Clackamas Education Service District provides a unique set of early learning programs, featuring multiple services and plentiful partnerships. All are on full display this week for state early learning leaders.

The “Caring Communities Tour” of the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care made a stop in Clackamas County April 2 to discover more about our region’s successes in supporting care and education for children birth to age 5. Several of those achievements were called out in a recently released department report highlighting improvements in providing inclusive preschool access to children experiencing disabilities.

State early learning leaders pose for a group photo outside of the Clackamas Early Learning Center
Early education leader sits with students coloring at a table
Clackamas ESD staff member shows early education leaders the Clackamas Early Learning Center evaluation center

“State and federal investments in our early learning programs have allowed us to deliver services to more children, more often, at more locations, and to collaborate with many partners to ensure children with special needs are served in inclusive settings,” said Sara Snow, director of early intervention and early childhood special education programs at Clackamas ESD. “It’s so important that child care facilities, preschools and other environments that care for and educate young children are true communities of belonging. That’s the magic of what we have been able to create here in Clackamas County.”

Clackamas ESD’s early learning programs directly serve about 1,500 children each year. We have agreements with most regional school districts to evaluate preschool children for developmental delays that affect learning. If extra support is needed, we provide those specialized services in children’s homes and in preschools across the county – some we run ourselves, like our Head Start to Success classrooms, and many in partnership with other organizations. We also serve thousands of children indirectly through our child care resource and referral service; we provide child care providers with training and other support to deliver high-quality care.

Clackamas ESD employee gives hearing test to young girl in library

Clackamas ESD has agreements with most regional school districts to evaluate preschool children for developmental delays that affect learning

Clackamas ESD employee uses a word board to communicate with a young child

At the Gladstone Center for Children and Families, Clackamas ESD provides specialized staffing and training to ensure children who exhibit delays or disabilities have their needs met while being fully integrated into their classrooms

Clackamas ESD EI/ECSE specialist gives a high five to a young student

Clackamas ESD staff support Preschool Promise and Early Head Start classrooms at the Sunshine Early Learning Childcare Center

Two young children build a Lego tower together at a table in the Clackamas Early Learning Center

Owned and operated by Clackamas ESD, the Clackamas Early Learning Center hosts several preschool programs, in partnership with several organizations

Clackamas ESD staff member coaching a community preschool teacher as children play with legos

Clackamas ESD EI/ECSE specialists work with students and staff at several Clackamas County Children’s Commission preschool programs to ensure children with special needs are served in inclusive settings

Clackamas ESD speech-language pathologist points to a piece of paper while working with a young student in a preschool classroom

Speech-language pathologists and other specialists from Clackamas ESD provide services to children who need extra support at Clackamas County Children’s Commission preschool programs

This week’s tour with state early learning leaders included stops at three facilities that are shining examples of how strong community partnerships and braided funding have created optimized learning environments for our youngest children:

  • Gladstone Center for Children and Families. This site, run by the Gladstone School District, hosts several preschool programs and wrap-around services to children and families, in partnership with Clackamas ESD, Clackamas County, the Clackamas County Children’s Commission and other organizations. Clackamas ESD provides specialized staffing and training to ensure children who exhibit delays or disabilities have their needs met while being fully integrated into their classrooms.
  • Sunshine Early Learning Childcare Center. Clackamas ESD staff support Preschool Promise and Early Head Start classrooms at the center, which serves a large population of students exhibiting disabilities. The center is a regional showcase of how focused support enables all children to thrive in inclusive classrooms.
  • Clackamas Early Learning Center. Owned and operated by Clackamas ESD, the facility hosts several preschool programs, in partnership with several organizations. More than one-third of the children in attendance receive special education support. The building also houses our early childhood evaluation center.

The timing of the statewide early learning leadership tour is opportune, as decisions are being made at the state and federal levels about grant funding for 2025-27 that fuels nearly all of Clackamas ESD’s early learning programs.

“We welcome this opportunity to highlight our successes in bringing an array of high-quality services to thousands of preschool children in Clackamas County,” said Snow. “We’re able to achieve these levels of success because of the multiple partnerships we’ve nurtured. This is a critical time to share the value of those collaborations, because without sufficient funding, our ability to continue our partnerships at the current level will be significantly impacted, making it much harder to provide the services and support that some of the most vulnerable children in Clackamas County rely on.”

Learn more about Clackamas ESD’s early learning programs: