Last session, Senate Bill 909 created the Oregon Education Investment Board. Stand for Children supported this legislation because we supported these goals:
- Creating a more streamlined education system, birth to college,
- Creating a more stable and adequate education funding base and making targeted investments in the programs that make the most difference for students and
- Strengthening a statewide support system for educators and districts to set and reach student learning goals.
The board has proposed two key pieces of legislation for the 2012 Oregon Legislature.
Senate Bill 1581 creates Achievement Compacts between the state and local school districts and helps Oregon’s education leaders create a more coordinated system from birth to college.
Check out our legislative agenda to find more about why we’re supporting this bill.
House Bill 4165 includes a plan to better coordinate the agencies that provide early childhood services and requires schools to measure and report on the readiness of all kindergartners by fall 2013.
Check out the Oregonian’s recent coverage of the bill.
Earlier this year, the board completed the first stage of their work and released a report. View the Executive Summary and Full Report here.
What do we think of the report? We are encouraged to see a statewide focus on improving public schools and early childhood education. We are eager to ensure the changes being proposed ultimately result in more students who are prepared for, and with access to, college.
Stay tuned for more information on the board, its work and our position on the proposed 2012 legislation.
What is the Oregon Education Investment Board? The OEIB was formed to identify strategic investments needed to ensure that Oregon’s children enter school ready to learn, leave first grade reading, and graduate high school prepared to pursue a post-secondary education without the need for remediation.
Senate Bill 909 created the Oregon Education Investment Board, and charged this Board with a few main tasks:
- Hiring a Chief Education Officer to oversee the public education system.
- Establishing a statewide student database, from early childhood through higher education, that encourages accountability for outcomes, and provides better information for policy-makers, educators, students and their families.
- Creating an Early Learning Council to streamline and strengthen early childhood services to at-risk youth.
- Reporting back to the Oregon Legislature by December 2011, on progress and potential legislation for the 2012 legislative session. Gov. Kitzhaber recently released education proposals for the 2012 legislative session.
Learn more about Oregon Education Investment Board.
Questions? E-mail Advocacy Director Dana Hepper at dhepper@stand.org to learn more or find out how you can get involved!