Original Source | La Grande Observer
By Joyce Osterloh, Monday March 23, 2009

What would a 4-year-old say to President Obama if given the opportunity?

Preschool students in the Head Start program in Enterprise got the chance to tell Obama why they are thankful he is supporting their preschool. They talked about how their letter would get to the president, where it had to go, who would take it and how they should prepare it to be sent. Teachers escorted a parade of curious, eager 3- to 5-year-olds to the Enterprise Post Office amid comments such as, "President Obama is my president," and, "He's everybody's president, even my sister's president!"

Original Source | The Oregonian
By Yuxing Zheng and Catherine Trevison, Thursday March 19, 2009

Some parents at a recent metro-area preschool forum were looking for more than just the right preschool.

A number were searching for a paycheck, either for themselves or a spouse.

"I'm looking for a job," said Punith Aruna, a Lake Oswego resident attending the forum with her 4-year-old daughter, Smriti Maduri. "If I get it, I'll have Smriti in a Montessori school. I cannot do it now."

Original Source | The Oregonian
By Susan Nielsen, Thursday March 19, 2009

Thursday's column: If you're rich or lucky, it's a wonderful head start

You can find an excellent preschool in Oregon for your child, given an infinite amount of time and money, plus reliable transportation and job flexibility. Angling for slots while Junior is in utero helps, too.

Short of those advantages, you may be out of luck. This is why I worry about Oregon's low-income kids on long waiting lists for state-funded pre-kindergarten at a time of pending budget cuts. Many of these kids do time in substandard care while their parents scramble to make ends meet.

Original Source | Oregon Public Broadcasting News
BY APRIL BAER, Portland, OR, February 26, 2009

In Multnomah County, a new study is pointing the way to fixing inequity between black and white students. April Baer reports on the Black Parent Initiative's new report on the achievement gap.

Multnomah County's school districts are doing several things already to level the playing field.