Oregon Preschool Child Care Access Improves but Infant Care Remains in Crisis

The number of Oregon states with three or more preschool children for every slot available has drastically reduced from 27 in 2018, to nine in 2024.

Referred to as ‘childcare deserts,’ the report was commissioned by the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) and has been released by the Oregon State University Child Care Research Partnership.

10 Oregon Counties Have Made Significant Progress

Apart from the significant decrease in the preschool childcare learning deserts, the report states that significant progress has been recorded in 10 Oregon counties –  Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Grant, Jackson, Lake, Lane, and Union – turning around their 2018 status of insufficient childcare centers for preschool children aged 3 – 5.

However, despite this progress, Oregon counties remain childcare deserts for infants and toddlers 0 – 2.

Titled ‘Oregon’s Child Care Deserts 2024’, the report says that without public funds, all 36 of the state’s counties would be labeled childcare deserts for infants and toddlers, and 28 of 36 counties would still be deserts for preschoolers.

Oregon Reduces Preschool Deserts from 27 to Nine Counties

The report reveals that there are two counties that are deserts for children aged 0 – 2, and 25% of counties are childcare deserts for preschool children aged 3 – 5. This is a continued trend, with 27 counties being preschool deserts in 2018, 25 in 2020, 18 in 2022, and 9 in 2024.

Methodology

The report does not include all public investments in childcare, including those supported by local school districts or counties that are not administered by the state. Nor does the analysis include the use of vouchers, such as the Employment Related Day Care program.

Publicly funded programs analyzed include Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten, Preschool Promise, and Baby Promise programs, along with federal Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

To read the full 2024 Oregon Child Care Deserts report, including county maps and infographics, visit the Oregon State University website at: health.oregonstate.edu/early-learners/supply