Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC expansion could bring free preschool to more Multnomah County families

Photos and story by James Hill

Portland Community College’s Child Development Center is moving forward with plans to expand early learning access for local families through a new partnership opportunity with Multnomah County’s Preschool for All Program.

PCC’s Child Development Center is planning broad expansion of its early learning programming for the 2026-27 school year after conversations with Preschool for All about increasing preschool capacity. As part of that expansion, PCC intends to add 20 Preschool for All seats, including 16 seats in the center’s upcoming licensed outdoor nature-based preschool program. PCC is also preparing to launch a new infant classroom with PFA infant/toddler support funding as part of its continued investment in early learning services for families.

This creates a pathway for PCC to serve more children, strengthen its early childhood education programs and secure approximately $400,000 in ongoing support. The $400,000 in funding, which comes entirely from Preschool for All, includes per-child allocations, startup funds and infant/toddler stabilization resources.

“This is an exciting opportunity to expand access to high-quality early learning while strengthening the long-term sustainability of the Child Development Center,” said Velvet Cooley, director of PCC’s Child Development Center. “By partnering with Preschool for All, PCC can respond directly to the needs of local families and create new learning opportunities for both children and college students preparing for careers in early childhood education.”

With the addition of 20 new seats, PCC will have a total of 40, allowing the center to offer free preschool to eligible children who live in Multnomah County and will be 3 or 4 years old by Sept. 1. 

The expansion aligns with PCC’s Child Development Center’s ongoing work to become a licensed outdoor nature-based provider. Outdoor nature-based programs became officially licensable in Oregon through House Bill 2717, passed in 2023, and are regulated by the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care under specialized rules. Unlike traditional programs, these programs use natural outdoor environments as the primary classroom, supported by trained teachers and intentional planning around weather, wildlife, site-specific hazards and risk-benefit play.

“Preschool for All is entering its biggest year of growth yet with over 7,000 available seats. We are proud to partner with Portland Community College to open the first certified outdoor preschool in the Portland metropolitan area,” said Danisa McLean, director of Multnomah County’s Preschool & Early Learning Division. “The families we serve value the variety of learning environments Preschool for All offers, and this partnership gives children a unique opportunity to learn and grow in nature while expanding access to free early childhood education.”

The PCC program is set to be the first certified outdoor preschool in the Portland metropolitan area. The model will also provide PCC Early Childhood Education students with hands-on experience in a fully outdoor learning environment, giving practicum students the opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world practice in child development, play-based learning and nature-based education.

The Child Development Center, located at PCC’s Sylvania Campus, serves as both an early learning environment for children and a training facility for PCC Early Childhood Education students. The center is licensed by the State of Oregon and provides students opportunities to apply early childhood best practices under the supervision of mentor teachers. 

For more information, visit https://www.pcc.edu/child-care/development-center/