New Report Shows 76% Increase in Early Learning Access for Young Children with Disabilities in Oregon​

NEWS RELEASE
Date: April 9, 2026
Contacts:Liz Merah, Oregon Department of Education
Kate Gonsalves, Department of Early Learning and Care
Amy Geoffroy, FACT Oregon

Access to inclusive early childhood programs has grown significantly statewide since 2020-21

Salem, OR - The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) today announced major progress in the fifth year of the Oregon Early Childhood Inclusion (OECI) Initiative, highlighting statewide improvements in access to inclusive early learning environments, strengthened cross-agency collaboration, and expanded supports for families, educators, and communities.

According to the newly released 2026 Oregon OECI Initiative Impact Report, Oregon is serving more young children with disabilities in classrooms within their community through inclusive models for early childhood special education than ever before. The number of children receiving these services has grown for the fourth consecutive year, with nearly 2,111 more children served in the 2024-25 school year than in 2020-21-a 76% increase.

"At its core, this initiative is about belonging-because every child deserves to learn, play, and grow alongside their peers with the individualized support they need to thrive," said Dr. Charlene Williams, ODE Director. "Oregon is showing that when we invest in relationships, inclusive environments, and coordinated systems, children, families, and educators all benefit. This report affirms that progress, and it also calls us forward, reminding us that inclusion is not a destination but a commitment we renew every year."

"This progress reflects the dedication of our agencies and our partners across Oregon to help hundreds more children with disabilities receive the early learning support they need to thrive," said Alyssa Chatterjee, DELC Director.

Key Findings from the 2026 OECI Impact Report

Key achievements and findings from the 2026 impact report include:

• Access to inclusive early learning environments for children with disabilities increased from 38% in 2020 to 56.6% in 2025, marking four consecutive years of growth.
• Eight Community-Wide Implementation Teams across 19 counties are advancing local collaboration and inclusion efforts.
• Demand for training in the Pyramid Model* and inclusive practices remains strong across early learning, child care, and education sectors.
• Families and community systems are strengthening partnerships to better support student success.
• Collective action at the community and state levels through combined efforts like Every Child Belongs and Oregon Early Childhood Inclusion are helping address systemic barriers to inclusion for young learners across the state.

*The Pyramid Model is a holistic prevention framework supporting the development of social-emotional learning within early learning contexts including home, child care, preschool and early elementary classrooms.

New Family Resource Released

This year's report is accompanied by another milestone: FACT Oregon has released the Inclusive Education Toolkit (Every Child Belongs) - a comprehensive, accessible resource designed to help families navigate early intervention, early childhood special education, and inclusive early learning settings.

The toolkit (available in English and Spanish) provides families with:

• Clear guidance on family rights
• Practical strategies for partnering with educators
• Accessible information to support early learning decisions

Its release underscores a shared commitment to ensuring families are informed, empowered, and central to inclusive education efforts.

Launched in 2020, OECI is Oregon's coordinated, statewide effort to ensure that all young children-including those with disabilities and special health needs-can learn, play, and thrive in high-quality, inclusive early learning settings. Grounded in the Pyramid Model Framework and National Indicators of High-Quality Inclusion, the initiative brings together state leaders, early learning programs, local communities, and families to build equitable systems of support.

The release of the 2026 OECI Impact Report comes at a pivotal time as Oregon prepares for historic policy changes, works to advance outcomes for students in reading, considers universal childcare and preschool, and deepens statewide commitments to equity and belonging. The report provides data and insights to help leaders, educators, and families guide decisions in the years ahead.

###