Corvallis Public Preschools (Salem, Albany, Lake Oswego: daycare, home, preschool)

[hyenas]

We're planning on moving to Corvallis for a job offer. Already accepted and everything.

In my home state the public (free) education system also includes programs for 3 and 4 year olds. And I just assumed it was the case every where. Yeah. I'm seeing a lot of private preschools, and church related preschools. But nothing public, and nothing free.

My income is not taxable, so we'd probably qualify for federal headstart programs too. But not seeing those either.

The new job doesn't provide any child care benefits, and after paying for daycare etc. There's no point in moving.

Someone tell me I just haven't googled right.

[Silverfall]

I think Corvallis' Head Start Program is at OSU at their Child Development Center.

Salem Keizer has preschool programs two days a week in the mornings, but it certainly wouldn't work for someone needing all day daycare. I think Corvallis is to wealthy for that.

You also might want to consider living in Albany. It is much cheaper and they will have more programs like that. It is a more working class/middle class city.

[hyenas]

Thanks for your reply.
The OSU headstart program is only four days a week, and only for morning or afternoon sessions.
I'd live in Albany, but the provided housing is in Corvallis. Oh well, maybe we'll go once she's in Kindergarten.

[hyenas]

Just in case anyone comes along to look at this...

Headstart programs are federally funded, and only SOME states have state-funding public pre-k education. So it's a state-by-state issue, not the class-level of the town.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by hyenas

.........In my home state the public (free) education system also includes programs for 3 and 4 year olds. And I just assumed it was the case every where. ........

And yet another incomer who thinks Oregon should be just like the place that they are leaving. Maybe you can do what the rest of the incomers do, OP, and move here and vote to change Oregon to be just like what you've moved away from.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by hyenas

Just in case anyone comes along to look at this...

Headstart programs are federally funded, and only SOME states have state-funding public pre-k education. So it's a state-by-state issue, not the class-level of the town.

Yes Head Start programs are federally funded but they are located where there is a need. There is an income cap for Head Start. Corvallis doesn't have a huge need for that program compared to other areas of Oregon because they have a smaller percent of impoverished families that live there due to the high cost of housing there. Not many of them can afford to live in Corvallis so they live in Albany. Hence, Albany has more programs.

Oregon school funding works differently than other states as it isn't funded by property taxes locally. All of our schools are funded at the state level. The public pre-k programs in public schools are in elementary schools where there is a need for them based on poverty levels and test scores. Schools doing well in meeting goals, don't have funded pre-k programs.

So yes, class-level of the town will be reflective of the types of services that will be offered. Lake Oswego, where the average income is $100,000 doesn't have a Head Start program nor a public pre-k program. So while the criteria for free programs isn't based on class level of the town, they are correlated.

I'm not aware of anywhere in Oregon that you could get all day long preschool for free. Kindergarten isn't all day here either (except for a few schools). Were you needing all day kinder too?