In a short amount of time, the Ready for School campaign has achieved impressive legislative victories on behalf of Oregon’s at-risk preschoolers.

Our work is not done. Only 64 percent of eligible children are enrolled in Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten due to funding shortfalls and a scant 6 percent of eligible children are enrolled in Early Head Start. Ready for School will continue its fight to close the achievement gap in Oregon by promoting state investments in high-quality early education. Join the movement.

The Legislature took an important step toward supporting comprehensive services for infants, toddlers and their families. Through a bipartisan vote, the state lawmakers passed a $1 million appropriation to expand Early Head Start services for at-risk infants and toddlers.

Ready for School safeguards Head Start funding in a recessionary economy and builds support for first-time state funding for Early Head Start.

2008 – Ready for School Adds Early Head Start to Legislative Agenda

Research compiled by the Children’s Institute and supported by Ready for School leads Governor Kulongoski to propose first-time state funding for Early Head Start.

2007 – Ready for School Secures Big Win for Oregon Children

Governor Kulongoski signs bill increasing state funding for Head Start by $39 million, almost doubling the state’s commitment to high-quality pre-kindergarten.

2006 – Statewide Coalition Puts Early Education on the Public Agenda

Ready for School launches its first legislative campaign. The goal: fully fund Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten.

2005 – Ready for School Campaign Finds Home at Children’s Institute

The Children’s Institute begins providing research, communications and staffing to the statewide effort to increase access to high-quality early education.

2004 – Unusual Suspects Step Forward to Champion Early Education

Led by Richard C. Alexander, Ready for School brings together business, philanthropic, and civic leaders to champion early childhood education in Oregon. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the need for voluntary, high-quality pre-k for all children and to advocate for full funding of Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten.

2003 – Children’s Institute Established to Turn Research into Action

In response to a crisis in children’s health and education, business and philanthropic leaders in Oregon founded the Children’s Institute to close the gap between what we know and what we do. Guided by a growing body of social, scientific and economic research, the Institute adopted a strategy focused on increasing access to comprehensive early education for at-risk children.

2002-2005 – Community Leaders Respond to Need

The Ready for School campaign for high-quality early education forms. Innovation Partnership, Stand for Children and the Children's Institute are founding partners.