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News stories
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Latino/a/x Student Success Grant application period open
Thursday, July 2, 2020The grants are aimed at addressing systemic inequities experienced by Latino students.
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OSAA not ready to swap fall and spring sports seasons
Thursday, July 2, 2020The Oregon School Activities Association offers additional guidance related to sports and activities and coronavirus precautions.
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Survey asks about child care needs
Wednesday, July 1, 2020The Early Learning Division wants to know what parents and caregivers need to feel safer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Guidance offers direction for supporting students of all gender identities
Friday, June 26, 2020The LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan presents strategies and goals for education and social emotional support.
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School board statements against racism provide foundation for school change
Thursday, June 25, 2020Students and equity advocates say a public stance offers students assurance and support.
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Special session unlikely to tackle schools’ most pressing issues
Tuesday, June 23, 2020The special session starting Wednesday will focus mostly on police accountability and coronavirus responses but not liability protection or budgets.
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Funding remains top school concern in survey, even before pandemic-related budget problems
Monday, June 22, 2020School board members and superintendents express a high level of satisfaction with OSBA’s work, according to the recent poll.
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School board members essential to fostering changes, Merkley says
Wednesday, June 17, 2020School board member advocacy can shift Congress, the U.S. senator says during a Zoom meeting with OSBA leaders.
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High school students save money and time earning college credits
Friday, June 12, 2020With dual-credit programs, some dedicated students are receiving high school diplomas and college associate degrees this month.
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Colleges and universities allowed to resume in-person activities
Friday, June 12, 2020Institutions have flexibility to decide their paths within guidelines released Friday.
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Physical distancing rules in fall guidance will reshape schools
Wednesday, June 10, 2020The Oregon Department of Education’s statewide health and safety framework allows local implementation decisions.
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Registration open for OSBA’s first Virtual Summer Board Conference
Tuesday, June 9, 2020The July 11 workshops will include many of the same important education topics that the annual Bend conference usually covers.
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Recognition translates for first students earning Oregon Seal of Biliteracy in Native American languages
Wednesday, June 3, 2020Students being honored for learning tribal tongues stirs community pride and demonstrates changing official attitudes.
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Local conditions will shape reopening decisions, Colt Gill says
Tuesday, June 2, 2020The Senate Interim Education Committee took testimony Tuesday on COVID-19’s education impacts.
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Oregon awarded continuation of $30 million CTE federal grant
Friday, May 29, 2020The federal Perkins Act supports career and technical education efforts.
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Summer sports guidance informs conversations about fall season
Thursday, May 28, 2020Education leaders are discussing all sorts of adjustments, but COVID-19 gets the last word.
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At-A-Glance Special Education profiles released
Thursday, May 21, 2020The federally mandated data collection covers school districts, individual schools and early learning intervention and education programs.
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Seismic rehabilitation grants will help 28 schools
Wednesday, May 20, 2020The competitive grant program will provide $65 million for work on school buildings.
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Oregon economic forecast drops $2.7 billion
Wednesday, May 20, 2020Schools are facing severe cuts just months after planning for the biggest investment increase in a generation.
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Four school districts, community college find winning bond messages
Wednesday, May 20, 2020In an unusual election season, Tuesday’s loss could become a victory for Perrydale School District.
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In-person lessons, summer school guidance released
Friday, May 15, 2020The Oregon Department of Education continues to prioritize equity considerations and health precautions.
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Video conferencing decision pits need for student contact against equity and privacy concerns
Thursday, May 14, 2020Some districts that had restricted programs such as Zoom or Google Meet are loosening their guidelines.
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Toolkit offers distance learning-adapted guidance for preventing student abuse and bullying
Monday, May 11, 2020The Oregon Department of Education has gathered resources to help with implementing Erin’s Law.
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CARES money with few strings attached coming for next school year
Tuesday, May 5, 2020The federal coronavirus-response legislation includes $280.7 million for Oregon education but not enough to backfill possible state budget cuts.
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Smaller businesses receive wiggle room on Student Success Act tax, still must pay
Friday, May 1, 2020Economists don’t know yet how the coronavirus closures will affect the education-funding corporate activities tax.
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New graduation ceremony guidance includes permission for drive-in celebrations
Thursday, April 30, 2020The Oregon Department of Education maintains its call for equity considerations in anything schools plan.
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Teacher scales technological walls to reach students
Thursday, April 30, 2020Second grade teacher Karen Sheller is among the legions of Oregon teachers who have overcome their own trepidations to create distance learning.
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School board chair helps guide Oregon’s coronavirus response
Tuesday, April 28, 2020Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen of Sherwood consulted on the school closure decision.
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Free tool helps clarify budget discussions
Monday, April 27, 2020A Forecast5 calculator available to all Oregon school districts makes it easy to figure out local revenue based on state funding changes.
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Brown closes schools through June 30
Thursday, April 23, 2020The executive order released Thursday extends the closure rules but adds the possibility of some in-person instruction.
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Grades K-8 guidance sets pass/incomplete standard for all grades
Wednesday, April 22, 2020New guidelines released Wednesday reiterate an emphasis on equity considerations and understanding for the struggles of students and families.
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Schools will mark senior graduations with virtual congratulations and ‘drive-through diplomas’
Tuesday, April 21, 2020Educators and communities are looking for creative ways to celebrate accomplishments while maintaining social distancing.
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Bridging the distance through love and grit
Monday, April 20, 2020West Linn teacher went to great lengths this year to stay in class while fighting medical issues, now awaits prognosis
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Executive order eases public meeting requirements
Thursday, April 16, 2020School boards can meet remotely, but they still must take public comments.
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Credit guidance for grades 9-11 mirrors recommendations for seniors
Thursday, April 16, 2020High school students’ progress will be partially judged by work done through distance learning – if students can be reached.
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OSBA Summer Board registration opens
Tuesday, April 14, 2020OSBA is considering the annual event’s programming in light of members’ coronavirus-affected needs.
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School leaders lower expectations for Student Success Act funds
Friday, April 10, 2020Less tax money will be available even as this year’s school disruptions create greater need for mental health programs and other education supports.
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OSBA webinar offers coronavirus-related education updates
Friday, April 10, 2020Tough economic times are ahead but Oregon has a financial cushion, the OSBA executive director says during a wide-ranging discussion.
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State softens emergency child care demand on schools
Thursday, April 9, 2020School districts still must make themselves available, but the need has been low.
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Elliott State Forest committee to meet by Zoom
Thursday, April 9, 2020The advisory group is working on a plan to decouple the forest from the Common School Fund.
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Governor closes Oregon schools for rest of academic year
Wednesday, April 8, 2020Educators receive senior graduation requirements on the same day they learn this year will be completed with distance learning.
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Schools face shortages of bags, serving containers and prepackaged foods
Monday, April 6, 2020With the shift nationwide to grab-and-go meals for children, food service suppliers are struggling to meet some demands.
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SAIF creates $10 million fund for coronavirus expenses
Friday, April 3, 2020School districts are eligible for money to support worker safety and prevent the COVID-19's spread.
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Scio educators restart school, with plan to learn as they go
Thursday, April 2, 2020Students received lessons again Wednesday morning as the district faces countless challenges, some still unseen.
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Scio family praises new distance learning approach at every level
Thursday, April 2, 2020The Nelson family includes a child in the high school, middle school and elementary school.
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Schools receive distance learning guidance
Tuesday, March 31, 2020A commitment to equity and a call for understanding permeate the Oregon Department of Education’s Distance Learning for All guidelines.
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ODE promises crucial supplemental learning guidance this weekend
Friday, March 27, 2020A Thursday email to school leaders clarifies the governor’s orders and says more answers are on the way.
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States plan distance learning while schools are closed
Friday, March 27, 2020States that are losing all or most of the end of the school year have set up continuing education and graduation requirements.
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Teacher Standards and Practices Commission eases license rules
Tuesday, March 24, 2020The agency is offering waivers and flexibility for current and potential educators affected by the coronavirus closures.
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Small business relief proposals include delaying tax that supports Student Success Act
Tuesday, March 24, 2020The Joint Special Committee on Coronavirus Response will offer legislative suggestions that include education-related proposals.
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School bond-matching program considers option for canceled May elections
Friday, March 20, 2020Eligible districts could shift their elections to November under an OSCIM program proposal.
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Student Success Act grant application rules loosened but due date unchanged
Friday, March 20, 2020The Oregon Department of Education will help school boards set up virtual meetings to satisfy approval requirements.
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State clarifies order that schools provide child care for emergency responders
Friday, March 20, 2020Districts are expected to care for children ages 0-12 as part of the requirements for keeping State School Fund money coming.
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Oregon Department of Education is considering federal assessment waivers, director says
Wednesday, March 18, 2020ODE expects to have more detailed guidance later this month on school closure issues.
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Oregon schools will be closed until at least April 28
Wednesday, March 18, 2020School leaders are putting together plans to continue learning opportunities during the extended shutdown.
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School closure length uncertain in face of new four-week state ban on large groups
Monday, March 16, 2020Gov. Kate Brown announced Monday that all gatherings larger than 25 people must be canceled, but she said the decision on schools’ status will come in a few days.
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Education leaders scramble to plan for hungry students and no school
Friday, March 13, 2020The abrupt closure of schools in the face of the coronavirus pandemic does not end many students’ need for meals.
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All Oregon schools closed until April 1
Friday, March 13, 2020Gov. Kate Brown responded Thursday night to the growing concerns about the coronavirus spread, but some schools were already planning extended closures to be safe.
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Gatherings larger than 250 people canceled until April 8
Thursday, March 12, 2020The governor recommended Thursday that schools stay open but that they call off all activities that would bring big groups of people together.
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Tiny house holds big dreams for Coos Bay students
Tuesday, March 10, 2020The district sees a self-sustaining program that motivates young people; students see their futures.
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Oregon School Lunch Week will celebrate benefits of nutrition programs
Tuesday, March 10, 2020School board members are encouraged to eat with students during April 6-10 and bring attention to school lunch programs.
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No need to close schools for coronavirus, health official advises
Thursday, March 5, 2020School leaders should consult with their local health agencies on best responses, health authorities say.
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Good communication fights spread of coronavirus fear, school leaders say
Wednesday, March 4, 2020COVID-19 is new, but Oregon schools have handled disease-related closures before.
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Stay up-to-date with the Oregon Department of Education's coronavirus resources page
Monday, March 2, 2020ODE's website contains the most recent information available on how the coronavirus is affecting schools in Oregon.
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Bus stops are part of school system, ODE declares
Thursday, February 27, 2020Colt Gill offers information to protect students’ and families’ rights in the wake of a parent being arrested by federal immigration agents.
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Schools asked to take precautions for disease outbreak
Thursday, February 27, 2020The new coronavirus does not seem to have reached Oregon yet, but school leaders should have their responses ready.
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Oregon schools are putting finishing touches on Student Success Act plans
Wednesday, February 26, 2020The grant application window opens March 2, and school leaders across Oregon have similar priorities and challenges.
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Student activists blossom in changing school climate
Tuesday, February 18, 2020Students who have been taught their voices matter are using those voices on local, national and world issues.
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Oregon economic report continues remarkable run
Wednesday, February 12, 2020The latest forecast presented to the Legislature shows strong state revenue numbers with few cautions.
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Inclusive practices reshape special education thinking
Monday, February 10, 2020Placing children with challenges in classrooms with their peers benefits all students but it also strains teachers and adds to staffing needs.
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Conference helps schools craft thorough plans, winning messages for bond campaigns
Friday, February 7, 2020The OSBA Bonds, Ballots and Buildings Conference emphasized learning from those who have been through the process.
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Student Success Act offers historic opportunities
Friday, February 7, 2020Oregon's school board members are looking at how the law's education investment can make a difference in their districts.
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Kindergartner assessments show little change from previous year
Thursday, February 6, 2020The Oregon Department of Education has released 2019-20 measures of incoming students’ foundational skills.
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Public education advocacy conference attendees make their case in Washington
Tuesday, February 4, 2020School board members from around the nation, including Oregon, focus on national and regional education issues.
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Funding opportunities open for early learning programs
Friday, January 31, 2020The Student Success Act provides resources to help all students prepare to enter the K-12 system.
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Frequent communication makes superintendent-school board relationship hum
Thursday, January 30, 2020District leaders agree on the importance of knowing their role and staying in their lanes.
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Clear expectations build new superintendent-school board relationships
Wednesday, January 29, 2020The good working relationship essential to school district success requires more than just finding a comfortable fit.
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PERS rates expected to dip
Tuesday, January 28, 2020Pension law reforms, helped by big 2019 investment returns, will push average employer rates down for 2021-23, according to the latest estimates.
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Time running out to register for Bonds, Ballots and Buildings Conference
Tuesday, January 28, 2020The information-packed event is only presented every other year.
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Scholarships available for students of color who want to be teachers
Tuesday, January 28, 2020The Oregon Teacher Scholars Program offers $5,000 per year for ethnically and linguistically diverse teacher candidates.
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Oregon School Board Member of the Year award recognizes dedication
Monday, January 27, 2020The nomination period is open for the annual honor showcasing the virtues that make school board members special.
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Oregon graduation rate reaches 80%
Thursday, January 23, 2020Data for 2018-19 show across-the-board improvement, with stronger-than-state-average gains for historically underserved students.
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Volunteers needed to review Student Success Act applications
Thursday, January 23, 2020The Oregon Department of Education wants to assemble public panels to review its staff’s work.
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Preliminary Student Success Act district grant amounts available
Tuesday, January 21, 2020The Oregon Department of Education will calculate final amounts by June based on 2019-20 student enrollment data.
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Legislators updated on Student Success Act implementation
Wednesday, January 15, 2020The sweeping education investment is still in its set-up phase as the Legislature prepares to open its short session.
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Roughly 221,000 additional Oregon students would like to be in afterschool programs, according to new report
Wednesday, January 15, 2020Afterschool programs help close achievement gaps but the state needs more, according to OregonASK
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Wednesday Academy expands class possibilities at smaller high school
Tuesday, January 14, 2020Jefferson High School has added dozens of learning opportunities for its 260 students through an unusual schedule.
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ODE encourages educators to revisit safe and inclusive school efforts
Monday, January 13, 2020Reports of harassment and discrimination are a reminder of schools’ legal duty to create welcoming learning environments.
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Adults sought for World Read Aloud Day
Friday, January 10, 2020The Feb. 5 event promotes and celebrates the academic and emotional benefits of adults reading books to children.
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Bonds, Ballots and Buildings Conference offers foundation for successful district campaigns
Tuesday, January 7, 2020The biennial sharing of bond campaign resources and guidance will be Feb. 7 in Salem.
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Student Success Act offers historic opportunities
Friday, February 7, 2020Oregon's school board members are looking at how the law's education investment can make a difference in their districts.
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New guidance lays out Student Success Act grant application process
Thursday, December 19, 2019The Oregon Department of Education’s comprehensive resource answers a multitude of school district questions.
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New year, new tax, new education possibilities
Thursday, December 19, 2019The driving engine of the Student Success Act’s public school investment, the corporate activity tax, kicks into gear Jan. 1.
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OSBA elections bring in fresh looks for education leadership
Tuesday, December 17, 2019The OSBA Board and the Legislative Policy Committee will bring together a new mix of school board experience when they meet again in 2020.
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‘Authentic learning’ puts emphasis on applied education
Tuesday, December 17, 2019Central Point School District integrates core subjects with projects to engage students and give lessons purpose.
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Community volunteer infuses class with meaning
Thursday, December 12, 2019Acclaimed guitar maker John Page lets Grants Pass students know someone cares about their education. (Part 2)
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Grants Pass guitar fabrication class hits all the right notes
Thursday, December 12, 2019Students learn science, technology, art and math along the way to building a cool and personal instrument. (Part 1)
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Elliott forest research proposal moves forward without answering education funding question
Wednesday, December 11, 2019OSU’s plan has broad support, but it doesn’t lay out how the state will compensate the Common School Fund for loss of timber revenues.
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Deadline approaches for OSBA voting
Monday, December 9, 2019OSBA members have until Friday to choose their regional representatives.
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Centennial tries later starts to improve attendance
Thursday, December 5, 2019Early reports indicate starting school 30 minutes later is helping students with more than just getting to school.
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PERS Board releases school district-specific advisory rates
Wednesday, December 4, 2019Actual rates will be dependent on how the retirement system’s investments do this year
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Oregon homeless student count increases 2%
Thursday, November 21, 2019Data released Thursday showed 22,215 K-12 students without ‘a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence’ during the 2019-19 school year.
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Personal touches help Creswell increase community engagement
Wednesday, November 20, 2019The Student Success Act requires school districts to ask all their communities what they want from their schools.
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Oregon economic report shows strong wage growth
Wednesday, November 20, 2019The quarterly analysis remains stable, but national recession worries continue to cloud projections.
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School board members celebrate opportunity to change Oregon education
Monday, November 18, 2019OSBA’s 73rd Annual Convention reveled in the Student Success Act’s passage while facing tough questions about equity, accountability and possibility.
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Community devotion earns Oregon School Board Member of the Year recognition
Monday, November 18, 2019Merle Comfort offers steady leadership and historical perspective for the La Grande and InterMountain ESD school boards.
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OSBA’s 73rd Annual Conference opens today
Friday, November 15, 2019Some board members and school district administrators got an early start Thursday with a preconference session on trauma-engaged practices.
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Oregon median class size remains 25 students, according to data released Thursday
Thursday, November 14, 2019The 2018-19 data show little change since this reporting method started in 2014-15.
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Student Success Act supercharges Measure 98 possibilities
Tuesday, November 12, 2019Full funding of the popular grants offers the first taste of the act’s generational education investment.
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Pizza oven offers ingredients for higher graduation rate
Wednesday, November 6, 2019North Bend High School’s culinary program cooks up hands-on learning opportunities, highlighted by a popular mobile wood-fired oven.
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Voters show appetite for education support
Wednesday, November 6, 2019Nearly all education bonds and levies passed Tuesday by mostly overwhelming margins.
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Voting period for OSBA positions opens Monday
Monday, November 4, 2019School boards have until Dec. 13 to pick regional representatives for the OSBA Board of Directors and the Legislative Policy Committee.
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Bonds, Ballots and Buildings Conference registration is open
Monday, November 4, 2019The biennial OSBA event offers a wealth of information on bond measure and local option levy campaigns and construction work.
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Peaceful Playgrounds replaces recess chaos with activity and fun
Wednesday, October 30, 2019Coos Bay elementary schools are organizing their playgrounds to increase student safety and engagement.
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La Grande superintendent joins Early Learning Council
Tuesday, October 29, 2019George Mendoza will help coordinate state early learning efforts, a priority of the Student Success Act.
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OSBA convention registration deadline draws close
Monday, October 28, 2019The 73rd Annual Convention offers a full slate of skills training, inspiration and networking opportunities; register by Nov. 1.
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Elliott forest plan paints sweeping research goals but is short on financing details
Thursday, October 24, 2019A public meeting Wednesday presented a mix of conservation efforts and production goals after decoupling the forest from the Common School Fund.
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New engagement toolkit includes Student Success Act application window
Thursday, October 17, 2019The Oregon Department of Education has updated its guidance for complying with grant requirements.
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Districts go beyond school meetings to engage their communities
Thursday, October 17, 2019Student Success Act and continuous improvement plan requirements push school districts to talk with historically underserved groups.
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Good absenteeism news in Oregon school and district report cards
Thursday, October 17, 2019The At-A-Glance profiles provide information on schools and districts that is easy to examine and compare.
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David Douglas aims to build relationships on a foundation of quick connections
Wednesday, October 16, 2019The school district has been awarded a $2.5 million grant to explore restorative practices.
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Leader named for state education equity office
Thursday, October 10, 2019Juan Carlos Chavez has taken over the Oregon Department of Education Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
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Corvallis hires therapists to weave mental health with education
Thursday, October 10, 2019The school district has assigned every elementary school a licensed clinician to provide support for students, teachers and families.
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OSBA is looking for policy-minded members for committee
Tuesday, October 8, 2019Regional positions on the Legislative Policy Committee offer a platform for local concerns.
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Student vision drives building design for new middle school
Monday, October 7, 2019Oregon City turned to its students when asking what an ideal learning environment should look like.
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Window open for seismic rehabilitation grants
Monday, October 7, 2019Public schools, community colleges and education service districts needing to improve buildings’ earthquake readiness can apply.
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We did it (but there is more to do) is message at OSBA Fall Regional Meetings
Thursday, October 3, 2019The annual gathering helps school board members get up to speed on Oregon legislation, including the historic Student Success Act.
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Using smaller high schools, Bend-La Pine reaches for students on the edges
Tuesday, October 1, 2019The district has opened two schools in a unique space to offer students better-fitting education options.
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OSBA convention offers early-bird registration discount
Friday, September 27, 2019The Nov. 14-17 gathering in downtown Portland offers a wealth of learning and networking opportunities.
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Advisory PERS school district rates show 1.5 percentage point increase
Friday, September 27, 2019Milliman released its early look at 2021-23 rates; official rates come out next summer that could benefit from soaring 2019 returns.
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Learning thrives in warm embrace of city-district partnership
Thursday, September 26, 2019Prineville recreation area development has provided a vehicle for student learning opportunities and community involvement.
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OSBA Fall Regional Meetings will explain Student Success Act road ahead
Tuesday, September 24, 2019OSBA staff will be touring the state, starting Oct. 2.
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Factory-built components answer some school districts’ building needs
Monday, September 23, 2019The modular components are nearly indistinguishable from traditional construction but come at a much lower price.
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OSBA Board picks officers; nominating period for other OSBA positions closes Friday
Monday, September 23, 2019The OSBA Board and Legislative Policy Committee offer the opportunity to shape OSBA’s work and Oregon’s education system.
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State assessment test scores fall
Thursday, September 19, 2019The 2018-19 Smarter Balanced tests showed a decline in nearly every grade level and student group for math and language arts but also showed greater participation.
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Education Northwest is seeking Oregon school board member
Tuesday, September 17, 2019Its board of directors brings together regional education leaders four times a year.
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New board member energy
Thursday, September 12, 2019School board members share what they hope to achieve with their districts.
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School boards’ Student Success Act role begins with homework
Wednesday, September 11, 2019Board members need to understand the law and talk with their communities now to make the most of the historic education investment.
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Preparation can lessen damage from ransomware attacks
Tuesday, September 10, 2019Malicious software that locks up data until the attacker is paid is on the rise, but school districts can take steps to protect themselves.
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OSBA simplifies planning for Student Success Act grant applications
Friday, September 6, 2019The community engagement work is starting now for nearly $500 million in grants next year, and OSBA is offering tools to help.
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ODE needs feedback on community engagement toolkit
Wednesday, September 4, 2019The Oregon Department of Education wants to update its Student Success Act resource before continuous improvement plans are due.
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Oregon plans $1.6 billion personal kicker while economic clouds gather on horizon
Wednesday, August 28, 2019Oregon economists present the September 2019 Economic and Revenue Outlook to legislators.
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Before school starts, Camp 9 develops confidence, important relationships for pivotal freshman year
Tuesday, August 27, 2019Redmond School District’s high school transition program pairs middle school and high school teachers to help students along.
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Scott Nine emphasizes local leadership in Student Success Act work
Wednesday, August 21, 2019Oregon has a generational opportunity for change, says Nine, head of the new Office of Education Innovation and Improvement.
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ODE creates engagement toolkit to guide Student Success Act work
Wednesday, August 21, 2019The Oregon Department of Education offers school leaders guidance for the grant application process.
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Sonja Mckenzie chosen for Multnomah OSBA Board position
Tuesday, August 20, 2019The Parkrose School Board member wants to help OSBA address equity issues.
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PERS sets up rules for $100 million in side-account matching funds
Tuesday, August 20, 2019School districts will be able to apply to have 25% of their deposits matched, potentially lowering 2021-23 rates.
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School board appointments put process in the spotlight
Thursday, August 15, 2019Changing student demographics drive demands for younger, more diverse school board voices.
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OSBA convention will celebrate Student Success Act while looking toward future
Tuesday, August 13, 2019Registration opens Aug. 13 for the November event with dozens of opportunities for learning, networking and inspiration.
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New board member energy
Thursday, August 8, 2019School board members share what they hope to achieve with their districts.
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School districts identified in expected PERS lawsuit
Thursday, August 8, 2019A long-awaited challenge to a public pension cost-containment bill would go straight to the Oregon Supreme Court.
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New law delivers tools to root predators out of schools
Thursday, August 8, 2019Senate Bill 155 clarifies rules and adds investigation requirements, making it easier to keep problem employees away from students.
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ODE webpage corrals Student Success Act information
Thursday, August 8, 2019The new page provides background on the law and will be updated as implementation rolls on.
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OSBA Board elections offer leadership roles as Student Success Act kicks off
Tuesday, August 6, 2019The nominating period opens Aug. 19 and voting begins in November.
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PERS ballot initiatives take next formal step
Friday, August 2, 2019Two proposals to lower employer costs have qualified for a 2020 ballot title but are still a long way from reality.
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PERS board favors stability, holds key rate-setting factor steady
Friday, July 26, 2019PERS staff are still working out the rules for Senate Bill 1049’s cost-containment provisions and side accounts.
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New board member energy
Thursday, July 25, 2019School board members share what they hope to achieve with their districts.
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Survey digs into student feelings that affect academic achievement
Thursday, July 25, 2019School leaders are using YouthTruth to plan programs and measure strategic progress.
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PERS recommendations would likely raise districts’ rates
Tuesday, July 23, 2019The PERS Board will consider Friday changing a key factor in setting payroll rates.
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Student Success Act dominates conversations at OSBA Summer Board Conference
Monday, July 22, 2019Gov. Kate Brown led cheers for the new law and exhorted school leaders to keep fighting for education issues.
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Student Success Act opponent drops ballot referral effort
Tuesday, July 16, 2019Oregon Manufacturers and Commerce sent an email that said it was unlikely repeal would be possible.
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Summer program builds foundational skills for struggling freshmen and sophomores
Tuesday, July 16, 2019McMinnville School District encourages students to improve math and science grades by becoming proficient in all the courses’ learning targets.
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Governor planning to attend OSBA conference in Bend
Thursday, July 11, 2019Gov. Kate Brown is expected at the Summer Board Conference, where school board members will be celebrating the historic passage of the Student Success Act.
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Big education investment comes with accountability demands for superintendents
Wednesday, July 10, 2019The Student Success Act provides districts with significant funding, but it includes requirements for community engagement and school board review.
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Senior Session pushes students across graduation finish line
Tuesday, July 2, 2019North Clackamas tries a special week of credit recovery for seniors during the school year.
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Historic legislative session added stable education funding, good policy bills
Monday, July 1, 2019Despite its acrimonious final days, the 80th Oregon Legislative Assembly ended Sunday as an unprecedented regular session success for education advocates.
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PERS reforms do not force contract renegotiations, OSBA concludes
Monday, July 1, 2019OSBA is advising school districts, community colleges and education service districts that a recently passed public pension reform law does not force contract renegotiations but that they must respond to demand letters sent by the Oregon School Employees Association.
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Leadership Institute offers important training during OSBA Summer Board Conference
Tuesday, June 25, 2019School board members can explore a wealth of OSBA Leadership Institute courses at the July 19-21 Summer Board Conference in Bend.
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Hillsboro Wellness Center classrooms teach students to handle strong emotions
Wednesday, June 19, 2019In 2016, Hillsboro opened Wellness Centers in six elementary schools with the most behavior problems.
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Health insurance cost containment bill heads to House for vote
Wednesday, June 5, 2019OSBA has joined with public worker and educator unions to support a health insurance cost containment bill.
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Legislature passes PERS cost containment that will save schools hundreds of millions of dollars
Thursday, May 30, 2019Senate Bill 1049, which passed the House on Thursday, will lower average statewide public employer rates an estimated 5.4 percentage points starting in 2021-23.
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Senate passes PERS cost containment bill, approves $9 billion State School Fund
Thursday, May 23, 2019Senate Bill 1049 would alter Public Employees Retirement System rules, lowering average employer rates about 5.4 percentage points. It would also decrease some public employee retirement benefits.
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PERS cost containment bill earns Senate vote
Tuesday, May 21, 2019An amended public pension cost containment bill rocketed through committees Tuesday and is headed to the Senate floor.
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Continuous Improvement Plan deadline moved to Nov. 1
Tuesday, May 21, 2019The Oregon Department of Education changed the deadline from its typical June 28 to accommodate new requirements under the Student Success Act, which includes money for district grants.
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Jubilant education supporters mark historic investment in schools
Monday, May 20, 2019The Student Success Act is the culmination of decades of work to lift Oregon’s stagnant education funding, and legislators, educators and advocates celebrated. Cheers, applause, smiles and a few tears filled a multipurpose room as speakers tried to capture just what the act could mean for Oregon.
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Historic billion-dollar education investment signed into law
Thursday, May 16, 2019Gov. Kate Brown signed the Student Success Act on Thursday morning, making official a historic investment in Oregon education.
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Oregon tax collections boom, creating historic kicker and possible PERS relief
Wednesday, May 15, 2019Tax collections surged in the first quarter, creating an unprecedented quarterly spike for Oregon and a record kicker.
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Employers, employees address proposals to curtail PERS cost increases
Wednesday, May 15, 2019The Legislature continued work Tuesday night on a promise implicit in passage of the Student Success Act: public pension cost containment.
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House passes $9 billion State School Fund as it slogs through growing backlog
Tuesday, May 14, 2019The Oregon House is adding sessions this week to work through a growing pile of bills.
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Student Success Act passes, promising $1 billion annually for education
Monday, May 13, 2019The Student Success Act, a historic investment in Oregon education, cleared the Senate on Monday, with a promise of Public Employees Retirement System cost containment attached.
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Legislature explores proposals to lower PERS rates
Friday, May 10, 2019Measures discussed Friday could lower statewide uncollared public pension rates by 6.33 percentage points, according to legislative testimony.
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District grant amounts under Student Success Act released
Friday, May 3, 2019The Legislative Revenue Office has calculated grant amounts for school districts if the Student Success Act passes.
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Star power shines light on Beaverton High students’ needs, dreams
Friday, May 3, 2019The halls and classrooms around the Beaverton High School stage were buzzing last week. For the second year in a row, Broadway singer Shoshana Bean was returning to her alma mater to raise money.
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Historic education investment bill passes House
Thursday, May 2, 2019The Oregon House passed a potentially transformative education investment Wednesday.
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Legislators say yes to additional $1 billion a year for education
Tuesday, April 30, 2019The Legislature took a big step Monday toward making a significant and stable investment in Oregon schools.
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Legislature proposes $9 billion State School Fund
Tuesday, April 30, 2019The Legislature is proposing a $9 billion State School Fund for 2019-21, with a little help from the Student Success Act.
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Bill would add school board members to child abuse mandatory reporter list
Wednesday, April 24, 2019Most public roles that include contact with children, including state legislator, are on Oregon’s list of mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse – but not school board members.
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PACE Day delivers opportunities to learn about school safety
Thursday, April 18, 2019PACE held a reconfigured day of networking and learning Thursday at the Salem Convention Center.
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Brown proposes sweeping investment plan to stabilize schools’ PERS rates
Friday, April 12, 2019Gov. Kate Brown proposed Friday creating a more than $2.5 billion side account to stabilize school district pension rates at 2019-21 levels.
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Revenue plan revealed during show of support for Student Success Committee’s work
Friday, April 12, 2019Dozens of students, parents and educators praised legislators Thursday night for their work to increase school investments and, often in emotional testimony, pleaded with them to do even more.
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Education-dedicated revenue plan coming this week, legislators say
Tuesday, April 9, 2019Legislators expect to choose a proposal this week to bring in $1 billion more a year in revenue dedicated to education.
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Workshops, student performers needed for OSBA’s Annual Conference
Tuesday, April 9, 2019OSBA is seeking interesting workshops and diverse student entertainment for its 73rd Annual Convention.
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More details emerge on Student Success Act, including possible tax structure
Friday, April 5, 2019The Joint Committee on Student Success leaders unveiled a detailed draft Thursday of their plans for roughly $2 billion a biennium in education investment.
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Student Success Act would emphasize early learning, student health and equity programs
Thursday, April 4, 2019Legislative leaders unveiled their ideas Thursday for the long-awaited Student Success Act, an overarching Oregon education investment plan.
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Pilot program teaches teens first aid for mental health emergencies
Wednesday, April 3, 2019Mental Health First Aid is a first-step approach to addressing Oregon students’ mental health needs, and the training also deals with addiction, stress and other issues.
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OSBA Summer Board registration begins Friday
Monday, April 1, 2019Online registration opens Friday for OSBA’s Summer Board Conference 2019.
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Students open Capitol eyes to real effects of school budget decisions
Tuesday, March 19, 2019Classes too crowded for learning. Students in desperate need of counseling support. The Legislature’s school funding proposal would have devastating real-world impacts, Coquille students and parents told the governor in an emotional meeting Tuesday.
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School board election filing deadline is Thursday
Monday, March 18, 2019The filing period closes Thursday to become a school board candidate in the May election.
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Legislators kick around bucket ideas for new education funding
Friday, March 15, 2019The Joint Committee on Student Success has begun putting some meat on the bones of its education ideas.
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Accountability debate swirls around Capitol’s school funding plans
Tuesday, March 12, 2019Legislators want to be able to show spending-averse colleagues and voters that new education investments will pay off in improved results.
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School board members discuss benefits of diverse school leadership
Monday, March 11, 2019Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus officers held a Friday Forum conversation about why schools need diverse leadership. They talked of the importance of having more voices with different experiences and backgrounds to make education decisions that benefit all students.
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Legislature’s State School Fund proposal falls short of governor’s budget
Thursday, March 7, 2019The Legislature is starting the State School Fund debate at $8.87 billion, $100 million less than Gov. Kate Brown proposed in November.
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Education advocates share real-world consequences of legislators’ school funding decisions
Thursday, March 7, 2019School advocates packed a hearing room Thursday to tell legislators to adequately fund Oregon’s K-12 programs.
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State School Fund discussion heats up, with opportunities for public to weigh in
Tuesday, March 5, 2019Although the latest Oregon economic report showed better-than-predicted state revenue growth, education officials are worried legislators are preparing to propose a state K-12 public schools budget that will lead to education cuts.
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March 8 forum will promote diversity of school board membership
Thursday, February 28, 2019Oregon school board members will discuss “The Importance of Diverse Leadership in Education” on March 8 at the City Club of Portland.
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Forecasters predict big kicker as school funding decisions loom
Wednesday, February 27, 2019Economic forecasters set the foundation Wednesday for school funding decisions in the 2019 Legislature.
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2018-19 kindergarten assessment shows need for quality early learning
Thursday, February 14, 2019This year’s assessments of kindergartners’ readiness for school fell slightly from the previous school year, according to data released Thursday.
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First 2019 Lobby Day delivers personal messages of education funding needs
Wednesday, February 13, 2019School board members, administrators and parents personally took the school funding message to legislators Tuesday during the first of OSBA’s Oregonians for Student Success Lobby Days.
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Well-intentioned ‘lunch shaming’ law undercuts Oregon school budgets
Monday, February 11, 2019A 2017 law, designed to ensure that students aren’t stigmatized about being able to afford nutritious meals, has had a giant unforeseen consequence here and across Oregon: soaring unpaid meal balances.
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School boards adopt resolution supporting education funding, but more voices needed
Monday, February 11, 2019More than 20 Oregon school boards have passed a resolution urging legislators to adequately and sustainably fund schools, but education advocates say more are needed.
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Lobby days bring education’s most pressing issues into Capitol
Wednesday, January 30, 2019OSBA’s first School Funding Lobby Day is Feb. 12
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Oregon congressional delegation wants to hear real education stories, OSBA Board president says
Tuesday, January 29, 2019Oregon school board members took pressing education issues directly to the state’s congressional delegation Tuesday.
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Advocacy Institute sharpens school board members’ legislative efforts
Thursday, January 24, 2019Members of OSBA’s staff, Board, Legislative Policy Committee and Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus will join education advocates from around the country for the 2019 Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C.
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Student Success Committee report focuses on need for stable and adequate funding
Thursday, January 24, 2019The long-awaited Joint Committee on Student Success report repeatedly calls attention to the need for stable and adequate funding with some sort of accountability.
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Oregon remains at bottom of state graduation rate data for 2016-17
Thursday, January 24, 2019Despite steady improvement, Oregon had the second worst graduation rate among states for 2016-17, according to data released Thursday morning.
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Oregon graduation rate improves to 78.7 percent
Thursday, January 24, 2019A 2 percentage-point increase for 2017-18 graduation rates continued Oregon’s steady improvement, but the 78.7 percent graduation rate remains far below what education advocates want for Oregon’s children.
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Revenue Reform and Schools
Thursday, January 24, 2019How should the Legislature fix the public education funding system?
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Nominating period opens for 2019 Oregon School Board Member of the Year
Tuesday, January 22, 2019OSBA is taking nominations for the 2019 Oregon School Board Member of the Year.
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Big revenue reform, education ideas not among early crush of proposed bills
Friday, January 18, 2019The 80th Legislative Assembly will open Tuesday with hundreds of bills already filed, but the blockbuster bills on revenue reform and education are still to be seen.
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Oregonians for Student Success website channels call for education investment
Wednesday, January 16, 2019The advocacy campaign supports outreach to legislators to improve the K-12 school system
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Get on Board campaign seeks community members who care about schools
Wednesday, January 16, 2019OSBA has launched its 2019 Get on Board campaign.
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Brown declares need for education investment during State of the State address
Tuesday, January 15, 2019“Our education system is in desperate need of repair, reform and reinvestment,” Gov. Kate Brown said Monday during her State of the State address.
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Town hall offers information, tools to advocate for education funding
Friday, January 11, 2019Education advocates voiced concerns over statewide mandates, local program needs and more at OSBA’s first school funding town hall.
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School board resolution signals need for improved school funding
Wednesday, January 9, 2019OSBA is asking school boards to pass a resolution to support a school-funding campaign
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Town hall series will bring campaign for education funding to Pendleton
Thursday, January 3, 2019The the first in a series of town halls running through March is part of “Oregonians for Student Success,” an OSBA campaign for adequate and stable state K-12 school funding.
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Revenue Reform and Schools
Thursday, January 24, 2019How should the Legislature fix the public education funding system?
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Legislative assignments put school board members in thick of education funding
Thursday, December 20, 2018With revenue reform and education funding shaping up as 2019’s driving legislative issues, the committee assignments released Thursday reveal who will be steering policy.
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OSBA members approve voting position for Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus
Wednesday, December 19, 2018OSBA member boards approved giving the Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus an OSBA Board voting position.
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OSBA town halls will support advocacy for education funding
Wednesday, December 19, 2018Starting Jan. 10 in Pendleton, OSBA will host a series of evening town halls as part of “Oregonians for Student Success,” a campaign for adequate and stable Oregon K-12 school funding.
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State Land Board to look at turning Elliott into OSU-run research forest
Tuesday, December 18, 2018The State Land Board wants to see more of an Oregon State University plan to develop the Elliott State Forest as a research forest.
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School board service gives legislators unique perspective on funding needs
Friday, December 14, 2018Four state legislators in 2019 will be pulling double duty as school board members.
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Estimate puts potential $3.5 billion price tag on Student Success Committee’s goals
Friday, December 14, 2018The Joint Interim Committee on Student Success learned the potential bill for its education wish list Thursday night – over $3.5 billion.
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January dedicated to recognizing school board superheroes
Monday, December 10, 2018January is School Board Recognition Month, a time to thank unpaid school board members for their long hours in service of Oregon’s children.
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OSBA election cycle nears voting deadline
Tuesday, December 4, 2018School boards’ ballots for the OSBA elections are due Dec. 14.
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Business plan envisions new business tax combined with state cost cuts to benefit education
Tuesday, December 4, 2018Panelists and presenters at the 16th Oregon Leadership Summit on Monday spoke passionately about the need for increased education spending for children, for Oregon’s future and for the good of Oregon businesses.
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Statewide Report Card compiles school system’s successes, failings and needs
Friday, November 30, 2018Oregon’s Statewide Report Card 2017-2018 is available.
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Revenue Reform and Schools
Thursday, January 24, 2019How should the Legislature fix the public education funding system?
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Governor’s budget protects status quo while aspiring for additional $1.3 billion for education
Thursday, November 29, 2018Gov. Kate Brown offered two budget approaches Wednesday: an education status-quo budget based on current revenue and an investment budget that adds nearly $1.3 billion for early learning and K-12 education with as-yet-unnamed revenue.
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Brown budgets nearly $9 billion for school funding but will seek additional education investment
Wednesday, November 28, 2018Gov. Kate Brown proposed nearly $9 billion in 2019-21 baseline school funding in her budget released Wednesday morning, with an additional $1.9 billion in education investment proposals that don’t have revenue support yet.
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ODE webpage offers tools for helping undocumented students
Tuesday, November 27, 2018The Oregon Department of Education website presents information in English and Spanish on students’ rights, higher education access and support services.
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Business leaders emphasize cutting benefit costs to reach education funding goals
Monday, November 26, 2018Oregon business leaders say they support revenue reform for education provided that any deal contains cost containment measures.
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Homeless student numbers declined for first time since 2012-13, according to new data
Thursday, November 15, 2018The number of Oregon homeless students dropped more than 750 for 2017-18, according to Oregon Department of Education data.
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OSBA’s ‘Promise of Oregon’ video shows need for revenue reform to fund education
Tuesday, November 13, 2018OSBA has released a “A Time to Listen,” a potent documentary on Oregon’s chronic education funding problem and the legislative drive for a solution.
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Economic and revenue forecast that guides state budget talks shows strong gains
Wednesday, November 14, 2018The Oregon economy looks solid for the next biennium but causes for concern remain on the horizon, state economists told legislators.
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OSBA convention adds urgency to call for revenue reform
Monday, November 12, 2018OSBA’s 72nd Annual Convention offered a clear message: Oregon needs revenue reform for education, the time to act is now and our children deserve it. All of them.
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Beaverton’s Anne Bryan named initial Oregon School Board Member of the Year
Monday, November 12, 2018Bryan credits community support, district staff and her fellow board members for the school board’s successes.
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Student Success Committee work groups release policy recommendations
Wednesday, November 7, 2018Months of public hearings have led the Joint Interim Committee on Student Success to develop education policy recommendations that range from increased early childhood support and learning to dropout prevention and educator support.
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Brown earns four more years to improve education, but her vision will call for more money
Wednesday, November 7, 2018Brown offered a vison of a “seamless system of education from cradle to career” that includes more state-supported preschool spots, a 180-day school year, smaller class sizes in K-3, more equity-related support services and fully funding Measure 98.
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More than half of school bonds and all school local option levies pass
Wednesday, November 7, 2018Voters around the state passed 6 of 11 school construction bonds and all three school local option levies.
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Members’ message to OSBA: Revenue reform remains the top priority
Wednesday, October 31, 2018Polling during OSBA’s Fall Regional meetings this year showed strong support for revenue reform to increase Oregon education funding.
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OSBA election includes adding Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus voting seat
Tuesday, October 30, 2018OSBA election season kicks into high gear in November with the opening of member board voting. In addition to voting for OSBA Board of Directors seats, members will face two resolutions.
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Quality Education Model sets bar, but state needs revenue reform to reach it
Monday, October 29, 2018The nonpartisan Quality Education Commission maintains that it’s the Legislature’s responsibility to provide more money for schools.
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Oregon chronic absenteeism rate climbs to 20.5 percent, according to 2017-18 state report
Friday, October 26, 2018Research shows regular attendance is an indicator for student success and graduation.
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Trusted community member helps improve North Marion attendance
Thursday, October 25, 2018As family outreach coordinator, Rafael Pelaez uses daily contacts to combat the North Marion School District’s attendance challenges, particularly with minority students.
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Revenue Reform and Schools
Thursday, January 24, 2019How should the Legislature fix the public education funding system?
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Oregon opens website with school and district report cards after outcry
Wednesday, October 24, 2018Typically, the report cards are made public in October, but ODE recently announced plans to release the reports Nov. 15, after the election.
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Advocacy Preconference will give education leaders the levers to move policy
Tuesday, October 23, 2018OSBA’s Nov. 8 Advocacy Preconference will offer valuable tools and insights to help school board members and administrators engage their communities and advocate in the Capitol.
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ODE debuts ‘Every Day Matters’ campaign targeting chronic absenteeism
Tuesday, October 23, 2018New campaign highlights the importance of regular student attendance and promotes community engagement with local school districts.
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Lincoln County candidates will take questions tonight in Newport
Tuesday, October 23, 2018Election season provides an important opportunity for education advocates to determine where candidates stand.
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Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce invites candidates to forum tonight
Monday, October 22, 2018Our students need lawmakers who understand why we should be investing more in young people.
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Colt Gill will join Thursday town hall on disrupted learning
Monday, October 22, 2018The Oregon Education Association is hosting a series of town halls around the state on how students’ unmet needs are affecting schools.
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Forums tonight in Beaverton and Sunday in Cloverdale cover four House races
Thursday, October 18, 2018Election season provides an important opportunity for education advocates to determine where candidates stand on the need to fund K-12 schools to the Quality Education Model.
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State wants public’s opinions on removing Elliott State Forest from public school support
Wednesday, October 17, 2018The Department of State Lands is working to decouple the land from the Common School Fund while retaining public ownership to protect sensitive habitat areas.
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West Linn High students will hold candidates forum tonight
Wednesday, October 17, 2018The school’s Lobby Club has invited Senate District 19 and House District 37 candidates.
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Candidate forums tonight explore three state House races
Tuesday, October 16, 2018Forums give the public a chance to learn candidates’ positions on the issues.
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House District 53 forum at noon today at Deschutes Public Library
Friday, October 12, 2018Election season provides an important opportunity for education advocates to determine where candidates stand on the need to fund K-12 schools.
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Candidates for southern Oregon Senate seat will make case tonight in Ashland
Thursday, October 11, 2018Candidates for Senate District 3 will take questions at 7 tonight in Ashland.
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House District 37 candidate will take questions tonight in Tualatin
Wednesday, October 10, 2018“Our students need lawmakers who understand why we should be investing more in young people,” says OSBA Executive Director Jim Green.
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Final governor’s debate welcomes public’s video questions
Tuesday, October 9, 2018In the two debates last week, education funding and the K-12 public school system were dominant issues.
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Candidate forums tonight, Saturday invite public participation
Friday, October 5, 2018Election season provides an important opportunity for education advocates to determine where candidates stand on the need to fund K-12 schools.
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Gubernatorial debate in Medford tonight welcomes public’s questions
Thursday, October 4, 2018Public school advocates can submit their questions on the KOBI website.
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PERS individual employer rates show another significant increase
Wednesday, October 3, 2018The Public Employees Retirement System Board has posted individual employer rate summaries for 2019-21.
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Gubernatorial candidates agree Oregon schools need more funding, services
Wednesday, October 3, 2018The Oregon gubernatorial candidates’ answers Tuesday night in Portland returned again and again to the need for more programs offered by better-funded public schools but not how to achieve that.
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Oregon legislative candidate forum tonight in Corvallis
Wednesday, October 3, 2018A legislative candidate forum focused on health care will be at 7 tonight at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library.
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Application period opens for Brady grant for needy students
Tuesday, October 2, 2018The grants offer $25 per student for clothing, medical services related to hearing and vision, or school supplies.
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First gubernatorial debate tonight, features student questions
Tuesday, October 2, 2018Gov. Kate Brown (D), Rep. Knute Buehler (R) and Patrick Starnes (I) will face questions from more than a dozen young people, ranging in age from 12 to 19.
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Senator says he will introduce bill to fund Quality Education Model
Friday, September 28, 2018Sen. Tim Knopp, Joint Interim Committee on Student Success vice-chair, said reaching the funding level he believes schools deserve will require changes.
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Revenue Reform and Schools
Thursday, January 24, 2019How should the Legislature fix the public education funding system?
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Tribal project’s family advocates help students connect with school, improve attendance
Thursday, September 27, 2018Oregon has the fourth-highest state-average rate of chronic absenteeism.
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The State Board of Education adds flexibility to its instructional hours rules
Monday, September 24, 2018The State Board of Education has created district-sought instructional hours exemptions for alternative education programs and students on track to graduate.
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New Fall Regional format reveals members’ support for revenue reform
Friday, September 21, 2018OSBA should focus on revenue reform and press the Legislature to fund to the Quality Education Model, school board members and administrators told OSBA staff at the Fall Regional meeting in Hillsboro.
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Early registration discount for OSBA’s 72nd Annual Convention will end Oct. 5
Wednesday, September 19, 2018The Nov. 8-11 convention will focus on revenue reform advocacy in 2019 and honoring Oregon’s education promise to students.
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OSBA Board forwards caucus voting seat issue to members
Monday, September 17, 2018Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus's co-presidents say providing the caucus a voting seat would allow its members to advocate better for children of color at the state and national levels.
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Student Success Committee tour adds school safety and student health roundtables
Friday, September 14, 2018The Joint Interim Committee on Student Success added safety and health roundtables to its usual program of facility tours, student listening sessions, education and community leader roundtables, and public hearings.
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OSBA’s Fall Regional meetings begin Sept. 13, featuring slightly different format
Wednesday, September 12, 2018The meetings will focus heavily on OSBA’s revenue reform and cost containment effort, which includes polling, grass-roots advocacy and a legislative campaign.
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Second Home gives homeless students stability, chance to graduate
Tuesday, September 11, 2018Oregon has the fourth-highest state student homeless rate.
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Revenue Reform and Schools
Thursday, January 24, 2019How should the Legislature fix the public education funding system?
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Oregon economic forecast includes kicker, possibility of 2020 recession
Wednesday, August 29, 2018Oregon growth is exceeding expectations, but there are trouble signs on the horizon.
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When school year starts, students aren’t only ones counting the days ahead
Tuesday, August 28, 2018As most Oregon students start school this week and next, they face some of the shortest school calendars in the country, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.
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Governor’s education agenda lays out need for investments in school improvements
Monday, August 27, 2018Gov. Kate Brown’s education policy agenda, released Monday, calls for prioritizing investments to improve schools.
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Baker SD: Northeast Oregon schools face shortage of sports officials
Monday, August 27, 2018A sports officials shortage has gotten so bad that schools are being forced to reschedule games, according to a Baker School District story.
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OSBA updates Janus guidance for union members’ dues authorization
Monday, August 27, 2018OSBA Labor Services has updated its Janus guidance to clarify signature requirements for dues deductions.
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OSBA’s Fall Regional meetings, beginning Sept. 13, will focus on revenue reform efforts
Tuesday, August 21, 2018OSBA’s Fall Regional meetings, held in 21 locations around the state, will emphasize advocacy efforts for revenue reform, cost containment and accountability to fix Oregon’s education funding problem.
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Agriculture Department offers pest control checklists to help schools comply with law
Tuesday, August 21, 2018Oregon law sets minimum standards for safe usage of weed killers, insect killers, rodent bait, repellents and other pesticides.
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OSBA Board creates nonvoting position for Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus
Monday, August 13, 2018The OSBA Board supports efforts to increase the diversity of school boards and educators and to help underserved student populations.
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OSBA, business and government groups seek information to guide PERS reforms
Friday, August 10, 2018OSBA has joined business and government employer groups in asking the Public Employees Retirement System to analyze various reform proposals designed to lower costs.
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OSBA elections season includes new regional positions on board, Legislative Policy Committee
Tuesday, August 7, 2018The OSBA Board of Directors and Legislative Policy Committee currently have 19 members each, representing 14 regions.
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OSBA convention will emphasize need for revenue reform to fulfill Oregon’s education promise
Tuesday, August 7, 2018This is your opportunity to rally around the issue that our members have told us is their main concern: revenue reform to ensure stable, adequate and equitable funding for our schools.
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Oregon education funding lags other states, Quality Education Model reports
Thursday, August 2, 2018Education funding in Oregon is about 9 percent below the national average.
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Oregon’s revenue system fails school funding, Quality Education Commission report says
Wednesday, August 1, 2018The biennial Quality Education Model is the gold standard of Oregon public education goals, but the Legislature has never met its funding targets.
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Forecast5 puts more useful information at staff’s fingertips, Oregon districts say
Thursday, July 26, 2018OSBA is investing $1.5 million over three years to subsidize Forecast5 for all Oregon school districts.
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New ‘Promise’ video shows how N. Clackamas program promotes graduation
Monday, July 23, 2018The new video shows how the North Clackamas School District’s career and technical education program is helping lift graduation rates.
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OSBA conference emphasizes push for revenue reform, cost containment
Monday, July 23, 2018OSBA leadership opened the weekend’s Summer Board Conference with a determined call for education funding reform by the 2019 Legislature.
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SafeOregon tallies its efforts to disrupt threats to students
Thursday, July 19, 2018SafeOregon recorded 1410 tips about possible student dangers over a one-year period
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OSBA updates Janus ruling guidance
Monday, July 30, 2018NEW INFO ADDED! Guidance for all OSBA member districts regarding Janus v AFSCME.
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New work groups begin focusing Joint Interim Committee on Student Success’ efforts
Thursday, July 12, 2018Three work groups (Students Ready and Able to Learn, College and Career Ready, and High Quality Classrooms) will create a handful of education policy goals by Aug. 1.
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Unexpectedly steep increases in construction expenses strain bond plans
Monday, July 9, 2018Districts are finding ways to trim costs while still fulfilling pledges to taxpayers.
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OSBA Janus v AFSCME guidance (UPDATED 6/28/18 at 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, June 28, 2018NEW INFO ADDED! Guidance for all OSBA member districts regarding Janus v AFSCME.
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Umatilla principal named OSSA 2018 Administrator of the Year
Wednesday, June 27, 2018Umatilla High Principal Bob Lorence has worked in Umatilla schools for 27 years.
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OSBA Board approves $3 million for revenue-reform effort, data analysis
Monday, June 25, 2018Campaign is aimed at creating sustainable funding solution during 2019 session
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OSBA Summer Board Conference features illuminating Leadership Institute workshops
Friday, June 22, 2018The Leadership Institute program ranges from classes on basic responsibilities and policy to courses on topics such as effective board-superintendent partnerships.
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OSBA model handbooks and calendars available for 2018-19
Wednesday, June 13, 2018Handbooks are crucial to the communication between the district and students, parents and staff.
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Baker student blazes trail with heavy equipment simulators
Tuesday, June 12, 2018Baker High School senior conducts heavy equipment operation training at Baker Technical Institute.
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OSBA will award $5,000 scholarship checks to three school boards
Friday, June 8, 2018Mt. Angel, Yamhill Carlton and Athena-Weston boards qualified for the funds under OSBA's Promise Scholarship Program.
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McMinnville High senior wins $1,000 scholarship by expressing his GRADitude
Monday, June 4, 2018Daniel Lobatos will be the first person in his immediate family to attend college.
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School gardens teach math, science and the delights of fresh fruit and vegetables
Monday, June 4, 2018Garden-based education improves science, math and language arts learning, according to a review of education research.
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Nestlé donation bolsters Salem-Keizer water emergency response
Thursday, May 31, 2018Nestlé donated approximatedly 70,000 bottles of water to Salem-Keizer Public Schools.
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Woodburn offers improvement example for Joint Interim Committee on Student Success
Friday, May 25, 2018Woodburn School District instituted a K-12 dual-language program and International Baccalaureate program and broke the large high school into four smaller schools.
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June revenue forecast shows tax kicker possibility
Wednesday, May 23, 2018Jobs, income and gross domestic product are improving and there is little chance of a recession, Oregon state economist Mark McMullen told legislators.
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Bend-La Pine School Board encourages mental health support for all students
Wednesday, May 23, 2018A growing body of research shows that negative childhood experiences affect brain chemistry and development, hindering students’ ability to learn.
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Bond results mixed, all four school option levies pass
Wednesday, May 16, 2018Voters approved half of school construction bonds statewide – four bonds passed and four were defeated.
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Education spending discussion dominates Student Success Committee roundtable
Thursday, May 10, 2018Joint Interim Committee on Student Success visited the North Clackamas School District, southeast of Portland, on Wednesday.
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Kotek will join Student Success Committee for North Clackamas School District tour
Monday, May 7, 2018Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek will join the Joint Interim Committee on Student Success’ visit to the North Clackamas School District on Wednesday.
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Educator Advancement Council names school board representative
Wednesday, May 2, 2018The Educator Advancement Council has appointed Bill Graupp as its school board representative. Graupp is the North Marion School Board vice chair.
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OSBA Legislative Policy Committee will keep focus on revenue reform, cost containment
Monday, April 30, 2018The OSBA Legislative Policy Committee reaffirmed over the weekend OSBA’s commitment to revenue reform and cost containment.
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New law will help rural schools pay for high-speed internet access
Friday, April 27, 2018House Bill 4023 establishes the Connecting Oregon Schools Fund to provide matching money for federal dollars that school districts spend on internet infrastructure in underserved communities.
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Student Success Committee peering at education from every angle
Thursday, April 26, 2018The bipartisan committee is traveling Oregon to gather ideas for a legislative plan to adequately fund K-12 public schools while improving Oregon education.
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Student Success Committee listens to business leaders, school board members and others
Wednesday, April 25, 2018Eastern Oregon business leaders tell state legislators that schools should better prepare students for work through vocational programs and social-emotional development.
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Oregon TELL survey includes record number of respondents
Monday, April 23, 2018The 2018 Teaching, Empowering, Leading, and Learning Survey, conducted every two years, gathered input from educators in eight categories.
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Students walk out of schools for protests at Capitol
Friday, April 20, 2018About three dozen Oregon schools, mostly in the Willamette Valley, registered events with the #NationalSchoolWalkout website.
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Three Oregon schools earn wellness awards
Friday, April 20, 2018There is clear data that student health and student learning are connected.
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PACE Day delivers more opportunities to learn about school safety issues
Thursday, April 19, 2018Sessions included limiting athletic liability, preventing sports-related bullying, navigating Title IX, responding to crises and avoiding employment lawsuits.
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Umatilla uses clubs, sports and activities to keep students connected
Wednesday, April 18, 2018Part of Umatilla’s strategy to raise graduation rates is to get students involved with clubs, activities and sports any way possible so they stay connected to school.
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Wrap-around social services help Umatilla students keep focus on graduating
Tuesday, April 17, 2018Umatilla augments academic interventions with a variety of nonacademic supports, from picking up students for school to providing lice treatment.
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Umatilla fosters culture of success to inspire students and promote graduation
Monday, April 16, 2018Umatilla bombards its students with messages about what success looks like and how to get there.
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Nominations sought for State Board of Education student position
Monday, April 16, 2018Superintendents, principals and high school counselors can nominate students to be an adviser on the State Board of Education.
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OSBA to award Redmond $5,000 for student scholarships
Friday, April 6, 2018As part of the Promise Scholarship Program, OSBA will present a $5,000 check Wednesday to the Redmond School Board for student scholarships..
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OSBA’s Summer Board Conference registration opens
Friday, April 6, 2018The July 20-22 conference in Bend will help school board members tackle education issues and lead the change their communities need.
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Oregon Department of Education releases special education report cards
Wednesday, April 4, 2018Report card data include early intervention efforts, academic participation, graduation rates and parent survey results.
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Calls for funding programs dominate Student Success Committee hearings
Friday, March 23, 2018School board members, students, parents, business leaders, community members, school administrators and other education advocates told legislators about successful programs that needed more support and areas where schools must do more.
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Student Success Committee announces statewide tour schedule
Wednesday, March 21, 2018The Joint Interim Committee on Student Success announced Wednesday 10 meeting dates and locations for 2018.
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Career pathways help North Clackamas students find routes to success
Wednesday, March 21, 2018North Clackamas School District officials credit an extensive career and technical education program for helping raise graduation rates.
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Focus on equity helps North Clackamas close achievement gap
Tuesday, March 20, 2018Overall, 83.7 percent of underserved races and ethnicities at North Clackamas graduated in four years.
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Student Success Committee will hold public meeting Thursday in Eugene
Friday, March 16, 2018The committee is working to create a plan to improve Oregon K-12 public education and to provide adequate funding.
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Wyden adds support for more federal special education funding
Thursday, March 15, 2018U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) announced Wednesday he is co-sponsoring legislation to increase federal funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
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Oregon students send message: They want safer schools
Wednesday, March 14, 2018At 10 a.m. Wednesday, hundreds of students streamed out of Portland’s David Douglas High School and gathered under a blue sky and the cherry blossoms, part of a day of student protests.
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Students plan peaceful but passionate walkouts for Wednesday
Friday, March 9, 2018The Feb. 14 Parkland, Florida, school shooting has stirred up a conversation in Oregon that students say isn’t going away.
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SafeOregon tip line getting more use with heightened safety concerns
Thursday, March 8, 2018SafeOregon, a statewide program started in January 2017, allows students, staff or the public to anonymously report potential threats for intervention before tragedy strikes.
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Wide-ranging student-led survey examines Oregon’s high schools
Tuesday, March 6, 2018Oregon Student Voice released a report that looks at Oregon’s high schools through students’ eyes.
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PACE plans free webinar Tuesday on student protest rights
Friday, March 2, 2018In response to events stemming from the Parkland, Florida, school shooting, Property and Casualty Coverage for Education is offering a free webinar about “Student Rights Regarding Walkouts and Other Protests.”
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OSBA, NSBA offer guidance for student walkouts, protests
Wednesday, February 28, 2018OSBA has prepared answers to frequently asked questions about schools’ responsibilities and students’ rights.
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Hearing on class-size negotiations bill raises school funding questions
Wednesday, February 28, 2018House Bill 4113 has likely had its last gasp this session.
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House passes class-size negotiations bill after passionate debate
Tuesday, February 20, 2018The House approved a class-size negotiations bill 33-25 on Tuesday after a debate that relied heavily on legislators’ experiences as teachers and school board members.
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Committee will look at safety and equity issues in Oregon schools
Tuesday, February 20, 2018The Oregon deputy superintendent of public instruction announced Tuesday the creation of the Advisory Committee on Safe and Effective Schools for All Students.
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Upheavals make Oregon revenue difficult to predict, economists tell legislators
Friday, February 16, 2018The 2017-19 general fund forecast is up $145 million since the 2017 close of session forecast, according to the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis quarterly report.
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Bill that would force negotiations over class size moves to House floor
Thursday, February 15, 2018House Bill 4113 would make class size a “mandatory” subject in collective bargaining, meaning teachers could strike if they couldn’t come to agreement with districts on class sizes.
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Trust-land money for schools fell in 2017, report says
Tuesday, February 13, 2018Oregon forestland income for schools fell 87 percent in 2017, largely because Elliott State Forest timber sales ended.
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Bonds conference offers tools and tips to win over voters
Monday, February 12, 2018Attendees at OSBA's Bonds, Ballots and Buildings Conference learned about topics ranging from bond basics to school architectural trends to election law.
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Oregon needs to fix its school system, education advocates tell legislators
Friday, February 9, 2018The Joint Committee on Student Success heard Friday from business representatives, educators, statewide agencies and students about what schools are doing right and what they need to do.
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Willamette High student helps create bill to encourage organ donation
Thursday, February 8, 2018Jarod Doerner, in his Boy Scout uniform, appeared Monday before the House Health Care Committee. His voice was heard because he received a donated heart three years ago.
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Class-size negotiations bill sets up conflict over potential costs
Wednesday, February 7, 2018House Bill 4113 would make class size a “mandatory” subject in collective bargaining discussions.
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OSBA representatives discuss Oregon education issues with congressional members
Wednesday, February 7, 2018Members of OSBA’s staff, Board of Directors and Legislative Policy Committee joined education advocates from around the country for three days of workshops, symposiums and networking.
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Class-size bill would increase costs without necessarily helping students, administrators say
Monday, February 5, 2018House Bill 4113 would make class size a mandatory part of collective bargaining and could create a financial and logistical nightmare for school districts.
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OSBA seeking Clackamas representative for policy committee
Friday, February 2, 2018The Legislative Policy Committee studies Oregon education issues to help guide OSBA’s legislative policies and priorities.
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OSBA to participate in Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C.
Friday, February 2, 2018The National School Boards Association’s 2018 Advocacy Institute connects attendees with members of Congress, legal experts, policy influencers and school board members from around the country.
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Woodburn adds counselors to support students and inspire them beyond graduation
Thursday, February 1, 2018High school counselors handle academic and behavioral support so the College and Career Counselor can focus on helping students with post-secondary planning.
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Woodburn adds counselors to support students and inspire them beyond graduation
Thursday, February 1, 2018High school counselors handle academic and behavioral support so the College and Career Counselor can focus on helping students with post-secondary planning.
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Woodburn’s dual-language programs promote academic success
Wednesday, January 31, 2018Two-thirds of Woodburn’s students have little or no mastery of English when they start school, yet only about 8 percent are still considered English language learners in high school.
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By going smaller, Woodburn scores big gains on graduation rates
Tuesday, January 30, 2018The Woodburn School District's graduation rate for 2016-17 is 12 percentage points above the state average.
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Phoenix-Talent waged quiet campaign for bond
Friday, January 26, 2018The strategy for the November 2017 vote was to find and motivate the supporters to vote. For every decision they made, they asked, "Was this going to make people vote no?’"
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Oregon graduation rate increases nearly 2 percentage points
Thursday, January 25, 2018The 2016-17 ODE graduation rate report showed that 76.7 percent of Oregon students earned a regular or modified high school diploma within four years.
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Measure 101 passes, protecting health care for students
Wednesday, January 24, 2018Education advocates, including OSBA, were supporters of Measure 101. Students are better able to succeed in school when their health needs are being met.
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Bill would force school districts to bargain with teachers over class sizes
Monday, January 22, 2018House Bill 4113 does not provide funding to pay for the additional teachers or classrooms that may be required to maintain specific class sizes.
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Tuesday election affects students, school districts
Monday, January 22, 2018A no vote would repeal part of the tax and cost the state $210 million to $320 million in revenue and as much as $960 million in federal matching funds
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ODE shortens SBAC test, delays plan to replace it
Friday, January 19, 2018The Oregon Department of Education worked with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium to create customized tests that take less time but maintain reliability.
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OSBA workshop explains relaxed PERS side account rules
Wednesday, January 17, 2018Accounting rules make side accounts more effective at lowering employer rates than paying down the Public Employees Retirement System unfunded liability.
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Some school board members bring decades of experience with education issues
Wednesday, January 17, 2018OSBA records show more than 50 Oregon school board members have at least 20 years of experience serving local education needs.
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Colt Gill picked to be deputy superintendent of public instruction
Friday, January 12, 2018Gov. Kate Brown has chosen Colt Gill to be Oregon’s deputy superintendent of public instruction.
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Measure 101 approval protects students’ health, school districts’ budgets
Thursday, January 11, 2018A no vote would carve a huge hole in Oregon’s budget for 2017-19 that could potentially be filled with school funds.
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OSBA board fills two vacancies on Legislative Policy Committee
Thursday, January 11, 2018The Legislative Policy Committee shapes OSBA's legislative priorities and advocates for a better Oregon education system.
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OSBA supports “yes” vote on Measure 101
Friday, January 5, 2018State revenues, and therefore school budgets, are projected to fall by hundreds of millions of dollars if the measure fails; and limiting healthcare options to low-income families will tend to limit their educational opportunities.
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Joint committee will explore Oregon education needs for 2019 session
Thursday, January 4, 2018The Oregon Legislature announced that the bipartisan Joint Committee on Student Success will tackle how to pay for a high-quality K-12 education system.
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Vernonia bond campaign reminded voters of school’s importance to community
Thursday, January 4, 2018Vernonia, a small community with a low tax base, decided its school was worth rebuilding after it was flooded and passed two bonds for a new school.
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Legislative committee adopts report explaining inadequate education funding
Wednesday, January 3, 2018State law requires the Legislature to fund Oregon K-12 public education to a standard set by the Quality Education Committee or publish a report saying why funding has fallen short.
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New OSBA officers continue focus on revenue reform
Tuesday, January 2, 2018All positions are for one year and include serving on the OSBA Legislative Policy Committee; they will concentrate on getting consistent and adequate funding for Oregon's K-12 system.
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New law on public records requests will affect schools
Tuesday, January 2, 2018Senate Bill 481 defines request procedures for public bodies, including schools.
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Alternative and online schools need more oversight, state audit says
Wednesday, December 20, 2017The majority of students in alternative and online programs tend to be academically at-risk, performing poorly on most education statistics and making up nearly half the state’s dropouts.
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Vote affirms OSBA re-organization, elects new board members
Wednesday, December 20, 2017OSBA will become a nonprofit on July 1. The change will protect OSBA’s tax-exempt status while allowing it to continue its lobbying and advocacy work.
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A Call to Lead
Wednesday, December 20, 2017School board members' aspirations and motivations are as different as their communities.
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State audit suggests three focus areas to lift Oregon graduation rates
Tuesday, December 19, 2017The Oregon Department of Education could improve graduation rates by helping schools and districts focus more on three specific groups, according to the Secretary of State Audits Division.
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Eagle Point graduation coaches make vital connections with struggling students
Thursday, December 14, 2017The program was so successful the first year that the district brought the coach back to help sophomores and hired another to coach the freshmen.
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Eagle Point attendance initiative pays attention to every student, every class, every time
Wednesday, December 13, 2017Administrators say their attendance successes are founded on building relationships between staff and student.
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Eagle Point boosts graduation rate through attention to attendance
Tuesday, December 12, 2017Eagle Point administrators say there is a direct link between their focus on a culture of showing up and their graduation rate.
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Deadline fast approaching for OSBA ballots
Monday, December 4, 2017Official ballots by region include choices for the Board of Directors and the Legislative Policy Committee and a resolution on OSBA reorganizing as a nonprofit.
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Applicants needed for OSBA Legislative Policy Committee
Friday, December 1, 2017The Legislative Policy Committee studies Oregon education issues to help guide OSBA’s legislative policies and priorities.
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Pension-related cost projections for 2019-21 pinch school budgets
Thursday, November 30, 2017Higher-than-expected 2019-21 costs related to employee pensions have surprised some Oregon school officials and could lead them to seek budget cuts in other areas, they say.
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Statewide report card offers detailed look at public education
Thursday, November 30, 2017The Oregon Statewide Report Card 2016-2017 includes data on students, teachers, administrators, schools and assessments.
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December revenue forecast shows steady growth
Wednesday, November 29, 2017The forecast for the 2017-19 general fund is down, but increases in lottery revenue and other offsets put the state’s total resources above the close-of-session forecast.
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A Call to Lead
Wednesday, December 20, 2017School board members' aspirations and motivations are as different as their communities.
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Ballot Measure 101 loss in January would threaten State School Fund
Tuesday, November 28, 2017Ballot Measure 101 could take a wrecking ball to Oregon’s budget on Jan. 23.
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Early planning is key to North Clackamas' bond success
Monday, November 27, 2017North Clackamas School District has passed three construction bonds since 1998 with an average yes vote of 60 percent. The key to winning every election on the first try lies in the planning details, district officials say.
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McMinnville is focused on getting students to earning a family wage
Friday, November 17, 2017Career and technical education is a big part of McMinnville’s strategy for helping students graduate.
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SB 208 FAQ: Charter schools and interscholastic activities (Updated)
Thursday, November 16, 2017Senate Bill 208 allows charter school students to participate in “interscholastic activities” with the district. Interscholastic activities are defined as “athletics, music, speech and other similar or related activities.” (Updated Nov. 16, 2017)
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McMinnville works to make all parents feel comfortable at schools
Thursday, November 16, 2017McMinnville staff want all parents to be able to access the system and fully understand its requirements and rewards.
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Number of Oregon homeless students continues to climb
Wednesday, November 15, 2017Nearly 4 percent of Oregon’s K-12 students are homeless, according to data announced by the Oregon Department of Education.
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Graduation success starts with preparation for kindergarten
Wednesday, November 15, 2017The McMinnville School District offers pre-kindergarten and a program designed for parents of children from birth to age 5.
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Report details why school funding isn’t reaching QEM goals
Wednesday, November 15, 2017Under a ballot measure passed by voters, since 2001 state law has required the Legislature to appropriate in each biennium enough money to meet the Quality Education Model.
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OSBA School Board Members of Color Caucus reaches milestone
Wednesday, November 15, 2017The caucus’s mission is to promote a quality education for all students, with a focus on students of color.
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McMinnville staff learn from each other and learn constantly
Tuesday, November 14, 2017All McMinnville teaching staff and administrators are trained on the same methods and then become the trainers for the rest of the district.
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OSBA convention emphasizes ways to improve graduation rates
Monday, November 13, 2017The general sessions featured emotional stories about the power of schools to reach individual students, while the nearly 70 workshops offered detailed information on ways to improve Oregon’s schools.
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Voting period opens for OSBA elections, including nonprofit status
Monday, November 13, 2017School boards have until Dec. 15 to register their vote on the resolution and their picks for the OSBA Board of Directors and the Legislative Policy Committee.
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McMinnville overcomes graduation obstacles with steady approach
Monday, November 13, 2017In 2016, 87 percent of McMinnville students graduated, significantly above the state average of 75 percent.
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School bonds earn wide voter support
Wednesday, November 8, 2017Voters passed six of the eight school bonds and a local option levy on ballots Tuesday, most with comfortable margins.
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Revenue reform dominates discussions at OSBA Fall Regional Meetings
Monday, November 6, 2017OSBA staff traveled close to 5,000 miles over six weeks to listen to members’ concerns in person.
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OSBA’s Annual Convention emphasizes lifting Oregon graduation rates
Monday, November 6, 2017The gathering Nov. 9-12 at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront will offer 70 workshops, with many of them presenting strategies, research and support for raising graduation rates.
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Registration opens for conference on winning bond campaigns
Friday, November 3, 2017OSBA’s Bonds, Ballots and Buildings Conference will be held Feb. 9 in Salem.
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Parkrose’s Karen Gray selected Oregon’s Superintendent of the Year
Thursday, November 2, 2017Gray’s efforts have resulted in a high school graduation rate that is among the state’s highest.
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PERS task force suggests ways to pay down system’s debt
Wednesday, November 1, 2017Paying down the Public Employees Retirement System’s debt would slow the growth of employer rates.
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Hunt appointed as acting chief of staff at ODE
Wednesday, November 1, 2017Cindy Hunt, ODE’s government and legal affairs manager, has been named acting chief of staff at the Oregon Department of Education.
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ODE addresses contentious aspects of charter school student activities law
Thursday, October 19, 2017Two of the key sticking points in the new law have been which students are eligible and how much districts can charge for participation.
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Percentage of chronically absent students increases again, according to report
Thursday, October 19, 2017Nearly 20 percent of students were chronically absent in 2016-17, according to the Oregon Department of Education’s Regular Attenders Report.
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Median class size holding steady in Oregon, according to report
Tuesday, October 17, 2017The median class size in Oregon for all subjects and grades has held steady at 25 students for the past three reporting years.
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A question of size: Fewer football participants compounds injury concerns
Monday, October 16, 2017The dwindling number of students playing football in Oregon, coupled with newer data on long-term risks from concussion and other injuries, has forced coaches and administrators into some tough decisions.
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Schools’ and districts’ yearly report cards are online
Thursday, October 12, 2017The report cards include a letter from the principal or superintendent, data on the curriculum and learning environment, and state assessment data.
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DeVos visits McMinnville schools to study teaching methods
Wednesday, October 11, 2017DeVos read a news article about the McMinnville School District’s strong instructional results and wanted to understand the methods behind them.
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Noor resigns as deputy schools superintendent; Gill takes over as acting head
Wednesday, October 11, 2017Colt Gill has a demonstrated record of lifting student achievement and graduation rates, says OSBA president.
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U.S. Education Secretary DeVos to visit McMinnville High
Monday, October 9, 2017DeVos plans to visit the high school and then tour the district’s Engineering and Aerospace Sciences Academy.
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Measure 98 grants available, and state keeps the process simple
Thursday, October 5, 2017Fill out a grant agreement with ODE and request reimbursement for money spent related to career and technical education, college readiness or dropout prevention.
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Trail Blazers star tells students respect is key to school success
Monday, October 2, 2017Damian Lillard has partnered with two Portland high schools to instill RESPECT.
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OSBA staff meet with members, listen to their concerns
Thursday, September 28, 2017At Fall Regional meetings, OSBA staff inform members about everything going on in the Capitol that affects education.
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PERS rates for school districts expected to increase 6.48 percent for 2019
Wednesday, September 27, 2017School district PERS contribution rates will climb 6.48 percent in 2019, Milliman Inc. predicts.
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A Call to Lead
Wednesday, December 20, 2017School board members' aspirations and motivations are as different as their communities.
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Oregon students beat national average on SAT
Tuesday, September 26, 2017ODE reported 12,700 students took the test last year and participation improved for every student group.
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Early registration for OSBA convention earns discount
Monday, September 25, 2017Register by Oct. 6 and save $50 on the Nov. 9-12 Portland convention and workshops for the Leadership Institute, administrative professionals and the Council of School Attorneys.
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Board votes to seek nonprofit status for OSBA
Monday, September 18, 2017The OSBA Board of Directors also elected officers
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‘Graduation is vital’ video debuts
Monday, September 18, 2017A new Promise of Oregon video debuts today celebrating how important graduation is for Oregon’s public schools.
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Members help shape OSBA’s mission at first of regional meetings
Friday, September 15, 2017What the Legislature did and what districts want it to do dominated the conversation at OSBA’s first 2017 Fall Regional Meeting.
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State testing scores fall slightly from last year
Thursday, September 14, 2017Smarter Balanced test scores fell from the previous year for nearly every grade and subject, according to 2016-17 Oregon results.
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PERS task force explores options to reduce liability that would affect school districts
Friday, September 8, 2017A governor’s task force reported Friday on the most promising options for reducing the Public Employees Retirement System’s shortfall.
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National group reaches out to local school board members for grass-roots action
Friday, September 8, 2017The National School Boards Action Center is using September to emphasize the power of local school board members.
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Bond measure deadlines unchanged, says new guidance from secretary of state’s office
Wednesday, September 6, 2017The Oregon secretary of state’s office sent an advisory saying that school districts have until Sept. 7 to file paperwork for bond elections this November.
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Forest fires force many school athletic activities inside for now
Wednesday, September 6, 2017The Oregon School Activities Association recommends all contests or practices be moved inside when air quality is in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” or worse range.
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School year begins with added emphasis on career and technical education
Friday, September 1, 2017Students around the state return to schools looking for ways to answer Measure 98’s career and technical education challenges.
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U.S. Department of Education approves Oregon ESSA plan
Thursday, August 31, 2017Oregon's plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act lays out the guiding principles of Oregon education under federal law.
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School sports face restrictions based on air quality
Wednesday, August 30, 2017Haze from forest fires has prompted the Oregon School Activities Association to issue guidelines for restricting activities.
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Legislative Report presents all 2017 bills that matter to public schools
Monday, August 28, 2017OSBA and COSA have created a summary of all the bills passed by the 2017 Legislature that affect K-12 public schools, charter schools and community colleges.
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School board chair’s idea grows into thriving nonprofit run by students
Monday, August 28, 2017Food for Families, housed in a renovated school bus, has helped feed more than 2,500 families.
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Kicker announcement won’t affect State School Fund
Wednesday, August 23, 2017Oregon's September economic forecast makes kicker official
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ODE announces Measure 98 grant amounts
Tuesday, August 22, 2017Every district and charter high school is eligible for funds from the $170 million the Legislature allocated for the High School Graduation and College and Career Readiness Fund.
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Discuss Oregon’s most important education issues at OSBA Fall Regional Meetings
Thursday, August 17, 2017
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Voting period opens in November for OSBA board and resolutions
Monday, August 14, 2017Local school boards will choose 11 regional representatives for the OSBA board and all 19 Legislative Policy Committee members.
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New resources designed to help schools navigate legal currents
Thursday, August 10, 2017Do you need assistance keeping up with all the changes to Oregon education legal issues? OSBA’s Litigation Services Department has compiled resources to help you stay up to date.
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Five districts can count exchange students living in dorms for another year
Thursday, August 3, 2017For the districts, the exchange students are a crucial way of stabilizing district funding and high school populations to create viable learning environments.
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Oregon’s future business leaders have best year at national competition
Wednesday, July 26, 2017Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is a student-led, school-based organization dedicated to preparing students for careers in business, entrepreneurship, information technology and management.
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OSBA attorney discusses cyberbullying on OPB
Tuesday, July 25, 2017Students, administrators and parents should be educated about the proper use of electronic mediums and the potential consequences for cyberbullying.
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Well-attended OSBA conference teaches school board members the ropes
Monday, July 17, 2017Conference sessions helped educate school board members on everything from best school board practices to legal ethics to meeting laws to charter schools as well as covering current issues such as cyberbullying and implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
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July 12 Legislative Highlights is now online
Wednesday, July 12, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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June 30 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, June 30, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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School board members, superintendents report high satisfaction with OSBA work
Wednesday, June 28, 2017Members most valued OSBA as a resource and as a communications leader keeping members informed on education issues, according to a recent survey by DHM Research.
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Legislature passes $8.2 billion State School Fund; cuts looming
Tuesday, June 27, 2017Despite across-the-aisle agreement that the bill did not meet Oregon’s goals for education support, Senate Bill 5517 narrowly passed Tuesday in the House.
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June 23 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, June 23, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Revenue reform effort is dead, Democrats say
Friday, June 23, 2017Revenue reform has been linked to providing adequate funding for K-12 education.
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Four school districts win approval of Native American mascots
Thursday, June 22, 2017The State Board of Education prohibited Native American mascots in 2012, but a 2014 law provided an exception for districts that entered into agreements with a local federally recognized tribe.
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Push for revenue reform finds new avenues
Tuesday, June 20, 2017New bill amendments surfaced Wednesday that could translate to more than $550 million in new state business taxes in 2017-19.
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Bill protecting immigrants’ information passes House
Tuesday, June 20, 2017House Bill 3464 prohibits public bodies from disclosing personal information unless required by law or a warrant.
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June 16 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, June 16, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Tax reform discussion Thursday mostly concerned with business impacts
Thursday, June 15, 2017House Bill 2830 would replace Oregon’s corporate income tax with a gross receipts tax and send that money to a new Education Strategic Investment Fund.
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Foreign exchange boarding students fall in love with remote Oregon towns - Part 2
Thursday, June 15, 2017Foreign exchange students living in dorms are essential to five tiny and remote Oregon school districts: Burnt River, Mitchell, Spray, Paisley and Ukiah.
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Foreign exchange students offer more than survival for remote Oregon schools - Part 1
Wednesday, June 14, 2017The exchange students provide critical mass and funding needed to create a learning environment, plus a different perspective of world events, history, culture and government.
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Legislature passes bill essential to keeping recreational school facilities open to public
Wednesday, June 14, 2017The Legislature approved a bill Wednesday that gives school district employees and volunteers immunity from civil liability when the public uses district land for free recreation.
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June 9 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, June 9, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Senators pass education funding bill while saying they want to add to it later
Thursday, June 8, 2017Senators stressed Thursday that they hope this funding bill will be the “floor” for the State School Fund.
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‘8.2 just won’t do’ becomes rallying cry against proposed State School Fund figure
Tuesday, June 6, 2017Despite widespread committee agreement that $8.2 billion wasn’t enough for schools, the Joint Ways and Means Committee sent the K-12 education funding bill to the Senate floor Tuesday.
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Employees would have to contribute toward PERS under cost-containment bill
Monday, June 5, 2017Public employees would be required to contribute toward their retirement plans under one of two bills that moved Monday.
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June 2 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, June 2, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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May 26 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, May 26, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Legislature gets look at proposed business tax reform details
Tuesday, May 23, 2017The Joint Tax Reform Committee reviews a commercial activities tax plan
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Legislators tour unique career and technical education program
Friday, May 19, 2017Members of the House Education Committee tour the Career Technical Education Center in Salem on May 18.
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May 19 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, May 19, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Most bond elections pass, including Portland at $790 million
Wednesday, May 17, 2017Voters approved two-thirds of school construction bonds statewide; ten bonds passed and five were defeated.
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Potential kicker makes reaching adequate school funding harder
Tuesday, May 16, 2017In the bizarro world of state budget forecasting, more translates to less: Above-expected tax collections in Tuesday’s revenue forecast are causing headaches for legislators wrestling with a $1.4 billion budget shortfall.
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State revenue forecast projects likely tax kicker
Tuesday, May 16, 2017The Office of Economic Analysis released its next-to-last Oregon revenue forecast for 2015-17, predicting the state will have to return to taxpayers $407.8 million.
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OSBA wants student entertainers, workshop proposals for convention
Tuesday, May 16, 2017Proposals must be submitted by May 26.
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School board candidate filings swing upward this election
Friday, May 12, 2017A total of 1,018 individuals are running for school board positions next Tuesday in Oregon – the highest number since 2009 – according to a survey conducted by OSBA.
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May 12 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, May 12, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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State Land Board ends sale of Elliott State Forest; next move unclear
Tuesday, May 9, 2017The State Land Board voted unanimously to terminate the Elliott State Forest sale and pursue other options for continuing public ownership of the land.
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Leadership Oregon graduates 20 board members in newest class
Tuesday, May 9, 2017Participants learned leadership skills and joined a support network of education leaders from across the state.
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May 5 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, May 5, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Oregon plans to drop Smarter Balanced exam in high school
Wednesday, May 3, 2017In 2018-19, the state plans to replaced Smarter Balanced with a nationally recognized test such as the SAT or ACT at the high school level.
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OSBA presses State Land Board to get full value of Elliott State Forest
Monday, May 1, 2017Attorneys for OSBA have notified the State Land Board that the association will work with school districts to take legal action if the board does not realize the full value of selling the Elliott State Forest.
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April 28 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, April 28, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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PACE Day highlights important school safety issues
Friday, April 28, 2017PACE Day brought together more than 150 education, insurance and legal professionals to learn about student safety and liability issues.
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PACE Awards recognize InterMountain ESD as School Safety Star, others
Thursday, April 27, 2017The PACE awards highlight significant contributions made in 2016 to the Property and Casualty Coverage for Education program.
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State Board of Education approves Oregon plan for ESSA
Thursday, April 27, 2017After an extra month of fine-tuning, the State Board of Education approved Oregon’s plan for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act.
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April 21 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, April 21, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Reynolds re-elected as NSBAC treasurer
Friday, April 21, 2017The National School Boards Action Center advocates at the national level for public education, school board leadership and equity in schools.
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New OSBA advocacy materials aimed at #fundourschools
Thursday, April 20, 2017OSBA staff have created new materials to assist members with advocacy efforts in response to the co-chairs’ proposed K-12 budget figure of $7.8 billion.
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'Summer Camp' includes pre-conference charter emphasis
Tuesday, April 18, 2017Registration has opened for "Summer Camp for School Boards," coming up July 14-16 at the renovated Riverhouse on the Deschutes in Bend.
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Lawmakers propose deeper cuts to Oregon’s K-12 schools
Monday, April 17, 2017Proposal potentially will translate to staff cuts and reduced class offerings, lawmakers acknowledge.
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April 14 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, April 14, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Bill would extend deadline for implementing physical education standards
Wednesday, April 12, 2017An amended Senate Bill 4 would give schools more time and flexibility to reach the standards. Districts have struggled to provide staff and facilities for PE while having their budgets cut and being told to meet standards in testing on core subjects.
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Deadline helps focus legislative attention of education advocates
Tuesday, April 11, 2017An April 7 legislative deadline helped education advocates sharpen their focus on priority bills.
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April 7 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, April 7, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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March 31 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, March 31, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Supreme Court raises standard for educating students with special needs
Thursday, March 30, 2017Most Oregon districts are already trying to meet the standard laid out by the Supreme Court, but the ruling does give parents extra leverage when advocating for more rigorous goals for special needs students.
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2016-2017 Salary Survey now available
Thursday, March 30, 2017Teacher salary and benefits survey
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Salary and Benefits Survey Data
Thursday, March 30, 2017The most recent labor contract settlement data submitted to OSBA.
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Public education campaign gives peek at day in Oregon schools
Monday, March 27, 2017“No Ordinary Day” video features staff and students from Bonny Slope Elementary in Beaverton and Umatilla School District.
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New name, new look coming Monday for NewsClips
Friday, March 17, 2017With input from our members we have redesigned our weekday morning news service to be much more visual, with photos and graphics to help explain the day’s education news.
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March 17 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, March 17, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Innovative school-based wellness programs recognized
Friday, March 17, 2017Commitment to a healthy school community earned Adams Elementary (Corvallis School District), Milwaukie High School (North Clackamas School District) and St. Paul Elementary (St. Paul School District) the 2017 Oregon School Wellness Awards.
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North Clackamas superintendent’s quest for equity and excellence
Wednesday, March 15, 2017Since Matt Utterback took over as superintendent in 2012, North Clackamas has dramatically increased its graduation rate from 72 percent to 83 percent last year.
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K-12 school funding needs underestimated, district officials say
Tuesday, March 14, 2017Differences in how the state and local school business officials estimate future budgets have created a $380 million gap for K-12 schools in the next biennium.
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Resolution aims to force Legislature to fund QEM
Tuesday, March 14, 2017House Joint Resolution 4 is designed to tell the Legislature to fund the Quality Education Model.
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OSBA board picks architect for Multnomah opening
Monday, March 13, 2017The OSBA board of directors chose Michelle Vo, a member of the Corbett School Board, on March 6 to fill its vacant Multnomah position.
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New poll shows voter support for K-12 education and revenue reform
Monday, March 13, 2017A ground-breaking poll released by OSBA indicates that Oregonians see K-12 public education as the state’s top funding priority, and that they support raising business taxes to avoid cutting school budgets.
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Legislative Day focuses on advocating for school funding
Monday, March 13, 2017Eighty-eight Legislative Day attendees were reminded to stay focused on the need for $8.4 billion and the impact if schools don’t get it.
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Oregonians want better education and for big business to help pay for it, poll finds
Monday, March 13, 2017A ground-breaking poll released by OSBA indicates that Oregonians see K-12 public education as the state’s top funding priority, and that they support raising business taxes to avoid cutting school budgets.
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March 10 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, March 10, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Timeline for Oregon’s ESSA plan thrown into question
Thursday, March 9, 2017Oregon was aiming for April 3 to send the plan to the feds, but the U.S. Department of Education is planning to release a new template for plans the week of March 13.
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Portland Public Schools picks superintendent finalist from Atlanta
Saturday, March 4, 2017Portland Public Schools named Donyall Dickey, the chief schools officer and chief academic officer in Atlanta Public Schools, as the sole finalist for superintendent.
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March 3 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, March 3, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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North Clackamas superintendent receives national award
Friday, March 3, 2017AASA, the School Superintendents Association, named Oregon’s Matthew Utterback as national superintendent of the year!
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Transgender student ruling doesn’t affect Oregon schools
Thursday, February 23, 2017The Trump administration revoked federal guidelines that protected transgender students’ choice of bathrooms, but the ruling is not expected to have an immediate effect in Oregon.
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Threat assessment teams can prevent school violence, task force says
Thursday, February 23, 2017Two important questions always arise when tragedy strikes: Could we have known? Could we have prevented it?
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State Board of Education approves Measure 98 rules
Thursday, February 23, 2017The State Board of Education approved the rules to implement Measure 98 on Thursday.
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Good news in new state budget forecast
Wednesday, February 22, 2017The Oregon March revenue forecast ticked up slightly, cutting the estimated budget shortfall by almost $200 million.
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Bill putting marijuana on par with tobacco raises employer concerns
Tuesday, February 21, 2017Senate Bill 301 would make it illegal for an employer to tell workers that they can’t use legal substances on their own time.
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City Club of Portland fosters PERS discussion
Friday, February 17, 2017OSBA Executive Director Jim Green called on Oregon's government leaders Feb. 17 to tackle the issues of revenue reform and controlling spiraling costs from the Public Employees Retirement System.
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February 17 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, February 17, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Growing PERS liability gains attention in Legislature
Thursday, February 16, 2017After sobering testimony Feb. 15 on the challenges of funding the Public Employees Retirement System), state Sen. Tim Knopp offered three more legislative concepts that could potentially become bills.
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State Land Board moves ahead on sale of Elliott State Forest
Wednesday, February 15, 2017The State Land Board voted 2-1 to amend the protocol outlining the sale requirements and continue with negotiations.
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U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Addresses Full Staff
Monday, February 13, 2017U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos began her first day in office by thanking the Department's career employees for ensuring a smooth and professional transition.
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Brown unveils $100 million bond proposal for Elliott forest
Saturday, February 11, 2017Gov. Brown has proposed keeping the forest in public ownership using up to $100 million in state bonding capacity to protect habitat and old growth stands.
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February 10 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, February 10, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Graduation rate hinges on reaching underserved students, Oregon education official says
Wednesday, February 8, 2017As Oregon’s first education innovation officer, Colt Gill has the primary task of improving graduation rates.
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New ‘Promise Stories’ debut today on website
Monday, February 6, 2017A series of Promise stories will delve deeper into how students are using Oregon’s public schools as a ladder to success – in some cases despite significant hurdles in their path.
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February 3 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, February 3, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Legislative session kicks off Wednesday with budget at forefront
Tuesday, January 31, 2017Education issues will play a heavy role in this legislative session.
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Measure 98 funding comes with challenges for districts
Tuesday, January 31, 2017During an ODE rules hearing, school officials outlined potential difficulties in creating and complying with new rules governing the act and its requirements.
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January 27 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, January 27, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Board members will advocate for Oregon schools in U.S. Capitol
Friday, January 27, 2017Issues to be covered are: implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act, school choice and educational vouchers, federal investment in education, reauthorization of federal funding for career and technical education (CTE), and reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.
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‘Get on Board’ urges candidates to run for school, college boards
Thursday, January 26, 2017The May 2015 election saw the lowest number of candidates for Oregon school board seats in a decade, and nearly three-quarters of all candidates ran unopposed. The campaign is designed to combat those trends.
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January 20 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, January 20, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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Oregon Senate and House of Representatives rosters
Friday, January 20, 2017Find your legislator's contact information.
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Legislative budget framework cuts K-12 spending
Friday, January 20, 2017The co-chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee outlined their education funding plans Jan. 19 by proposing to spend $200 million less on K-12 schools than that outlined in late November by Gov. Kate Brown.
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January 13 Legislative Highlights is now online
Friday, January 13, 2017Get the latest legislative news
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OSBA will award $5,000 scholarship checks to six boards
Thursday, January 5, 2017Six boards qualified for the funds under a new OSBA initiative known as the Promise Scholarship Program.