Funding Bills Approved for Oregon Public Schools

SALEM, Ore. — The House approved the budget for Oregon’s public schools and Gov. John Kitzhaber’s spending initiatives on July 1. The budget, $6.55 billion for K-12 education, was approved by a 53-5 vote. This will be a drastic 17.5 percent increase from the 2011-13 budget. Cuts to public employee pensions will make the school-spending budget equivalent to $6.75 billion for 2013-15.

The new budget will allow many of Oregon’s 197 public school districts avoid cuts and put the money toward the state’s educational achievement goals. Employee layoffs can be largely avoided as well. “The time has come to reinvest,” said Rep. Betty Komp, D-Woodburn.

The Senate approved four additional bills regarding Kitzhaber’s initiatives as well. House Bills 3231 and 3234 address early learning and youth development by creating new divisions within the Department of Education.

House Bill 3233 uses a pre-approved budget of $33 million from the state school fund to establish programs for school development. This includes several teacher training centers and grants allowing schools to increase collaborative efforts.

The Senate approved a budget of $27 million for House Bill 3232, which will use the funding to help increase student achievement in areas such as third grade reading skills and helping at-risk students finish high school and prepare for work or college. It will also fund improvements for science, technology, engineering, the arts and math in schools.

Those who voted against the bill argued that it didn’t provide enough money, or that the money should have been channeled into classrooms more directly.

Kitzhaber commented on his initiatives after the votes, saying, “The K-12 budget will allow school districts to begin planning for the next school year and supports our goal of delivering better results for students and more resources for teachers.”

Kitzhaber’s goals extend beyond just passing budgets, however. He emphasized that the real goal is to make strategic investments that will allow for the greatest means of improving the public school system.