Rural Matters

Oregon schools Superintendent Susan Castillo is pushing for funding for all-day kindergarten. Currently only 20% of the state’s schools offer all-day kindergarten and the two-year phase-in program would cost the state $50 million. Some education policymakers oppose the funding method for this program, which would alter the basic aid formula for per-pupil allocations. Also being debated is how a student improvement fund, available for the first time in several years, should be offered to local districts—with or without strings attached.

Posted by Robin Lambert at 01:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Voters in Oregon defeated a TABOR amendment that would have capped state spending. They also re-elected incumbent Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) who campaigned for increased per pupil spending, universal head start, smaller classes, and better teachers. In the past Kulongoski has championed consolidation as a way to save money. Look for changes in the make up of the legislature to open the way for changes to the state’s funding formula, which has left increasing numbers of Oregon schools cash-strapped in recent years. It is likely, however, that changes to the funding formula could also be accompanied by calls for consolidation. Oregon stands to lose more funding than any state by the elimination of federal payments to school districts with large tracts of national forests lands within their borders.

Posted by Robin Lambert at 04:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)