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Department of Early Learning and Care

Grants & Contracts

Kindergarten Readiness Partnership & Innovation Program (KPI)

The Early Learning Kindergarten Readiness Partnership & Innovation Grant Program invests in promising models for connecting early learning and K-3 education across the state, and promotes community and school partnerships that result in measurable increases in children’s readiness for kindergarten.

The Grant Program is designed to establish scalable and replicable models for P-3 alignment at the local level, with a focus on shared professional development for early learning providers and kindergarten teachers, supporting successful transitions into kindergarten for all children, and engaging families as equal partners in children’s learning and development.

2022 KPI Retrospective Report

Oregon Student Child Care Grant

The Oregon Student Child Care Grant Program was established to assist parents enrolled in post-secondary education obtain safe, dependable care that supports their children’s development while allowing completion of the parent’s academic programs.

Click the button below to learn more about the program, eligibility requirements and application process.

More Information
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Equity Survey and Guidance

The purpose of the survey is to understand your experiences with equity requirements, identify strengths and areas for improvement, create technical assistance, and develop resources to meet your needs and support your work. 

Complete the survey for your organization by the due date listed in your grant or contract agreement.

If your organization has multiple grants or contracts, please complete one survey for each grant or contract. If you have questions about the survey, please contact your program manager or contract administrator at ELD.

Letter Notifications To Grantees

April 11, 2022 Letter to Providers:

December 10, 2021 Letter to Providers:

October 15, 2021 Letter to Providers:


Grant and Contract Resources

Early Childhood Equity Fund Grant Manual

Oregon Pre-Kindergarten Grant Manual

Administrative Cost Limit Letter | June 11, 2021

Administrative Costs Policy #ELD-001 (v.2) for Early Learning Division (ELD) – last updated 10.11.21



Open Requests for Funds (RFAs) and Regional Service Providers (RSPs)

These are opportunities that organizations and individuals can apply for.

​HFO is an evidence-based, voluntary Home Visiting program nationally accredited by Healthy Families America (HFA). The HFO program contributes to the economic prosperity of Oregon by preventing child abuse and neglect, promoting healthy child development, improving family self-sufficiency and helping parents prepare their children for kindergarten.

The following types of organizations are encouraged to apply:

  • Multi-purpose, not-for-profit entities with a mission and goals compatible with those of Healthy Families Oregon
  • Single-purpose, not-for-profit entities with expertise and experience in providing home visiting services to families;
  • State or local government entities or special governmental bodies with expertise in offering services that have a strong track record of working with human service partners in their communities; and
  • Coordinated Care Organizations that have experience operating early childhood, parent support programs within their local communities. 

Visit oregonbuys.gov to learn more about Healthy Families Oregon, the goals of this grant opportunity, and how to apply!​​

​HFO is an evidence-based, voluntary Home Visiting program nationally accredited by Healthy Families America (HFA). The HFO program contributes to the economic prosperity of Oregon by preventing child abuse and neglect, promoting healthy child development, improving family self-sufficiency and helping parents prepare their children for kindergarten.

The following types of organizations are encouraged to apply:

  • Multi-purpose, not-for-profit entities with a mission and goals compatible with those of Healthy Families Oregon
  • Single-purpose, not-for-profit entities with expertise and experience in providing home visiting services to families;
  • State or local government entities or special governmental bodies with expertise in offering services that have a strong track record of working with human service partners in their communities; and
  • Coordinated Care Organizations that have experience operating early childhood, parent support programs within their local communities. 

Visit oregonbuys.gov to learn more about Healthy Families Oregon, the goals of this grant opportunity, and how to apply!​​

DELC has launched a statewide request for applications for the 2024-2025 Preschool Promise program! We’re looking for organizations to help us provide top-notch preschool education to 358 preschoolers across 14 Early Learning Hub regions.

Apply now and eligible applicants will have the opportunity to be placed on the Preschool Promise Applicant Waitlist Pool for all 16 regional Early Learning Hubs.

Learn More

This opportunity is now closed and the awardee has been selected.


The Department of Early Learning and Care is pleased to announce the award of the RFA for an independent study of Barriers and solutions for the Early Childhood Workforce in Oregon to Early Childhood Equity Collaborative (ECEC) in partnership with AB Cultural Drivers, Leonard Research & Evaluation, and with administrative support from Coalition of Communities of Color.

This study will help to find specific and meaningful ways to improve the systems used by the early childhood workforce in Oregon.

Some goals of this study include:
  • Evaluating challenges and reducing barriers
  • Finding ways to increase workforce opportunities
  • Looking at equitable compensation initiatives
  • Creating consistent standards for assessing the qualifications of early learning professionals

For the official and full list of overarching goals of the independent study see HB 2991 https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2991/Enrolled

The grant will run from approximately January through December of 2024.


Grant Reviews

Child Care Stabilization Grant Review Resources

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) will begin reviewing child care providers who received the Child Care Stabilization Grant to ensure compliance with grant requirements starting January 2024. We selected a random sample of about 100 child care providers of all types for this review.

The objective of the review is to ensure compliance with the following three grant requirements: 

  • Pay all staff full compensation for the duration of the grant; and 
  • Use at least 20% of the total grant funds on increasing compensation of the child care staff; and
  • Provide relief from copayments and tuition payments for enrolled families.

Child care providers will not be required to submit verification of their operating expenses, except as mentioned above.

Note: License-exempt and registered family providers that have no employees will report their grant wages and compensation increase paid to themselves as independent operators. 

What to Expect If You Are Selected for Review

If you are selected for grant review, you will receive a letter in the mail from us in January 2024 providing you with instructions on how to complete the review and point of contact for the process. 

We recognize that navigating grant review for the first time may present challenges, and we are here to support you throughout this process. Do not hesitate to contact our technical assistance experts at First Children’s Finance if you need assistance in answering any of the review questions.

After you submit the review form, our team will evaluate the information, provide feedback, and close out the review by April 30, 2024. If the information you submit to us does not make sense or add up, we will give you an opportunity to explain or correct any such anomalies.

While DELC will not require child care programs that are selected for the review to return funds, failure to provide information of meeting the federal requirements constitutes noncompliance and may jeopardize future funding opportunities.

Submission Form

The window for submitting the information to DELC is now closed. If you need more time, you can request an extension by contacting us at eccgrants@delc.oregon.gov for assistance.

Notification Letters

Frequently Asked Questions

DELC is required by federal law to monitor programs at the conclusion of the grant to ensure the requirements of the grants were met. ​

A random sample of approximately 100 child care programs or 3% of all awarded child care programs were selected to participate in the review process. ​

You should start by organizing and compiling documents that support your use of the Stabilization Grant funding on: 
  • Paying full compensation and maintaining the same benefits for all child care staff for the duration of the grant; and 
  • Using at least 20% of the total grant to increase compensation of the child care staff; and 
  • Providing relief from copayments and tuition for enrolled families who are struggling to pay these fees.  ​​

DELC will notify child care programs selected for review by email and USPS in January 2024 and provide information on how to prepare for the review and who to contact with questions. If you do not receive notification or correspondence from DELC by the end of January 2024 you were not selected for review.   ​

If you are not selected for review, you will not receive correspondence from DELC requiring your participation. Please note that you are still required to maintain all records relating to the grant for a minimum of six years. Documentation can be requested in the future, even if you are not selected at this time. ​

No. You will be asked to report on the following certifications you agreed to follow when you applied for and accepted the grant award: 
  • Paying full compensation and maintaining the same benefits for all child care staff for the duration of the grant; 
  • Using at least 20% of the total grant to increase compensation of the child care staff;  
  • Providing relief from copayments and tuition for enrolled families who are struggling to pay these fees.  
You may be asked for documentation to explain what you reported if reviewers find discrepancies in the information you submitted. Maintaining supporting documentation will help you to be prepared to answer any question if they come up. 

Yes. For this review DELC provided a fillable online form for you to complete. But if you prefer to submit your own report, you may do so as long as it includes the necessary information for us to verify that you have met the requirements of the grant. ​

Yes. Personnel costs, including salaries and benefits, and compensation increases of an independent operator or any staff supporting a child care program are allowable costs and should be reported. ​

While DELC will not require child care programs to return funds, failure to provide documentation of meeting the certifications constitutes noncompliance and may jeopardize future funding opportunities. 

If you have questions regarding how to report or organize documentation, you can reach out to First Children’s Finance for technical assistance.  ​


No. DELC will not request private information from you such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, driver’s license numbers, the names or home addresses of child care staff or enrolled families, credit card information, etc. Please ensure that no private information is submitted to DELC. If someone requests private information from you as part of this process, please reach out to DELC immediately.   ​

To verify that all your child care staff received the same wages for the duration of the grant we will ask for: 
  • Staff, identified by number, that received wages from the grant;  
  • Wages you paid them at the beginning of the grant and at the end of the grant; 
  • Hours worked at the beginning of the grant and at the end of the grant. 
If the wages remained the same or increased, the requirement has been met. If the wages or hours decreased, we expect some narrative describing why a reduction happened.  

Registered Family and ERDC License-Exempt providers that have no additional staff must report the wages and benefits they paid themselves.  ​

To verify the compensation increase requirement, you must provide: 
  • Staff, identified by number, receiving the increase; 
  • Type of increase (wage, bonus or other); 
  • Total amount. 
Note: At least 20% of the total grant your child care program received must be used for this purpose.  ​

Registered Family and License-Exempt that have no additional staff must report the increase in compensation they paid themselves. ​

To verify copayments and tuition relief, you must provide: 
  • Families, identified by number, you waived copayments and tuition for; 
  • Total amount of relief of the copayment of tuition.  
If you did not provide copayments and tuition relief, please provide an explanation why in the notes.  ​

This information can be found on page 1 of your Stabilization Grant Agreement and is in the letter DELC mailed to selected child care programs.  ​

No. The objective of this review is to verify you have met the required certifications of the Stabilization Grant funding. ​

Anyone employed by the child care program is considered child care staff, this includes license-exempt and registered family providers that are independent operators.  ​

If you have questions regarding provider selection, compliance, or have technical issues accessing the online resources please reach out to DELC at eccgrants@delc.oregon.gov or 971-375-5045.  

If you have questions regarding how to fill out the report, how to calculate staff increases, tuition relief, or how to organize documentation, you can reach out to First Children’s Finance for technical assistance. 

First Children’s Finance Technical Assistance:   

​Wages are defined as a fixed regular payment made by an employer to an employee or even to oneself, as in the case of independent operators. These payments are usually made on a daily or weekly basis. Examples of wage payments include minimum wage, yearly bonuses, and other compensatory payments.

It's important to note that purchases made with grant funding that are used to upgrade, fix, or maintain your childcare business can also be included in determining your wages. This means that the procurement of toys, playground equipment, fencing, et​c., can be considered as a part of your wages if these purchases would not be possible without additional funds or wages.​