Education is a key topic for both Republican and Democratic Oregon lawmakers as the 2023 session begins. But the parties — and individual lawmakers — vary widely in the scope of their focus.
Legislation introduced so far this session runs the gamut from abolishing the Oregon Department of Education entirely to raising teacher salaries to addressing health issues.
Here are 10 education-related bills to keep an eye on:
Abolishing the Oregon Department of Education
Senate Bill 243, sponsored by Sen. Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction, would establish a task force to abolish the Oregon Department of Education.
The task force, which would consist of five state representatives and five state senators, would study and make recommendations related to the abolishment of ODE.
Prohibiting COVID-19 immunization requirements
SB 641, sponsored by Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, would forbid the Oregon Health Authority and the ODE from requiring immunization against COVID-19 as a condition of attendance in any school, children’s facility or post-secondary institution of education.
Computer science education strategic plan
SB 550, sponsored by Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, is intended to develop students from “computer users” to “computer-literate creators” over the span of their education.
The bill suggests that the ODE would develop the standards and make them equitably available to public school students. It asks ODE to consult with the STEM Investment Council on the strategic plan.
It calls for plans to recruit educators equipped to teach computer science skills, identify annual costs of providing professional learning for middle and high school educators and expand the availability of computer science courses that provide college credit.
The strategic plan would be developed by March 15, 2024.
Identifying students in crisis
House Bill 2646, sponsored by Rep. Tawna D. Sanchez, D-Northeast Portland, would establish a program to train school employees on signs and symptoms of different mental illnesses and child crises, including psychiatric or psychological disorder, depression or substance abuse disorder, deescalating mental health or substance use disorder crisis.
The bill would require school districts to designate mental health points of contact to coordinate and facilitate access for youth and their families to appropriate mental health resources and substance abuse disorder services. It would also help teach school employees when and how to refer youth and their families to their resources.
Raising classified employee wages
HB 2690, sponsored by Rep. Courtney Neron, D-Wilsonville, would require all classified school employees to be paid at least 10% more than the minimum wage. It also would require that they be paid no less than 15% over the minimum wage if the employee works directly with students with individualized education plans or who are enrolled in special education.
Similarly, the bill would require that a certified educator’s salary would be no less than $60,000 per year. If the certified employee works with students who have an IEP or are enrolled in special education, their salary would be at least $63,000 a year.
It also would require school districts to index wage and salary amounts to inflation.
How many school health practitioners are needed?
HB 2618, sponsored by Rep. Susan McLain, D-Hillsboro, and Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, would launch a study to look into determining the appropriate number of students on caseload for certain school-based health practitioners. The study’s focus would be on speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists.
The ODE would conduct the study, and would be directed to submit findings and recommendations to interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to education by Sept. 15, 2023.
College student debt and job insecurity
SB 262 and SB 263 address post-secondary education challenges that recent graduates are facing.
SB 262 would conduct a study on decreasing student debt. SB 263 would conduct a study on how to improve employment opportunities.
The studies would be conducted by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and would need to submit findings to interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education by Sept. 15, 2024.
College student food insecurity
HB 2393, sponsored by Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Portland, would require the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to study how to address food insecurity for students in post-secondary education institutions in Oregon.
The commission would submit a report and recommendations based on its findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education by Sept. 15, 2024.
Expanding college access and success programs
HB 2961, sponsored by Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, would put aside $5 million of the General Fund to expand the scope and community reach of college access and success programs at public universities and community colleges.
Developing programs for behavioral health careers
HB 2977, sponsored by Rep. Hai Pham, D-Hillsboro, and Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Clackamas, would require the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, in collaboration with OHA, to establish a grant program for higher education institutions to develop programs that prepare students to enter behavioral health jobs.
It would designate scholarships or other tuition assistance for students going into the field of behavioral health as well as boost recruitment and outreach efforts to increase the number of students training in the field.
The bill calls for appropriating $6 million of the General Fund for this development.
Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.
