Bill would alter Measure 98 to give schools more flexibility
Friday, April 21, 2017
Weeks of work on legislative changes to Measure 98 came together with a vote Monday by the House Education Committee to amend and move House Bill 2246-A.
A desire by some school officials and educators to give districts more flexibility to use Measure 98 funds led to a work group convened by Speaker of the House Tina Kotek (D-Portland). The work group included lawmakers and education stakeholders, and the changes contained in the bill were crafted with the approval of the Measure 98 campaign, the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators and OSBA.
HB 2246-A would make the following changes to existing laws around Measure 98:
School districts would submit four-year plans, rather than the two-year plans currently required under the law. Funding would still occur each biennium, but the change to a four-year plan would emphasize the need to create programs that will serve a high school student for four years.
Smaller school districts would get additional flexibility in using Measure 98 funds. Currently, schools applying for Measure 98 funds would have to spend some grant money on each of the three “strands” contained in Measure 98: career and technical education, dropout prevention programs, and college and career readiness programs. HB 2246-A would make the following changes:
Districts receiving less than $200,000 per biennium of Measure 98 funds would only be required to spend funds in one of the three Measure 98 strands.
Districts receiving between $200,000 and $700,000 per biennium would be required to expend funds in at least two of the three strands, one of which must be career and technical education.
Districts receiving more than $700,000 per biennium of Measure 98 funds must spend funds in all three areas, per current law.
HB 2246-A would permit school districts to use up to 15 percent of their Measure 98 funds in eighth-grade programs that align to the areas targeted by the measure. This would allow school districts to increase the effectiveness of Measure 98 programs by exposing students before high school.
HB 2246-A was passed out of the House Education Committee with a “do pass” recommendation without opposition. The bill now heads to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
