In Support of Education Funding to the Level Recommended by the Quality Education Model
WHEREAS, since the passage of Measure 5 in 1990 this state has consistently underfunded its schools and failed to adopt a means of sustainably paying for public services; and
WHEREAS, we believe funding a strong system of public education is the best investment Oregonians can make to strengthen our economy, create thriving communities, and improve the quality of life for every Oregonian; and
WHEREAS, we support a well-rounded curriculum that meets the needs of Oregon's students, including: art, music, PE, career and technical training, and co-curricular activities; and
WHEREAS, we must ensure that efforts to close the academic achievement gap and supports for students who have been historically underserved are expanded; and
WHEREAS, Oregon's public schools have experienced a prolonged period of unstable and inadequate funding that has resulted in dire consequences: teacher and staff layoffs, program cuts, unacceptably large class sizes, and one of the shortest school years in the country; and
WHEREAS, the Quality Education Model has consistently defined what a high-quality educational system should look like for Oregon students, but the Legislature has never provided the funding to meet it; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature has made progress and reinvestments in K-12, but funding momentum is fragile due to looming costs increases related to health care and PERS; and
WHEREAS, Oregon's political leaders have embarked on an ambitious effort through the Joint Committee on Student Success to define what our schools can be and find the means of sustainably paying for them; and
WHEREAS, school board members need to help shoulder the responsibility for making the case to Oregon's voters that the Legislature needs to prioritize investing to the level of the QEM to assure educational opportunities for every student in every district in our state.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the [ School/Education Service District] Board of Education pledges to join and support the efforts of “Oregonians for Student Success” campaign to ensure that Oregon's lawmakers prioritize investments to improve the educational outcomes for Oregon's greatest natural resource: our children.
Adopted this [date] day of [month], 2019.
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Board Chair
[ School/Education Service] District
