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Oregon expands education programs for incarcerated adults, but gaps remain
WILSONVILLE – In many ways, it was like any other graduation ceremony. Several dozen graduates strode into a large room wearing robes and tasseled caps. “Pomp and Circumstance” played from a speaker. Dozens of friends, family members and teachers sat in the audience, clapping and cheering and flipping through the program to see an outline […]
Districts are juggling options as state budget delayed
Oregon school districts are preparing their annual budgets this spring. They have to adopt them by the end of June. But until a schools budget is passed, districts won’t know how much money they’ll have. Districts need more money than ever to address rising student needs. Some are already cutting positions to prepare for less […]
Child care advocates say Oregon’s proposed budget isn’t enough to move the needle
Legislators are considering a proposal that would allocate about $1.3 billion to Oregon’s new Department of Early Learning and Care to tackle child care needs across the state, but advocates say an additional $70 million is needed. House Bill 5013 outlines the state’s plans for agency operations and statewide programs in the next two years. […]
Public funding is key in increasing child care openings statewide
Child care is becoming more readily available for families across Oregon. But state workers and lawmakers are still fighting for long-term improvements. A new report from Oregon State University found that available child care slots for young children in Oregon grew by almost 5% from March 2020 to December 2022, thanks in part to increased […]
May 2023 Election: Initial returns show changes coming to school, library boards across Oregon
UPDATED: Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 9:23 a.m. to reflect the latest returns. The ballots of a quarter of Oregon voters who participated in the special election will lead to substantial changes for school and library boards across the state. These results will have substantial impacts on Oregonian’s daily lives. School board members govern the […]
Legislative proposal could help hold teachers, school nurses more accountable for abuse
Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow the state’s educator licensing agency to better hold teachers and school nurses accountable for violating professional ethics or committing crimes. Senate Bill 218 – which passed through the Oregon Senate last month on a 25-4 vote and is scheduled for a House vote on Monday – addresses […]
May 2023 Election: Oregonians prepare to vote in increasingly political school board races
Across the top of a mailer recently sent to voters by a Christian-based political action committee was the message: “Local school board races have never been more crucial.” The flier – endorsing conservative candidates running for three of the seven seats on Salem-Keizer Public Schools’ governing board – said a review of recent headlines shows […]
Legislative proposal aims to streamline virtual charter school process
A bill moving through the Oregon Legislature could help students who want to attend virtual charter schools. Supporters of House Bill 3204 want to streamline communication between school districts and families seeking to leave brick-and-mortar districts and enroll children in virtual charter schools. The student’s home district has to approve the switch, and districts with […]
U.S. lawmakers in Oregon urge federal authorities to curb opioid use
Oregon teens are dying of drug-related causes faster than in any other state, and the government needs to do more about it, members of Oregon’s congressional delegation said Thursday. U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Earl Blumenauer, Andrea Salinas and Val Hoyle urged U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel […]
Oregon moves toward offering universal school meals
Schools nationwide received federal COVID-19 relief money to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students at the height of the pandemic. But those funds expired in the summer of 2022 when Congress failed to extend school meal waivers. Now, individual states are figuring out how to move forward. Oregon has taken a few steps […]
Oregon schools may be required to electronically notify families, employees of threats
UPDATED on Monday March 27, 2023 at 4 p.m. with committee vote Locking doors. Slamming window blinds. Teachers telling students to be quiet and hide under desks. As Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, put it: “This isn’t a quote from a George Orwell book. This is a reality for many students.” Oregon lawmakers from both sides […]
Gov. Kotek urges state lawmakers to back literacy initiative
Gov. Tina Kotek kicked off her first term this year with an especially big goal – to revamp the way Oregon teaches children to read and write. Less than half of Oregon students can read and write at their grade level. This has a substantial impact on the students individually and on society. Kotek is […]