About
Salem-Keizer Public Schools Preschool Programs include Head Start, Preschool Promise, and Title I Free Preschool, each with its own classroom structure and staffing. Head Start classrooms have English and Spanish-speaking staff, paid program assistants, and parent volunteers, and part-day classrooms have 17 children while full-day classrooms have no more than 17 or 18. Each Preschool Promise classroom is staffed with a teacher and a bilingual instructional assistant, and both a teacher and an instructional assistant are in each Title I Free Preschool classroom.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
• Schedule: Office hours Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:30 PM; class options include morning or afternoon sessions 5 days a week for Title I Free Preschool, and part-day or full-day classes for Head Start
The program’s mission states that early childhood education is a time of foundational learning for all students and that families can be active participants in their child’s education, which begins in preschool and kindergarten. Salem-Keizer Head Start and Community Action Head Start use the same application to qualify families, and applicants to Head Start must provide proof of income, a copy of the child’s birth certificate, and immunization records. Applicants to Preschool Promise must provide income verification documents as described in the program’s “Types of Income Verification Documents” resources.
Head Start is a free preschool and early childhood development service for low-income families and their children ages 3 to 5, and its services include early learning, nutrition, and family services for qualifying families in Marion and Polk Counties. Generally, qualifying Head Start children live close to the school site they attend, and returning Head Start children are re-enrolled in May for the next school year, while new applications are sent to schools in April to begin enrollment for the following year.
Preschool Promise is a free program available to children who will be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 10, and families with incomes up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level may be eligible. Preschool Promise uses a creative curriculum to support children becoming independent, self-confident, and inquisitive learners, includes outdoor play every day, and offers bus transportation to and from program locations when possible. The Preschool Promise program is held at eight locations, each serving 18 children.
Title I Free Preschool is for children age 4 on or before September 10 who live within specified school boundary attendance areas. Title I Free Preschool classes are offered in morning or afternoon sessions 5 days a week, use a creative curriculum to support children becoming independent, self-confident, and inquisitive learners, provide classroom instruction in both English and Spanish, and include outdoor play every day.
The Salem-Keizer Public Schools Preschool Programs leadership team includes Coordinator Stephanie Whetzel; Assistant Coordinators Rayeann Reynolds; Office Manager Heidi Roskop; Community School Outreach Coordinator Erika Garcia; and Preschool Promise Community School Outreach Coordinator Claudia Caratachea. The School Board leadership connected to the district includes School Board Secretary Ashley Stovin; Chairperson Cynthia Richardson, Director Zone 2, elected in 2023; First Vice-Chairperson Lisa Harnisch, Director Zone 1, appointed in 2024; Second Vice-Chairperson Karina Guzmán Ortiz, Director Zone 5, elected in 2021; and Directors Jennifer Parker (Zone 3, elected in 2025), Satya Chandragiri (Zone 4, elected in 2019), Krissy Hudson (Zone 6, elected in 2023), and Mel Fuller (Zone 7, elected in 2025), along with Student Advisors Jolee McMahan and Jaxon Woods, both appointed in 2025.
Community involvement connected to the program includes a partnership with Safe Routes to School, through which district PE teachers are helping students build confidence and independence through bike riding, and a partnership with Salem Leadership Foundation to connect students and families with resources and support. Salem-Keizer Public Schools states that it promotes equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on specified protected classes. It is also noted that 108 Salem and Keizer educators were nominated for the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards.
Last updated April 14, 2026.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
• Schedule: Office hours Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:30 PM; class options include morning or afternoon sessions 5 days a week for Title I Free Preschool, and part-day or full-day classes for Head Start
The program’s mission states that early childhood education is a time of foundational learning for all students and that families can be active participants in their child’s education, which begins in preschool and kindergarten. Salem-Keizer Head Start and Community Action Head Start use the same application to qualify families, and applicants to Head Start must provide proof of income, a copy of the child’s birth certificate, and immunization records. Applicants to Preschool Promise must provide income verification documents as described in the program’s “Types of Income Verification Documents” resources.
Head Start is a free preschool and early childhood development service for low-income families and their children ages 3 to 5, and its services include early learning, nutrition, and family services for qualifying families in Marion and Polk Counties. Generally, qualifying Head Start children live close to the school site they attend, and returning Head Start children are re-enrolled in May for the next school year, while new applications are sent to schools in April to begin enrollment for the following year.
Preschool Promise is a free program available to children who will be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 10, and families with incomes up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level may be eligible. Preschool Promise uses a creative curriculum to support children becoming independent, self-confident, and inquisitive learners, includes outdoor play every day, and offers bus transportation to and from program locations when possible. The Preschool Promise program is held at eight locations, each serving 18 children.
Title I Free Preschool is for children age 4 on or before September 10 who live within specified school boundary attendance areas. Title I Free Preschool classes are offered in morning or afternoon sessions 5 days a week, use a creative curriculum to support children becoming independent, self-confident, and inquisitive learners, provide classroom instruction in both English and Spanish, and include outdoor play every day.
The Salem-Keizer Public Schools Preschool Programs leadership team includes Coordinator Stephanie Whetzel; Assistant Coordinators Rayeann Reynolds; Office Manager Heidi Roskop; Community School Outreach Coordinator Erika Garcia; and Preschool Promise Community School Outreach Coordinator Claudia Caratachea. The School Board leadership connected to the district includes School Board Secretary Ashley Stovin; Chairperson Cynthia Richardson, Director Zone 2, elected in 2023; First Vice-Chairperson Lisa Harnisch, Director Zone 1, appointed in 2024; Second Vice-Chairperson Karina Guzmán Ortiz, Director Zone 5, elected in 2021; and Directors Jennifer Parker (Zone 3, elected in 2025), Satya Chandragiri (Zone 4, elected in 2019), Krissy Hudson (Zone 6, elected in 2023), and Mel Fuller (Zone 7, elected in 2025), along with Student Advisors Jolee McMahan and Jaxon Woods, both appointed in 2025.
Community involvement connected to the program includes a partnership with Safe Routes to School, through which district PE teachers are helping students build confidence and independence through bike riding, and a partnership with Salem Leadership Foundation to connect students and families with resources and support. Salem-Keizer Public Schools states that it promotes equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on specified protected classes. It is also noted that 108 Salem and Keizer educators were nominated for the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards.
Last updated April 14, 2026.
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