Coming soon: A new early childhood center in Clackamas
Clackamas Education Service District will open a new early childhood center in fall 2024. The facility will help fulfill Clackamas County’s needs for more accessible, inclusive and culturally responsive support for children birth to age 5, helping bridge an education gap for our community’s youngest learners. In particular, the center will focus on providing more support to children and families from underserved populations, including those experiencing poverty, those experiencing disabilities and families who speak languages other than English.
Current site
The former Adventist Health building adjacent to the Clackamas ESD administrative offices will be transformed into the new early childhood center.
Building & site plans
Facility features
- Infant/toddler & preschool classrooms
- Dedicated spaces to evaluate children & determine if they qualify for early intervention/early childhood special education
- Observation areas that allow early childhood providers to learn through training & classroom observation
- Flexible spaces for use by families & community partners where culturally responsive services & training can be delivered
- Inclusive outdoor play areas, including dedicated spaces for infants, toddlers & preschoolers
Fast facts
- Target opening date: Fall 2024
- Location: Former Adventist Health building, campus of Clackamas Education Service District,
13435 SE 97th Ave, Clackamas, OR 97015 - Classrooms: 4 preschool rooms & 2 infant/toddler rooms
- Preschool capacity: 90 children
- Service area: Clackamas County
- Key contractors: BBL Architects, Baldwin General Contracting
Community engagement
Clackamas ESD has engaged many of its own staff and multiple community partners in creating a vision and detailed plans for this new facility. Our district partners and many representatives of our regional early learning community have participated in stakeholder sessions and advisory groups to help us develop a high-quality early learning environment that centers inclusion and culturally responsive practices.
In particular, stakeholder groups have been central to:
- Prioritizing services to be provided in the early childhood center
- Designing interior and exterior spaces that are child-centered and family-focused
- Ensuring spaces are filled with inclusive, age-appropriate furniture and equipment
- Creating soothing color schemes and finishes that create calm and welcoming environments for all the activities that will take place in the facility
