indicates Stand for Children priority legislation indicates part of the end-of-session education policy package 1

2011 Legislative Goals & Outcomes

This was a session marked by highs and lows.

Schools faced significant cuts with a budget for K-12 schools that remained essentially flat at $5.7 billion. That means students across Oregon are again losing their favorite teachers, school programs and instructional time. There were no viable proposals to significantly increase revenue. We missed a chance to finally craft a successful, bipartisan compro-mise to reform the ‘kicker’ law and at least bring some stability to our yo-yo system of school funding.

Lawmakers did, however, make significant headway on policies aimed at improving Oregon’s public schools. The ses-sion started in uncharted territory with the House evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. Fortunately, effective leadership and bipartisan compromise prevailed.

Governor John Kitzhaber and legislative leaders Speaker Arnie Roblan, Speaker Bruce Hanna and Senate Presi-dent Peter Courtney deserve credit for their leadership to craft a broadly supported package of bills that passed in the final weeks of the session. We believe the package was a reasonable result of compromise though we did not support every bill included.

A number of other legislators wrote and championed important legislation that made progress for students. These folks know the definitions of leadership and compromise. And they were supported, pushed and inspired in their efforts by you – the leaders and volunteers who speak out for what’s best for kids. Thank you!

Here’s how Stand for Children’s 2011 Legislative Priorities fared:

1. Work toward Stable & Adequate Funding because excellent schools require a consistent and reliable level of investment so principals and teachers can focus on the classroom.

Creating a Robust Rainy Day Fund (SJR 26)Sen. Ginny Burdick and Sen. Frank Morse have been fighting to make reforms to Oregon’s fiscally irresponsible ‘kicker’ law and improve the stability of funding for public services. Their proposal successfully moved out of the Senate Revenue Committee, but never made it to a Senate floor vote. SJR 26 was tied to a very controversial capital gains tax cut. Unfortunately, their colleagues neither got behind their effort nor created a viable alternative. Several House members later introduced HJR 47 & 48, but no public hearing was held on these bills. Status: NO ACTION.

Stand members statewide spoke up about the need for stable school funding. Over 750 of you attended the Rainy Day Fund rallies in your communities to raise blue umbrellas for schools!

2011 Legislative Scorecard

indicates Stand for Children priority legislation indicates part of the end-of-session education policy package 2

Make kicker rebates into a tax credit(HB 3543) The rebate replaces the check taxpayers have received in the mail. This will save the state and taxpayers millions of dollars in mailing costs. Status: PASSED House 38-21; PASSED Senate 17-12; Governor SIGNED.

Budget allocation for K-12 (SB 5552, SB 5553) The $5.7 billion allocated to public schools over the next two years is essentially flat – which means increasing costs will require cuts to staff and services for students. The legislature did allocate an additional $25 million in the end-of-session education package – a very small step in the right direction (HB 5055). We did not count SB 5552 on the scorecard – some legislators voted yes because they thought it was the best they could do and others who voted no believed $5.7 billion was still not enough. Status SB 5552: PASSED Senate 30-0; PASSED House 32-28; Governor SIGNED. Status SB 5553: PASSED Senate 30-0; PASSED House 58-2; Governor SIGNED

2. Ensure Oregon’s school system is efficient and has strong leadership because just as schools need a strong principal to take them where they need to go, we need leadership and vision at the state level.

Appointed State Superintendent (SB 552)Oregon needs a strong leader with a clear vision at the helm of our public schools. Making the State Superintendent of Public Instruction an appointed (rather than elected) position will allow Oregon to attract educators and the best candidates to this important job. Sen. Chris Edwards, Rep. Val Hoyle, Rep. John Huffman, and Rep. Brian Clem were the chief sponsors and advocates for this important legislation. Status: PASSED Senate 23-7; PASSED House 38-22; Governor SIGNED.

Limit standardized assessment (SB 801) Sen. Suzanne Bonamici and Stand for Children worked closely with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to craft legislation to ensure that the statewide standardized test is being used properly so that schools maximize student learning time. The law will ensure that students who are proficient on their first attempt do not have to retake the test. Status: PASSED Senate 26-3; PASSED House 60-0; Governor SIGNED.

Education Service District reform (SB 250)Currently ESDs receive 4.75% of the money the state allocates to public schools. Many school districts believe they could better provide student services they’re currently buying from ESDs if they received those dollars directly. This bill decreases the percent of school dollars allocated to ESDs and allows some school districts to opt-out of their ESD entirely. Numerous

It’s long past time to revisit Oregon’s system for funding

schools and other critical services for children. Some legislators drafted bills to modify Oregon’s property tax limitations created by

Ballot Measures 5 & 50 (i.e. HJR 14, HB 3455).

Unfortunately, none of those proposals made it past

an initial public hearing.

2011 Legislative Scorecard

“What I am concerned about is the amount of instructional time lost and scarce technology resources restricted by extreme testing. My 7th

graders lose 15-20 days of language arts instruction

to testing each year.”– Dena Hellums

Stand Leader & Teacher

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Stand for Children developed on-line

advocacy tools (www.pathtosuccess.org) and generated more than 700 e-mails in support of SB 909 and the end-of-

session package.

SB 290 was the result of a successful partnership

between Chalkboard Project, Confederation

of Oregon School Administrators, Oregon

Business Association, Oregon Education

Association and Stand for Children.

2011 Legislative Scorecard

workgroups, studies, and reports have been commissioned on this topic. All have recommended significant restructuring of regional services. This year the legislature was finally able to make progress on reform. Sen. Mark Hass and Rep. Betty Komp were the primary champions for these reforms. PASSED Senate 18-11; PASSED House 38-21; Governor SIGNED.

Create a PreK-20 Education Council (SB 909) Currently Oregon’s education funding and policy-making system treats early learning, K-12, and post-secondary education separately. They compete for limited resources and don’t consistently coordinate to move students seamless-

ly all the way through the system. Governor John Kitzhaber drafted and championed this legislation to create the Oregon Education Investment Board to oversee the process of recommending statewide goals for our edu-cation system and creating a governance and budget structure that will invest in the efforts that are making the biggest difference for students. Status: PASSED Senate 21-8; PASSED House 54-5; Governor SIGNED.

3: Improve support for teachers and principals because educators should be recognized as the key determinant of the quality of a school and provided the support they need to succeed: the right tools, training, and helpful feedback.

Provide high quality mentors to new teachers and principals (HB 5020) Despite incredibly tough budget conditions, the legislature wisely decided to maintain their investment to provide mentors for new teachers and principals. In 2007 Stand for Children and Chalkboard Project advocated funding the Oregon Mentoring Program – and we’re glad to see that it’s still providing needed support to new educators today. This program has been proven to improve the effectiveness of beginning educators, increase teacher retention, and improve outcomes for students. Ways & Means Education Subcommittee co-chairs Sen. Rod Monroe, Rep. Sherrie Sprenger and Rep. Betty Komp took the lead on protecting this valuable investment. We did not count this legislation in the scorecard because it included many other budget items on which Stand for Children did not take a position. Status: PASSED House 44-11; PASSED Senate 21-7; Governor SIGNED.

Improve teacher & principal evaluations (SB 290) For many teachers and principals across Oregon, the time they spend in their district’s evaluation process is not meaningful. This legislation requires the state to work with teachers and principals to develop profes-sional standards – an Oregon definition of what effective teachers and principals are doing in their classrooms – and make this the foundation for locally-designed, meaningful evaluation processes. For the first time, student learning will have to be a factor in teacher and principal evaluations. Status: PASSED Senate 25-0; PASSED House 56-2; Governor SIGNED.

indicates Stand for Children priority legislation indicates part of the end-of-session education policy package 4

CLASS Project expansion (SB 252, SB 5055) Teachers in ‘CLASS Project’ pilot districts are taking the lead to revamp their systems for professional development, evaluations, career ladders, and compensation. Their efforts are paying off with gains in student achievement. Too often these systems aren’t working for teachers and don’t result in the best outcomes for student. These efforts have been funded by generous donations totaling $5 million from Oregon’s largest chari-table foundations and spearheaded by the Chalkboard Project. Now Chalkboard has received $25 million from the federal government and this year the state allocated another $5 million (SB 5055) to expand these teacher-led efforts to more Oregon kids. Status: PASSED Senate 29-0; PASSED House 58-1; Governor SIGNED.

Improve teacher preparation (HB 3474) Rep. Betty Komp and many of Oregon’s colleges of education championed this legislation connecting teacher and principal preparation programs to school districts. This will increase partnerships and alignment between the training educators receive in school and the jobs they do when they graduate. Status: PASSED House 59-0; PASSED Senate 29-0; Governor SIGNED.

4: Create a path for all students because a great school system has programs to ensure all kids arrive ready to learn, are challenged, and put on track to college or career.

Strengthen Expanded Options program (HB 3106)Oregon created the Expanded Options Program in 2005 to get more high school students earning credit at local colleges. By 2011, over 30 school districts were opting out of this program. Rep. Ben Cannon worked closely with Stand for Children to craft a needed update to this important program to ensure it would serve the students who benefit from early exposure to college the most. Status: PASSED House 57-1; PASSED Senate 28-2; Governor SIGNED.

Protect effective pre-Kindergarten programs (HB 5020)Oregon’s early childhood programs – including HeadStart and Early HeadStart – put low-income children on track for success in school and life. Rep. Betty Komp, Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, and Sen. Rod Monroe rightly prioritized protecting funding for early childhood programs. We did not count this legislation because it included budget items on which Stand for Children did not take a position. Status: PASSED House 44-11; PASSED Senate 21-7; Governor SIGNED.

Full Day Kindergarten (SB 248)Full day Kindergarten is proven to close the achievement gap. Sen. Mark Hass championed this legislation that provides an incentive for all school districts to offer full day Kindergarten starting in 2015. Status: PASSED Senate 23-5; PASSED House 36-23; Governor SIGNED.

Grassroots Success! Stand members and

students at Centennial Learning Center brought to our attention a loophole in the Expanded Options law.

Laborrah Simms (above) and Jessica Willis, students who benefitted from the early access to college,

helped change the law by meeting with legislators,

testifying and making their voices heard!

2011 Legislative Scorecard

indicates Stand for Children priority legislation indicates part of the end-of-session education policy package 5

“We hear from our teach-ers that if we want to

be successful, we need to plan for getting more

education after high school. Some of us want to live that dream. I want to live that dream and I need your help to make

that possible.”– Karen Rodriguez

7th Grader

2011 Legislative Scorecard

Tuition Equity (SB 724) A college education means higher wages and a better chance to succeed in life. Oregon high school graduates who have been accepted to an Oregon college have to pay out-of-state tuition if they are undocumented. Rep. Michael Dembrow, Sen. Frank Morse, and Sen. David Nelson champi-oned this legislation that would have allowed these students to pay in-state tuition – making college affordable and accessible. Status: PASSED Senate 18-11; Discharge Petition FAILED in the House.

Multiple authorizers for charter schools (HB 3645) Rep. Julie Parrish advocated for this legislation which allows community colleges and public universities to sponsor public charter schools and could inspire unique schools to better serve students (like teaching schools at col-leges of education). Status: PASSED House 34-25; PASSED Senate 18-11; Governor SIGNED.

Other legislation Stand for Children supported this session:

HB 2287: Changes to the charter school law. FAILED House 28-32.

HB 2289: Creates a task force to make recommendations about the school & district report cards. PASSED House 53-3. PASSED Senate 29-0. Signed by Governor.

HB 2707: Places juveniles in juvenile detention centers instead of adult jails. PASSED House 58-0. PASSED Senate 24-1. Signed by Governor.

HB 2939: Prohibits mechanical, chemical, prone restraint of students in public school. PASSED House 58-0. PASSED Senate 23-6. Signed by Governor.

HB 2960: Creates grants for energy efficiency and clean energy projects in schools. PASSED House 59-0. PASSED Senate 29-0. Signed by Governor.

HB 3397: Increases funding for charter schools. NO ACTION.

HB 3401: Creates a task force on work & family life. NO ACTION.

SB 555: Health insurance coverage for autism treatment. NO ACTION.

SB 695: Bans BPA in sippy cups and baby bottles. PASSED Senate 20-9. Discharge petition FAILED in the House.

Bailey (D-Portland)Barker (D-Aloha)Barnhart (D-Eugene)Bentz (R-Ontario)Berger (R-Salem)Beyer (D-Springfield)Boone (D-Cannon Beach)Buckley (D-Ashland)Cameron (R-Salem)Cannon (D-Portland)Clem (D-Salem)Conger (R-Bend)Cowan (D-Newport)Dembrow (D-Portland)Doherty (D-Tigard)Esquivel (R-Medford)Eyre Brewer (R-Forest Grove)Frederick (D-Portland)Freeman (R-Roseburg)Garrard (R-Klamath Falls)Garrett (D-Lake Oswego)Gelser (D-Corvallis)Gilliam (R-Molalla)Greenlick (D-Portland)Hanna (R-Roseburg)Harker (D-Beaverton)Hicks (R-Grants Pass)Holvey (D-Eugene)Hoyle (D-West Eugene)Huffman (R-The Dalles)Hunt (D-Clackamas)Jenson (R-Pendleton)Johnson (R-Hood River)Kennemer (R-Oregon City)Komp (D-Woodburn)Kotek (D-Portland)Krieger (R-Gold Beach)Lindsay (R-Hillsboro)Matthews (D-Gresham)McLane (R-Powell Butte)Nathanson (D-Eugene)Nolan (D-Portland)Olson (R-Albany)Parrish (R-Tualatin)Read (D-Beaverton)Richardson (R-Central Point)Roblan (D-Coos Bay)Schaufler (D-Clackamas)Sheehan (R-Clackamas)G. Smith (R-Heppner)J. Smith (D-Portland)Sprenger (R-Scio)Thatcher (R-Keizer)Thompson (R-Dallas)Tomei (D-Portland)Wand (R-Troutdale)Weidner (R-Yamhill)Whisnant (R-Sun River)Wingard (R-Sherwood)Witt (D-Clatskanie)

2011 Vote Scorecard - House of Representatives

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% ye

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SB 5

553*

HB

505

5*

SB 5

52*

SB 8

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SB 2

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310

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3

SB 2

50

SB 9

09

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347

4

SB 2

48

SB 7

42

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364

5

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Atkinson (R-Central Point)Bates (D-Medford)Beyer (D-Springfield)Bonamici (D-Beaverton)Boquist (R-Dallas)Burdick (D-Portland)Courtney (D-Salem)Devlin (D-Tualatin)Dingfelder (D-Portland)Edwards (D-Eugene)Ferrioli (R-John Day)George (R-Sherwood)Girod (R-Stayton)Hass (D-Beaverton)Johnson (D-Scappoose)Kruse (R-Roseburg)M. Anderson (D-Gresham)Monroe (D-Portland)Morse (R-Albany)Nelson (R-Pendleton)Olsen (R-Canby)Prozanski (D-Eugene)Rosenbaum (D-Portland)Shields (D-Portland)Starr (R-Hillsboro)Telfer (R-Bend)Thomsen (R-Hood River)Verger (D-Coos Bay)Whitsett (R-Klamath Falls)Winters (R-Salem)

2011 Vote Scorecard - Senate

Legi

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553*

HB

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5*

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354

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SB 2

50

SB 9

09

HB

347

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SB 2

48

SB 7

42

HB

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71%93%79%86%63%92%100%86%86%92%79%77%64%100%92%43%93%93%85%69%85%86%100%71%92%77%86%86%50%79%

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We know scorecards don’t show the complexity of everything that happens behind closed doors during the legislative process. In addition to the scorecard, we’ll continue to provide more detailed and nuanced information to you, Stand supporters, so that you have a robust picture of your legislators’ roles in education funding and policy in Oregon. Please contact us with any questions.

Dana Hepper, Oregon Advocacy Director, dhepper@stand.org