Legislative Briefs
Graduation requirements
What it does: SB 744A would require the Oregon Department of Education to review all high school graduation requirements and suspend essential learning skills requirements for two school years. The measure would also permanently restrict the State Board of Education from requiring students who have completed their required coursework to demonstrate proficiency in any other skill or academic content area beginning with the 2023-24 school year.
What’s next: The House Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing and informational meeting Thursday, May 13.
Intellectual property rights
What it does: Teachers in K-12 schools and community college faculty members often create instructional materials to supplement standard curriculum materials. The ownership rights to the intellectual property of teacher-created materials are ambiguous, though. SB 667A would require school districts and community colleges to implement a policy that provides ownership rights to intellectual property and prohibit districts from requiring teachers and faculty members to release ownership rights as a condition of employment.
What’s next: The House Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Thursday, May 13.
Charter school enrollment
What it does: Charter schools were first enacted in Oregon in 1999 and operate under agreements with local school boards that allow them a measure of independence from some state and district policies. Charter schools receive public funding, calculated as a percentage of the weighted average daily membership (ADMw) of their sponsoring districts. Charter schools admit students via a lottery process. HB 2954 would allow charter schools to implement a weighted lottery selection process that favors historically underserved students, defined as students at risk because of race, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, income level, proficiency in the English language, socioeconomic status or geographic location. This policy had previously existed in law from 2015 to 2019.
What’s next: The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Wednesday, May 12.
Legislative notes:
House Bill 2056A (March 8 and April 19 Legislative Briefs) would remove the requirement for students to take four credits of English and allow these students to fulfill their graduation requirements by taking four credits of language arts in their native languages. The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a work session Monday, May 10.
Senate Bill 513A (April 19 Legislative Briefs) would add a half-credit of civics to the statutory coursework requirements for a student to graduate high school. The House Education Committee has scheduled a work session Thursday, May 13.