Multnomah County, OR’s Preschool for All: A November 2020 Ballot Measure Case StudyIn 2018, two separate campaigns began efforts to create a publicly funded universal preschool program in Multnomah County, OR. One of the campaigns, Preschool for All, was established by Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson as an extension of a decade of community-led work to expand access to early childhood education. The other campaign, Universal Preschool Now, began as a grassroots movement following the closure of local community centers.1 Both campaigns had the same goal: to secure voter approval for a countywide universal preschool program funded by a tax on high-income earners. Although they initially began and operated separately, the two campaigns coalesced in August 2020 around shared goals and values and merged their efforts to support a single ballot measure. In November 2020, voters approved the measure to create the Multnomah County Preschool for All program funded by a new high-income earners’ tax currently projected to raise $160 million annually by 2026. Download PDF Filed under:Early Childhood, Advocates/Intermediaries, Funders, Policymakers/Agency Leaders, Publication, Voter-Approved Children’s FundsMore Resources Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: King County, WA Best Starts for Kids provides comprehensive support from prenatal development through young adulthood to ensure that every child raised in King County grows up happy, healthy, safe, and thriving. Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Denver, CO Denver Preschool Program is available to all Denver 4-year-olds in their last year of preschool before kindergarten and qualifying 3-year-olds, with priority given to families experiencing financial hardships. Updates and Events News October 29, 2025 Voter-Approved Children’s Funds Expand Support for Families During Government Shutdown News October 20, 2025 Dedicated Funding for Child Care, Preschool, and After-School Programs Appears on Local November Ballots News October 1, 2025 Government Shutdown Shuts Out Kids Close Share it! Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Click to copy URL Link Copied!
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: King County, WA Best Starts for Kids provides comprehensive support from prenatal development through young adulthood to ensure that every child raised in King County grows up happy, healthy, safe, and thriving.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Denver, CO Denver Preschool Program is available to all Denver 4-year-olds in their last year of preschool before kindergarten and qualifying 3-year-olds, with priority given to families experiencing financial hardships.
News October 29, 2025 Voter-Approved Children’s Funds Expand Support for Families During Government Shutdown
News October 20, 2025 Dedicated Funding for Child Care, Preschool, and After-School Programs Appears on Local November Ballots