Oregon needs to fix its school system, education advocates tell legislators

The high schoolers addressing legislators Friday in the Capitol had some good things to say about their experiences in Oregon’s schools. They also said they have experienced racism, overburdened schools and a system that didn’t always meet their needs.

The Joint Committee on Student Success heard from business representatives, educators, statewide agencies and students about what schools are doing right and what they need to do. The 14-member bipartisan committee will spend the next year looking at Oregon’s education system needs and how to pay for them. The committee’s approach is modeled after a successful 2017 committee that helped pass a major transportation package.

OSBA Board President LeeAnn Larsen (Beaverton SD) told the committee that if Oregon wants to provide a high-quality K-12 education, the state needs revenue reform and cost containment to create sustainable funding. She advocated for supporting a well-rounded education that offers arts, career and technical education and advanced coursework and that puts students’ needs first.

“It is our hope that your decision points will be guided with one question in mind: What’s best for our students?” she said. “They are our future and we owe them more than words.”

- Jake Arnold, OSBA
jarnold@osba.org