Summer school funding proposal moves forward with 40% funding cut – Oregon Capital Chronicle

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 Representatives.

That’s $20 million less than the $50 million proposed by state Rep. Susan McClain, D-Hillsboro, as lead sponsor. House Bill 4082 Earlier in the session, the state provided less than 20% of the amount it provided for summer learning in 2021 and 2022.

“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, giving the state’s 530 Title I schools (at least one-third Priority will be given to those who attend the school. 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 planned to be used extensively for measures against drug addiction. Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) and House Speaker Dan Layfield (D-Corvallis) also want to do more to ensure funding helps Oregon kids stay focused on core themes. He said he would like to see more accountability measures included. report Written by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

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 like the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs have cut back on field trips and other events.a investigation Despite increased demand across the state, nearly half of local organizations lack additional state funding, according to a study by the Oregon Afterschool & Summer for Kids Network (OregonASK), a nonprofit network of educational organizations. I found out that I was forced to downsize my program.