ChildRoots is a Preschool for All Provider
Preschool for All is a Multnomah County program that provides tuition support for preschool-aged children through publicly funded preschool seats. Participation allows eligible families to access high-quality preschool programming with tuition assistance.
For more information, please see the
What Families Should Know
Preschool for All is administered by Multnomah County.
Eligibility, prioritization, and placement decisions are made by the county, not by ChildRoots.
Families must apply directly through the Preschool for All Parent Portal.
ChildRoots cannot submit applications, determine eligibility, or influence placement decisions.
PFA seats are limited.
Not all applicants will receive a Preschool for All seat.PFA seats per site in the 2026-2027 school year:
ChildRoots Southeast (SE): 60 PFA seats
ChildRoots Fremont (FR): 40 PFA seats
ChildRoots Northwest (NW): 60 PFA seats
Private-pay enrollment for preschool-age students is unavailable.
All children enrolled in our preschool program must apply and be enrolled through Preschool for All. As of 2026, there are no private pay options available for preschool-age children.
Once a child is granted a PFA seat, reapplication is not required.
The PFA seat remains in place for as long as the child remains enrolled in preschool and continues to meet program participation requirements.
Applying for Preschool for All
Families interested in Preschool for All must apply through the county portal.
Families enrolled through Preschool for All at ChildRoots can expect:
Experienced, professional early childhood educators
Play-based, developmentally appropriate preschool programming
Consistent classroom environments and daily structure
Alignment with Preschool for All quality, staffing, and reporting standards
Why Choose ChildRoots as a Preschool for All Provider?
Questions?
For questions about eligibility, income thresholds, or application status, please contact Preschool for All directly.
For questions about ChildRoots programming, schedules, or enrollment, please contact the ChildRoots school you are interested in.
Last Updated 04/03/2026 (LR)
Preschool for All (PFA) – Family FAQ
ChildRoots participates in Multnomah County’s Preschool for All (PFA) program.
Final eligibility, placement, and enrollment decisions are made by Multnomah County—not ChildRoots.
Eligibility
Who is eligible for Preschool for All?
Children must:
Be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1, and
Have a parent or legal guardian living in Multnomah County
There are no income requirements to apply.
Learn more:
https://multco.us/info/preschool-all-eligibility
What if my child turns 5 after September 1?
Children who are 5 years old on or after September 1 are not eligible for PFA.
Application Process
When do applications open?
The 2026–2027 application opens April 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM.
More information:
https://multco.us/programs/preschool-all
How do I apply?
Families apply directly through Multnomah County’s PFA system.
Start here:
https://multco.us/info/families-preschool-all
Who reviews applications and assigns placements?
Applications, placement decisions, and waitlists are managed by Multnomah County—not ChildRoots.
Placement & Enrollment
Does ChildRoots decide who receives a PFA spot?
No. All placement decisions are made by Multnomah County.
Can ChildRoots guarantee a PFA spot at a specific location?
No. Placement is determined by Multnomah County based on availability and program structure.
Are siblings prioritized for placement?
No. PFA does not guarantee sibling priority. Each child is considered independently.
Why did I not receive a spot even though I qualify?
Demand currently exceeds available seats, and not all eligible children receive placement immediately.
Classroom Placement
Can my child be placed in a classroom they are not age-eligible for?
No. Placement must align with:
Age eligibility requirements
Classroom structure
Licensing standards
Continuity of Care (COC)
What is a Continuity of Care (COC) seat?
COC seats are PFA seats that are restricted to internal family applicants - i.e., current preschool- or toddler-age children that do not have a PFA seat.
How are the number of COC seats determined?
A PFA seat is considered a COC seat when either:
It is the first year of that seat’s allocation into the program. E.g., if new PFA 20 seats are allocated to a site, all 20 seats are COC seats for the first year.
Students with a PFA seat complete graduation with ChildRoots, then X seats are held for the next school year as COC seats.
Currently, 50% of graduating PFA seats are considered COC seats - or rounded down for odd numbered totals.
E.g., if 10 students with PFA seats graduate, 5 of those seats in the next year will be COC seats. If 9 PFA students graduate, 4 of those seats in the next year will be COC seats.
What is an “Open Competition” seat?
These are seats that are available to internal and external families equally.
A seat becomes “open competition” when a PFA student leaves the program and the seat is not considered a COC seat.
PFA Seat Capacity and Allocation
How does PFA determine the number of seats to allocate?
Each year, PFA may offer up to 20 PFA seats. Acceptance of those seats are based on center capacity and licensing requirements.
Can ChildRoots request more seats be provided?
No. ChildRoots cannot request more seats be allocated than the number of new seats offered for an upcoming school year.
How many seats can ChildRoots maintain?
The total number of seats ChildRoots can maintain are based on center capacity and licensing.
Communication
Who should I contact with PFA questions?
Please contact Multnomah County directly:
preschoolforall@multco.us
pfa.support@multco.us
(503) 988-7818
Can I contact the ChildRoots PFA Specialist directly?
No. The PFA Specialist works exclusively with ChildRoots administration and is not available as a direct resource for families.
Cost of Care
How much does PFA cost out of pocket?
PFA tuition is fully funded by Multnomah County. PFA-enrolled preschool-age students cost of care does not come out of their family’s pocket.
Late pick-up fees still apply.
Additional Resources
Many common questions—including eligibility, timelines, and placement—are answered here: