Legislative Briefs
Compact for military children
What it does: Oregon participates in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The compact is concerned with the smooth transfer of students with military parents from school to school. This bill would allow Oregon’s participation beyond Dec. 31, 2019.
What’s new: The compact covers all 50 states and approximately 1,703 students in Oregon. An amendment would modify the bill to be consistent with current operation by adding the deputy superintendent of public instruction and members of the State Board of Education to the compact council, allowing annual meetings, and replacing Oregon Military Department staff with Department of Education staff.
What’s next: This bill passed the Senate and has a House Education Committee hearing Wednesday, May 15.
Military children residency
What it does: The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children applies to children of active duty and recently retired, medically discharged or deceased military personnel. This bill would permit families to use military orders to enroll children in school prior to moving into the district. This would waive state residency requirements from the time the order is received to 10 days after the actual transfer date. The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that the measure would impact 650 children in Oregon.
What’s new: The Senate passed the bill.
What’s next: The House Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, May 15.
Legislative note: The Senate Education Committee will hold an informational meeting to hear invited testimony on the high school equivalency/GED test on Monday, May 13, and science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) education on Tuesday, May 15. The Ways and Means Education Subcommittee will hold an informational meeting on Ballot Measure 98 and related grant-in-aid programs on Tuesday, May 14, and the Oregon Department of Education Baby Promise pilot program on Thursday, May 16.
These informational meetings are being held to receive reports on the outcomes of previously passed policy.