Salem, Ore. – The Oregon House of Representatives today passed a $7.255 billion budget for the state’s public schools. The budget is a $600 million increase over the last biennium, which will provide stability for most school districts while also funding full-day kindergarten for children throughout Oregon for the first time in state history.
“Every child in Oregon deserves the opportunity to succeed, and this budget takes a major step forward for working families and kids throughout our state by funding full-day kindergarten,” said House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-North/NE Portland).
This investment is part of a multi-year effort to get education funding back on track after years of recessionary cuts. In 2013, the Legislature added $1 billion to Oregon’s K-12 schools, approving the largest budget in state history as the economy began to improve. The $7.255 billion budget approved today will maintain that historic boost, and automatically increase school funding if more money is available after the next economic and revenue forecast in May.
“We have been fighting to get our schools back on track for years, and today’s investment is another step in the right direction,” said Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), the House’s chief budget writer. “But it’s still not enough. In order to give our kids the opportunities they deserve, while also ensuring Oregon families feel safe in their neighborhoods, and those in need have resources available to help them, we must address the unstable revenue system that has caused our schools to be underfunded for decades.”
The $7.255 billion K-12 budget (House Bill 5017) includes:
· $600 million more than the 2013-15 K-12 budget, maintaining the historic $1 billion increase the Legislature approved in 2013;
· Full funding for full-day kindergarten;
· Targeted investments to support children with disabilities, low-income students, and English language learners.
· A trigger that will send 40 percent of new revenue to the State School Fund if the economy shows improvement in the May economic and revenue forecast.
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