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, Orego