The House Approves a Record Reinvestment
in Oregon’s K-12 Public Schools

Budgets totaling $6.245 billion for 2007-09
sail through on bipartisan vote

From Oregon Representative Chris Edwards, House District #13
June 13, 2007

House Democrats delivered on a promised significant reinvestment in K-12 education with the approval of a combined $6.245 billion budget for 2007-09. Three budgets—the State School Fund, the School Improvement Fund and the Department of Education budget were approved with broad, bipartisan support.

In addition to the boost to Oregon school budgets, the approval is also significant because it is the earliest in over a decade. During the 2005 Legislative session, for example, the budget was not approved until the last day of session—August 5. This early passage allows school districts to immediately begin planning for the increased funding.

The last sixteen years have wrecked havoc on K-12 schools in Oregon. The Democratically led Oregon House of Representatives has begun to reverse decades of disinvestment and finally put kids first in Oregon. The budget approvals represent a turnaround for education in Oregon with immediate effects felt throughout the state. Districts will be able to hire new teachers, add back programs, and restore a full school year beginning this fall.

The Department of Education Budget includes $39 million to fund Oregon’s pre-kindergarten Head Start Program.  In addition, the $260 million contained in the School Improvement Fund provides school districts flexibility in spending money on established best-practices that are most critical for their local district.  Options include decreasing class sizes, implementing all-day kindergarten and/or increasing vocational training for high school students.  Guidelines known as “best practices” ensure that clear accountability to tax payers is built into the school improvement fund program.