414-900-0015 Early Learning Hubs Purpose and Functions Hubs are established to coordinate and align early learning and care services for children from birth to age six with an emphasis on priority population(s), a specific geographic area or community of interest as identified by the Governance Council. The purpose of Hubs is to produce improved outcomes for children and families by leveraging public and private resources, coordinating services, and purchasing services to address local needs. (1) Hubs are conveners of cross-sector partners and facilitators of regional strategies aimed at advancing outcomes aligned with state priorities, including Oregon’s statewide early childhood plan’s goals. A Hub that provides direct services must meet additional criteria set forth in OAR 414-900-0020(1)(g)(F). (2) Hubs must deliver services that benefit children and families in the Hub’s assigned geographic area or community including, but not limited to: (a) Aligning service delivery across core functional sectors and ensuring active participation of representatives from: (A) Health; (B) Human services; (C) Public education; (D) Early learning and care; (E) Tribal nations; (F) Business; (G) Housing; (H) Higher education and workforce development; and (I) Other necessary sector partners as defined in Grant Agreement. (b) Developing kindergarten readiness strategies utilizing the Early Learning Kindergarten Readiness Partnership and Innovation Program (KPI) funding as established by ORS 336.101; (c) Ensuring that contracted service providers demonstrate commitment to achieving improved child and family outcomes through program delivery of Oregon’s statewide early childhood system plan; and (d) Developing strategies that improve child-centered outcomes, which include kindergarten readiness, stable and healthy families, and community-wide systems alignment. (3) Hubs, through the direction of their Governance Council, are vested with the authority to distribute state, federal, and other funds to invest in their identified priority population(s) across sectors. Hubs are accountable to the Department to demonstrate and ensure the Hub is: (a) Developing and maintaining a comprehensive Hub budget for the funds allocated by the Department to the Hub region. (b) Mapping all Hub funding streams, including local, state, federal, and philanthropic resources. (c) Ensuring alignment to shared outcomes that support the objectives of Oregon’s statewide early childhood system plan, as outlined in 414-900-0015(2)(c). (d) Ensuring contracted providers are accountable for delivering services that align with shared goals of KPI, as outlined in OAR 414-900-0015(2)(b). (e) Providing a match as outlined in the grant agreement and not to exceed 25% of the system coordination funds that: (A) Excludes funds received from KPI and federal Title IV-B for purposes of calculating the total system coordination funding; and (B) Provides matching funds that are not through funding awarded by the Department. The matching funds must be provided through other allowable financial support, including in-kind contributions. (f) Ensuring public access to budgets, governance decisions, meeting minutes or recordings, and key reports on a website maintained by the Hub. (4) Hub must conduct strategic convenings and engagement, which includes: (a) Convening cross-sector partners and community stakeholders to facilitate collaborative planning, problem-solving, and alignment to inform investment strategies. (b) Facilitating family voice in the design and implementation of Hub activities and priorities. (c) Leading continuous improvement efforts for their assigned regional early childhood system. (d) Engaging in good faith efforts to interface, engage, and collaborate with Tribal nations within the assigned Hub region in accordance with best practices as outlined in available department-issued guidance. (5) Hubs must ensure all strategies, funding allocations, and service delivery approaches are equity-driven and address the needs of the identified priority population(s)s identified by the Governance Council within their assigned region. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 417.728 & ORS 417.827 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 417.728 & ORS 417.827 History: DELC 6-2025, amend filed 06/25/2025, effective 10/01/2025 DELC 52-2023, minor correction filed 11/01/2023, effective 11/01/2023 ELD 2-2014, f. & cert. ef. 1-15-14 ELD 4-2013(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 9-9-13 thru 3-5-14 ELD 1-2013(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-16-13 thru 2-12-14