What is Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten?
Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten (OPK) is modeled after Head Start to support family success and healthy child development. OPK offers free, high-quality culturally responsive preschool, infant and toddler care in a variety of settings and models. All families receive an advocate who provides support services which focus on family goals and well-being. All families also receive home visiting services.
Program services include:
Birth to Five early childhood education, developmental assessments and screenings
Child health/mental health and disability support
Health and Nutrition services, including access to resources for houselessness and food insecurity
Parent Education, Family Goal Setting
Opportunities for Parent Leadership, lobbying experience, Policy Council membership and even Employment
OPK emphasizes the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher and families as advocates and leaders. Parents help make programming decisions through the Policy Council and must sign off on all program components.
Eligibility: A pregnant parent or a child up to kindergarten entry is eligible if the family’s income is equal to or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or is categorically eligible. Categorical eligibility includes SNAP, TANF, Foster Families, Families experiencing Homelessness.
Number of Grantees: 30 (25 dually funded federal grantees, 5 are fully state funded)
Number of children and families served annually: 14,581
Oregon Pre-k Eligibility and Enrollment
OPK is available to families with incomes at or below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Children in foster care, children experiencing houselessness, and children from families receiving public assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are eligible for OPK regardless of income. Table 1 includes income limits for 100 percent of FPL as of January 2023.
Enrollment for OPK is open and nondiscriminatory, and follows Oregon laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, national origin, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, physical or mental disability, military status, or marital or family status.
Enrollment FAQ
Children from birth to age five from families with low income, according to the Poverty Guidelines published by the federal government, are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services.
Children in foster care, homeless children, and children from families receiving public assistance (TANF or SSI) are categorically eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services regardless of income.
Pregnant women may also be eligible for Early Head Start
Children in foster care are Head Start eligible, regardless of family income.
The Head Start Act of 2007 requires 10 percent of the total number of children actually enrolled by each Head Start agency and each delegate agency to be children with disabilities who are determined to be eligible for special education and related services, or early intervention services.
OPK programs may enroll up to 20% of children from families that have incomes above the Poverty Guidelines. Programs may also serve up to an additional 35% of children from families whose incomes are above the Poverty Guidelines, but below 130% of the poverty line if the program can ensure that certain conditions have been met.
OPK programs may enroll up to 20% of children from families that have incomes above the Poverty Guidelines. Programs may also serve up to an additional 35% of children from families whose incomes are above the Poverty Guidelines, but below 130% of the poverty line if the program can ensure that certain conditions described in the Head Start Act have been met.
Use the Head Start Locator to find all Head Start locations. To search specifically for OPK programs, use the Program Locator website or call 211 for more information.