Early Learning Council

Council Membership

• Sue Miller, Chair
• Peter Buckley, Southern Oregon Success
• Katy Brooks, Bend Chamber
• Elizabeth Farrar Campbell, Mighty Ripple Strategies
• Robin Hill Dunbar, The Ford Family Foundation
• Eric Hunter, Care Oregon (appointed March 2025)
• Dr. Peg Miller, MD, Willamette Valley Medical Center
• Soobin Oh, Teaching Preschool Partners
• Ruby Ramirez, Oregon Community Foundation
• Marie Simonds, Bandon Dunes Charitable Foundation

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Ex Officio (Non-Voting Members of the ELC)

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• Andrea Bell, Director, Oregon Housing and Community Services
• Ben Cannon, Director, Higher Education Coordinating Commission
• Alyssa Chatterjee, Early Learning Systems Director, Department of Early Learning and Care
• Sejal Hathi, Director, Oregon Health Authority
• Fariborz Pakseresht, Director, Oregon Department of Human Services
• Dr. Charlene Williams, Director, Oregon Department of Education

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Early Learning Council

• The Early Learning Council is charged with coordinating a unified and aligned system of early learning throughout Oregon to ensure that all children, no matter what their background or their community, enter school ready to learn and that all families are healthy, stable and attached.
• Cross-sector agency representation
• Public body responsible for administrative rulemaking for DELC
• This cross-sector work is represented in Raise Up Oregon: A Statewide Early Childhood System Plan 2024-2028. RUO is a statewide strategic plan focused on actions that state agencies can use in partnership with families, communities, and the private sector to build a comprehensive early childhood system.

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Raise Up Oregon

• Vision: All of Oregon’s young children, prenatal to age five, experience an early start that results in positive health, education and life outcomes regardless of zip code, race and family income.

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System Goal 1: The early childhood system is equitable: integrated, accessible, inclusive, anti-racist, and family centered.

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System Goal 2: All families with young children are supported to ensure their well-being.

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System Goal 3: All children are thriving in early childhood and beyond.

Early Learning Hubs in Raise Up Oregon

Objective 3: Early Learning Hubs are leveraged and resourced to advance regional early childhood systems that are equitable, integrated, accessible, inclusive and family centered.

• Strategy 3.1: Early Learning Hubs convene early childhood system partners across sectors, families, and community organizations to co-develop community strategic vision and plans, and to support partners in implementation and problem-solving
• Strategy 3.2: Early Learning Hubs engage families and community organizations, prioritizing those who are historically under-represented, in the development and implementation of state early childhood policies and programs
• Strategy 3.3: Early Learning Council engages with the Early Learning Hubs to inform state design and implementation of the early childhood system and development of council priorities.
• Strategy 3.4: Agencies provide public resources to Early Learning Hubs and engage their regional and local offices to successfully implement these strategies

16 Early Learning Hubs Across Oregon

2025 Council Priorities

• The Early Learning Council identified the following priorities for 2025:
• Home Visiting
• Housing
• Behavioral Health
• Education, Child Care and Early Learning
• Early Learning Hubs

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Early Learning Hub Rulemaking Process

Phased Rulemaking – Phase 1

• Update current rules:
• Purpose and Scope
• Definitions
• Early Learning Hub Functions
• Administration of Early Learning Kindergarten Readiness Partnership & Innovation Program

Propose new rules addressing: 

• Administration 
• Backbone Entity Structure
• Early Learning Hub Governance Structure
• Early Learning Hub Director Role
• Data Collection and Reporting

Future Phases

• Further clarification on Phase 1 Rulemaking and Update:
• Current Rule: 414-900-0020: Selection Criteria for Hub Contracts
• New Rules to Introduce:
• Early Learning Hub Funding Allocations
• Development of Community Plan
• Coordination of Eligibility for Early Learning Programs
• Child Care Partnerships and Support
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Family Voice and Communication

Timeline

If you’re interested in reviewing the RAC materials or public hearing materials please visit the DELC website or email Gabriela.Hernandez@delc.oregon.gov

Thank you for your time. Questions?