Multnomah County expects to see a massive leap in tuition-free preschool seats for the 2026-27 academic year, officials announced Thursday.

The Preschool for All program is offering 7,460 seats next year, a 65% increase over its 4,500-seat goal for the year. This is not the final confirmed number of seats, however, and officials expect that count to decline based on how many preschool sites are approved and cleared for teaching.

“Our growth reflects years of intentional outreach and engagement from the dedicated staff in the Preschool & Early Learning Division,” Interim Preschool and Early Learning Director Rachel Pearl said. “This allocation speaks to a high level of provider interest and capacity, and it positions us to serve many more children across Multnomah County.”

The county c

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