Dear PPS Families,

We hope that you and your students have had an engaging start to the 2020-21 school year. We’ve never begun a school year in this way, under such circumstances, and we appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we work to solve the numerous challenges that come with the pandemic.

A particular challenge for many of our working families is access to child care. PPS has been in discussions with licensed child care providers to determine if and how we can play even a small role in expanding the number of child care spaces available to our families. While our school buildings are closed due to State of Oregon COVID-19 restrictions, we are able to make them available to very small groups, including for child care providers.

By the end of September, we will begin gradually introducing child care sites across the district. Our phased approach will start with nine sites, limited to 30-40 school age students per site, that meet licensing safety criteria and serve communities with diverse student populations. The child care programs are operated by contracted child care organizations under strict Emergency Child Care licensing rules and will reserve 50% of seats for families qualifying for state subsidies. Child care programs are operating out of dedicated spaces and are separate from spaces used by school staff who may be in the building teaching from their classrooms.

This is a cautious approach that allows providers time to train staff, set up spaces and ensure that strict licensing guidelines are implemented successfully. 

You can learn more about the sites and providers and register with a child care program via the Contracted License Child Care During Comprehensive Distance Learning flier.

These spaces are likely to fill quickly. PPS continues to focus on connecting families to child care in the community to improve access. To that end, PPS partnered with Child Care Resource and Referral to inform SUN Site Managers, culturally specific Coordinators and Community Agents on how to support access to child care and state subsidies. 

Please see below for more information about accessing child care referrals and financial aid. If families are eligible, subsidies cover most or all of child care costs. The deadline to lock in low/no rates is October 31.

We will continue to work with families to support you during these trying times. We are grateful to our child care partners who want to provide care in our buildings and feel confident that they can do so safely. If you have specific questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Thank you.

Accessing Child Care Referrals and Financial Aid
211info

To receive a customized referral to emergency child care programs, contact 211info by:
Option 1: Calling 211

• Press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish, # for all other languages
• Enter your 5 digit zip code
• Press 3 for child care
• Press 2 to access a child care provider for your family

Option 2: Texting the keyword “children” or “niños” to 898211 (TXT211)

211 Hours: Monday-Friday: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Accessing Financial Aid 

The Department of Human Services (DHS) provides eligible families with child care subsidies that cover the cost of most child care fees. To find out if your family income is eligible for subsidies, check out the Employment Related Day Care: Temporary COVID-19 Related Changes website, or call the direct pay unit at 1-800-699-9074. 

• For billing forms and listing forms: Email [email protected] 
• For general questions: Email [email protected]​ 
• Need help with forms? If your child attends a school with SUN services, contact your SUN Site Manager. Community Agents and P-3 Coordinators are also trained. 

Due to COVID, the income limit has increased for initial eligibility, and the subsidy amount is greater. To receive this increased subsidy amount for 12 months, families must complete forms by October 31.