Despite some improvement since the pandemic, Oregon’s supply of early learning is much lower than families need. Eighteen of Oregon’s 36 counties are “child care deserts” for preschool, meaning 33% or fewer children in the county have potential access to a spot, according to the latest data. (Lydia Ely/InvestigateWest)
An audit of the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care found the agency could benefit from stronger oversight and equity training to improve governance of the state’s early learning system.
Auditors’ findings, issued in a letter from the Secretary of State’s audits division to agency director Alyssa Chatterjee on July 24, align in part with critiques of the department voiced by current and former staff in an InvestigateWest investigation published in March. Employees sounded alarms — including one who contacted Gov. Tina Kotek — about what they saw as the agency’s failures to foster equity, retain leaders and manage programs that serve Oregon’s lower-income families.