[ad_1]
Lawmakers took a bitter vote Wednesday to boost funding for summer school and community-based summer learning programs after failing to provide any last year.
The eight members of the Joint Revenue and Education Subcommittee voted unanimously to pass $30 million in summer learning funding. The proposal will move to a vote in the House of Commons.
This is $20 million less than the $50 million that state Rep. Susan McClain (D-Hillsboro) proposed earlier in the session as lead sponsor of House Bill 4082, which the state would provide for summer learning in 2021 and 2022. That’s less than 20% of the total amount.
“We have a lot of kids who are going to have a better summer and have more opportunities for wraparound services and experiences that will improve their skill level,” McClain, co-chair of the committee, said during Wednesday’s hearing. I told my colleagues. But she added: “This is just the first round. We have a lot of work to do.”
If the bill passes the House and Senate, $30 million would be distributed this summer to the state’s 197 school districts and 19 school service districts, with priority given to the state’s 530 Title I schools. It turns out. Students either come from low-income households or receive support services from the state. This is because funding comes from statewide education initiatives set aside to support underserved students.
Districts can also distribute funds to community-based nonprofit organizations such as the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs. The proposal also creates a workgroup to study and recommend long-term solutions for sustained and consistent funding for summer school.
Gov. Tina Kotek, who has made summer school funding a top priority, expected the full $50 million to pass, spokeswoman Elizabeth Shepherd said.
“She is grateful to our legislative leaders for meeting the urgency of this moment by advancing this far-reaching bipartisan bill,” Shepherd said in an email. She added, “The governor is also committed to engaging in meaningful discussions to identify long-term funding for summer and after-school learning.”
The budget cuts follow recent criticism from Democratic leaders in the House and Senate that taking $50 million out of the state’s general fund is too large, and that the general fund will be used for the governor’s housing in the current legislative session. It is expected to be used extensively for measures against drug addiction. As reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive, Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) and House Speaker Dan Layfield (D-Corvallis) also want to ensure Oregon’s children take center stage. He said he would like to see more accountability measures included to ensure funding is provided to the government. .
Wagner’s office, through his spokesman Connor Radonovich, did not respond to questions, but Layfield said in an email that he is participating in ongoing discussions about summer learning and plans to use the funds “strategically.” He said he wanted it.
“We need to ensure that our children have the resources they need to learn. This means investing strategically and ensuring we get the results we want,” he said.
During the summer of 2023, lawmakers allocated no additional funding for summer school or community-based summer learning programs. Some programs that were staffed in 2021 and 2022 closed last year. School districts and large organizations such as the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs have cut back on field trips and other events. Despite increased demand across the state, about half of local organizations are adding more, according to a study by the Oregon Afterschool & Summer for Kids Network (Oregon ASK), a nonprofit network of educational organizations. It turns out that without state funding, the program has been forced to scale back.
“We are thrilled that Congress has recommitted to funding high-quality summer learning for Oregon’s children, which will make an immediate difference in their lives,” said the nonprofit Foundation Foundations. Whitney Grubbs, executive director of “For a Better Oregon,” said in an email. “While supporters expected more, the state can build on this funding to make bolder, more sustainable, region-wide investments in summer and after-school learning for years to come. You can do it.”
oregon capital chronicle
The Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of State Newsroom, a network of newsrooms supported by a coalition of grants and donors as a 501c(3) public charity. The Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. If you have any questions, please contact editor Lynne Terry at info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com. Follow Oregon Capital Chronicle on Facebook twitter.
[ad_2]
Source link
