Stand For Children
Overview
After two months of focusing almost exclusively on rebalancing the 2007-09 budget, the legislature has substantially shifted its focus to state policy and the 2009-11 budget. On the policy front, our bills supporting rural schools and requiring a unified survey of colleges of education are making progress this week. Please feel free to share with others in your chapter and contact me at 503-724-2611 or dhepper@stand.org with questions about this update.
Current Action Opportunities
Rural Schools - Today at 1:00 PM, the House Education Committee is hearing Stand for Children's bill to fix the funding formula for rural schools that have shrunk in size since 1999 (HB 2558). Thanks in advance to our Lincoln County members for making the drive to Salem. After meeting with all committee members last week, we have broad support for this legislation in this committee. Once HB 2558 is voted out of the Education Committee, it will go to the Revenue Committee and then to the Ways & Means Committee. We’re developing a strategy for securing support of Ways & Means members – this will be tough given the fiscal crisis. If we can move this bill quickly, we can turn out full attention to revenue.
Updates on Issues
Corporate Minimum Tax - Leadership in the House & Senate is hosting a meeting for advocates regarding the Corporate Minimum Tax today at 5:00 PM. Leadership invited us to this meeting to get feedback on their proposal for raising corporate minimum. I'll keep you all updated regarding this meeting and other revenue reforms.
Unified Survey of Colleges of Education - Our bill requiring colleges of education to do a unified survey of their graduates and the principals who employ their graduates.to gague effectiveness is House Bill 3468. We’ve recruited Chief Sponsor Rep. Betty Komp and Reps. Bailey (D-Portland), Huffman (R-The Dalles), Maurer (R-Grants Pass), Roblan (D-Coos Bay), Whisnant (R-Sun River), and Sen. Bonamici as bill sponsors. Rep. Betty Komp and I are urging the Education Committee Chair Sara Gelser to schedule a hearing for the bill.
Federal Stimulus Money - As many of you know, the federal government has included $5 billion for education innovation in the federal stimulus package. Holly Pruett & I had a very productive meeting with the Assistant Superintendent at the Department of Education responsible for applying for this money in Oregon. We asked the Department to put Mentors for New Educators on their short list for funding requests. Next we will enlist the support of key legislators and the Governor's office.
Dana Hepper
Statewide Advocacy Coordinator
Stand for Children
cell: 503.724.2611
dana@stand.org
www.stand.org
Please consider the environment before printing this email.