"

Carmen continues:

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1 week ago

"Black text on playful multicolored backgrounds: “For over a decade, I have worked in education and youth development, focusing on post-secondary and career pathways for young Black and brown women and femmes, many of whom are mothers and parents. I have seen firsthand the incredible potential of these young women, but also the immense barriers they face, with the lack of affordable and accessible childcare being one of the most significant."

"I witnessed firsthand the impossible choice so many of these young women and femmes had to make: a choice between their academic success and economic mobility and the well-being of their babies. They were ambitious and determined to build a better future, but the lack of affordable and reliable childcare created a barrier that was simply too high to overcome. Many had to drop out of their programs, postpone their dreams, or take on jobs with inflexible hours, all because they had no safe, nurturing place for their children to be during the day. This isn't just a personal setback; it's a systemic failure that costs our community promising talent and perpetuates cycles of poverty."

“An impossible choice.” For too long this has been true when working people try to plan a life that includes both a family and a career. It doesn’t have to be this way. And when Preschool For All is fully universal, it won’t be.✨

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1 week ago

actionnetwork.org/petitions/fu...

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1 week ago

It’s actually incredibly straightforward. These are marginal tax rates that don’t kick in until your income qualifies. If you make $128k/year but can’t afford to pay the $2.48 you owe to MultCo to send kids to preschool, you should seek help, because something is very wrong with your finances

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1 week ago

Black text on playful yellow backgrounds: “When we got into Preschool for All, my husband and I had both been laid off and we weren't sure how we would keep our daughter in school and if one of us would have to give up our careers and stay home. Because of Preschool for All we were both able to continue working and keep our daughter in her class that she LOVES. We also have been able to pay down debt, and even start saving to create our own safety net. - Kate C”

👉We know that the first 5 years are the most important in a child’s development.

👉We know that this economy is tough on young parents.

It's why we created Preschool For All, and why we fight to protect it! ⚔️

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1 week ago

Webinar: Preschool for All Classroom Experiences This one hour webinar will provide information gathered from families and educators about their experiences in PFA classrooms.

At 2pm this Wednesday, join Preschool for All & Boston University's Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED) for a webinar presenting findings from the 2025 PFA family, site leader, and educator surveys.

Hear what nearly 1,000 PFA participants shared about their experiences. RSVP online ⤵️

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1 week ago

Black text on playful yellow backgrounds: “As someone who has lived in the Portland metro area for over 25 years, I love the beautiful parks, libraries, and community events that Portland offers. My family and I have been renting for about 3 years in Portland and rents have increased significantly, utilities are increasing, the cost of groceries and essentials for people are increasing. Preschool for All is one of the main reasons my family and I have decided to stay in Portland. We considered moving to Washington County, but are thankful that Preschool for All makes it financially viable for us to stay here.

As a middle school teacher, I know there is a difference in the academic success of students who have preschool and students who do not. If we want our students to be successful academically, then we need to make preschool accessible. With the increase in costs of basic needs, Preschool for All is essential for our communities to be safe places where our young people have tools for success.” - Lauren M"

Mayor Mamdani says about NYC: “For all the fearmongering about capital flight, there’s an exodus few want to talk about: working people. Sky-high rents and outrageous child-care costs are already pushing families out of the city they keep running.”

True for NYC, and true for Portland!

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1 week ago

Black text on playful yellow backgrounds: “My foster child depends on Preschool for All! It is the only way I can afford to have her in my care. Threatening Preschool for All puts the most vulnerable families at risk. Without it, I am not sure how foster kids and foster families in the system would make it work!” - Lizz S. in Rose City Park, resource parent, social worker and teacher

(We now resume story time after pausing for the horrors over the weekend.)

📢 Preschool For All is critical infrastructure in the lives of the most vulnerable! Knowing that this support exists and is stably funded allows people like Lizz to welcome kids when they need it the most:

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1 week ago

PFA Tax Calculator - Friends of Preschool For All PFA Tax Calculator Who’s really paying the Preschool for All Tax? See for yourself. Income: County PFA Tax: Filing status: SingleJointHead of Household Deductions (Standard ): Taxable income (TI): Rec...

You can put in your dream income and see what you'd pay in dream tax here!

🧮PFA Tax Calculator - Friends of Preschool For All share.google/7UxlhOPt3SKe...

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2 weeks ago

Preschool for All Tax
Do I owe?
Who pays the Preschool for All tax:
• Single filers* with Oregon taxable income
over $125,000 a year or joint filers** over
$200,000 owe a 1.5% tax only on the income
above those amounts. (Example: If you make
$126,000, you may owe a 1.5% tax only on
$1,000.)
• Single filers with Oregon taxable income over
$250,000 or joint filers over $400,000 owe
an additional 1.5% tax (or 3% total) on the
income above those amounts.
Aaron touchle income means line
2026 updated
Taxpayers owir
required to ma
can be remitte
website.
If you do not r
should not file
For a list of ta)
Preschool for,
portland.gov/

almost sad I am not income qualified to pay this particular Multnomah County tax

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2 weeks ago

Black text on playful multicolored backgrounds: “In 2008, the Multnomah County Commission on Children, Families and Community—an agency charged with examining the full spectrum of issues affecting children and families across departments and social systems—embarked on a bold endeavor: to develop a six-year plan that would transform the landscape of child and family well-being. We were encouraged to dream big. And we did.

Across every stakeholder group, every discipline, and every political stripe, one idea rose to the top with unanimous agreement: universal preschool. It was clear then, as it is now, that access to high-quality early learning would have the most profound and lasting impact on our children, our families, and our community. But back then, it felt like a dream too distant to grasp.

Fast forward a decade, and after tireless advocacy, coalition-building, and community engagement, that dream became a reality. Preschool for All was born—not just as a policy, but as a promise. And it emerged even better than we had imagined. Equity and inclusion were not afterthoughts—they were the foundation. Families were not passive recipients—they were co-creators. This was not just a preschool program; it was a reflection of our values and our vision for a just and thriving Multnomah County.

Yes, the road has been politically complex. Yes, implementation has faced challenges. But let us not forget the extraordinary achievement it represents: a community willing to tax itself for the public good, for the future of its children. That kind of commitment is rare. It is precious.” - Mary G"

🌈Preschool For All represents a dream long in the making.

Now we have to hold our elected officials accountable in making it into reality: actionnetwork.org/petitions/fu...

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