What is the UP NOW plan?

Free, full-year, high-quality, culturally responsive and inclusive preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, funded by a progressive income tax on the top 5% income earners.

Universal preschool is good for all of us.

For every $1 invested, universal preschool generates $9.45 for our community. That’s a better return than any business tax break.

Kids have higher graduation rates and higher wages when they grow up. Communities spend less on incarceration. More parents can participate in the workforce and pursue their educational goals.

Universal programs are effective and sustainable.

Studies show learning outcomes in mixed-income classrooms are better for all kids than in means-tested programs.

When everyone is included, programs become stronger. Money is spent on programs — not wasted on income-checking bureaucracy.

Oregon is the 4th least affordable state in the country for preschool.

• Families are struggling. Preschool cost $9,396 on average in Oregon in 2017, and many families in Multnomah County spend 30-40% of their income on preschool.

• Before COVID-19, Multnomah County only had enough preschool and child care spots — counting all providers of all types — for 43% of our preschool-age children. The pandemic’s impacts will make this even worse.

Today, early education is underpaid and undervalued.

• The median wage for a preschool teacher in Oregon is $14.40, and assistants are paid less.

• Without a living wage, turnover is high.

• This work – often done by women and people of color — is essential.

“I think that the system was already pretty broken, and that this whole COVID-19 thing has brought to light the weaknesses in the system. The fact that we depend on parents to pay, to maintain a child care industry, is not working. And it is really, really not working right now.”

– Savannah Turner, The Nest Playschool