HB 3444
Modifies the percentage of amounts that school districts must pay from the State School Fund to public charter schools that are not virtual public charter schools.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
99%
Oppose
1%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill modifies how public charter schools receive funding from school districts. Specifically, it increases the percentage of State School Fund money that districts must pay to non-virtual public charter schools. It also removes certain eligibility restrictions for public charter schools to receive money from the Student Investment Account and directs school districts and sponsors to transfer federal, state, and local funds to these schools on a similar basis as non-chartered public schools. The bill also considers transportation costs for charter schools to be the same as those for traditional public schools and declares an emergency effective July 1, 2025.
Key provisions
- Increases the percentage of State School Fund payments to non-virtual public charter schools.
- Removes eligibility restrictions for public charter schools to receive funds from the Student Investment Account.
- Directs school districts and sponsors to transfer federal, state, and local funds to public charter schools on a similar basis as non-chartered public schools.
- Considers transportation costs for charter schools to be equivalent to those for traditional public schools.
- Establishes contractual payment arrangements between school districts and public charter schools.
- Allows virtual public charter schools to receive different payment amounts than non-virtual schools.
- Provides for the distribution of local revenues to public charter schools.
- Authorizes public charter schools to apply for grants available to school districts.
Who is affected
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
E. Werner Reschke
Cosponsor
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of increased funding for public charter schools emphasize the need to address inadequate infrastructure and improve student learning outcomes. Many that public charter schools face significant disparities in funding compared to traditional public schools, which can lead to unequal access to essential resources like free lunch and language immersion education. Advocates believe that fair funding is crucial to sustaining high-quality programs and providing personalized educational opportunities for students with unique needs. Some testifiers highlight the benefits of charter schools in offering innovation and variety to the traditional school model, while others emphasize the need for equitable funding to address long-standing inequities in Oregon's public charter school funding model. Overall, supporters believe that increasing funding for public charter schools will improve their quality of education and help bridge the disparities between charter and traditional schools.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of the proposed policy express concerns about the potential impact on public charter schools, citing administrative costs associated with complying with subsection 8(a) as a significant burden. They argue that increasing distribution of State School Fund monies to these schools would allow local school boards to make decisions tailored to their communities' needs. Additionally, some testifiers highlight the importance of supporting students with learning differences and promoting critical thinking and experiential learning, suggesting that alternative approaches may be more effective in achieving these goals, rather than relying solely on traditional public schools.