Education

LWVOR will be tracking the progress of legislation that would appropriate $5M to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) for establishing and awarding grants for basic needs programming at public higher education institutions.

As the Portland teachers strike continues over wages and working conditions, it is important to note that Oregon has failed to invest what is required for an equity-based public school system, for a number of years.

“A few weeks ago the Census Bureau released the poverty figures. And nationally, child poverty more than doubled — the largest increase in more than 50 years”…from OCPP.

It is clear from LWVOR work this session that we all must invest with renewed effort to support  our public education system.

Budgets for Early Childhood Education, ‘Child Tax Credit Bill’, K-12 biennial budget, Birth to Grade 12 Educational Literacy Bill, make historical investments in 2023.

Leadership Announces Historic Budgets for State School Fund, Early Learning and Literacy Success

On May 8 Senate President Rob Wagner spoke representing that the mission statement of public schooling ‘is to provide equity, diversity, and inclusion, based on each individual student needs, with written and informed consent by its parents,’ during the public hearing on SB 819A with -13 amendments, concerning abbreviated school days for children with disabilities.

Of interest last week was a public hearing on HB 3199A, in the Senate 5/4, already passed the House, limiting PE requirements by the state that were unattainable by many school districts.

Governor Kotek’s SB 1045-2 sets a significant legal precedent for education in our state. The -2 amendment names certain “vulnerabilities of students” in education, for which all school districts need to comply with state law.

The Governor’s Literacy Initiative, HB 3198 -3 held a public hearing on 4/3 and a work session that passed this Bill unanimously to the floor.

SB 1050 was introduced to Senate Education on 3/30 by Melissa Goff, advisor to Governor Kotek.

Legislative action this week centers on information bringing more equity and quality in education to all students throughout our state.

Governor Kotek leads a detailed informational hearing on the Early Literacy Success Initiative, a combination of HB 3198 and HB 3454, with the goal of reaching 95% literacy in reading and writing in Oregon.

Senate Education held hearings on an educational plan to begin curriculum design for climate change study, within all subjects, grades K-12, available for the entire state. Justice and saving lives was also in the forefront.

Testimony on Bipartisan HB 3235, in House Early Childhood and Human Services 2/27, attempts to create refundable child tax credit in Oregon of up to $1,200.00 per child under age 18, based on family income.

Informative hearings were held concerning our State Treasury, and a proposed plan to decrease carbon-intensive investments in favor of a cleaner energy economy. We also heard informative reports on statewide early childhood care.

Senate Education introduced an “omnibus” Bill SB 283 to begin to solve the workforce shortage problems in education throughout our state.

House Education held several public hearings on mental health related Bills significant to the Governor’s Budget goal, this last week.

House Education Meeting 2/6/23 3PM, takes an important look at locally elected school board  responsibilities and the non-discriminatory rights of all students.

Senate Education Committee heard two bills of significance this week. The first was about the use of Corporate Tax Kicker (not personal income tax kicker), and the second was about virtual and brick and mortar public charter schools.

House ED Chair Neron is the chief sponsor of HB2739 written to form a Committee on more stable and sustainable educational funding…providing more accurate calculation of the biennial budget.

If you are represented by any of these Representatives or Senators, feel free to contact them about your hopes for educational progress in the coming Legislative Session.