OSBA legislative services is primarily focused on state and local issues, but we keep a foot in federal-level policy. The Trump administration’s executive orders this week demonstrate the power of federal directives to upend local plans.
OSBA, state government and education partners rallied to defend schools and offer guidance and information. But it was a jarring reminder of the importance of our federal connections and our ongoing work in Congress and federal agencies with our peers around the country.
This weekend, I will be traveling with a delegation of OSBA staff and Board members and other Oregon school representatives to the heart of federal power: Washington, D.C.
The National School Boards Association holds a lobbying effort every year, this year renamed the Advocacy and Equity Institute. This annual conference invites state board associations and school board members to Washington to network, attend workshops and lobby on the Hill.
I’ll attend sessions on navigating legislative challenges at the state level, legal updates, and how public schools can thrive in a school market economy. On Tuesday, Feb. 4, I and several other school board members will meet with Oregon’s congressional delegation. We will discuss federal policy issues that resonate deeply with our local school boards.
Top of the list is aiming for increased Individuals with Disabilities Education Act federal funding. Increasing Oregon special education funding and targeting it where it is needed is one of OSBA’s top policy goals this legislative session. The federal government living up to its IDEA commitments would go a long way toward better serving our students with special needs.
We will also be working to ensure the Secure Rural Schools Act makes it into the next budget package. The 20-year-old bipartisan bill provides millions of dollars to rural schools in Oregon that have reduced tax bases because much of the area land is owned by the federal government. The U.S. House failed to reauthorize the bill last year, and we are trying to get it back.
Our agenda includes maintaining Title I and school nutrition spending as well. Title I provides funding to schools with high numbers of low-income students, and federal programs support the improved school nutrition efforts that have spread through Oregon.
OSBA is staying engaged with our local and national partners to monitor the changes and decisions at the federal level. We want to make sure that our districts are receiving reliable information, and we want to limit the possibility of funding disruptions or policy chaos. We will continue to update districts as we receive more information and guidance.
– Adrienne Anderson
OSBA legislative specialist
