School Funding
What it does: The State School Fund is the major source of funding for the general operations of school districts and education service districts. The Oregon Department of Education Grant-in-Aid programs provide technical assistance, funding and oversight of programs relating to K-12 education, early learning and youth development. HB 5014 and HB 5015 are the two budget bills that will allocate money into the State School Fund and ODE Grant-in-Aid programs.
What’s next: The Joint Ways and Means Education Subcommittee is holding a series of public hearing on both bills March 7-9. These initial hearings will be for invited testimony from agency directors and staff to inform the committee members on the budgets’ intricacies. Broad public input will be invited during future meetings.
Compulsory attendance
What it does: SB 48 would restore the penalty for compulsory school attendance violations.
What’s next: The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday, March 7.
Climate change instruction
What it does: SB 854 would require the Oregon Department of Education to establish a model plan and guidance for academic content standards for a climate change instruction program. Each school district would be required to develop a written plan establishing a climate change instructional program for kindergarten through grade 12 no later than June 1, 2026, and would require school boards to review and update the plan every seven years.
What’s next: The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Thursday, March 9.
Drug instruction
Senate Bill 238
What it does: Senate Bill 238 would direct the Oregon Health Authority, State Board of Education and Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission to develop curricula supplements related to certain drugs’ dangers and the laws that provide immunity or other protections for persons who report drug or alcohol use or who seek medical treatment for drug or alcohol overdoses for themselves or others.
What’s next: The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday, March 7.
