HB 3941
Directs the Department of Education to establish and administer a grant program for community schools.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
94%
Oppose
6%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill directs the Oregon Department of Education to create and administer a grant program for community schools. The program will provide funding to eligible consortiums of school districts, community-based organizations, and other entities to establish and maintain community schools. These schools must coordinate educational services with comprehensive support services for students, families, and the community, offering access to these services during and after school hours. The program will be funded through lottery funds and requires regular reporting to the Legislative Assembly.
Key provisions
- The Department of Education will establish and administer a grant program for community schools.
- Eligible applicants must be a consortium of school districts, community-based organizations, and other public/private entities.
- Applicants must provide matching funds and have a plan for implementing a community school.
- Community schools must coordinate educational services with comprehensive support services.
- Schools must offer services to students, families, and the community during and after school hours.
- The Department will establish a committee with expertise in relevant areas to guide grant selection.
- The program will provide grants of $170,000 per year to a maximum of five eligible applicants.
- The Department must submit regular reports to the Legislative Assembly on the program's progress.
Who is affected
- Oregon Public School Districts
- Community-Based Organizations
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Hoa Nguyen
Cosponsor
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of HB 3941 and related bills emphasize the potential of community schools to create comprehensive and research-based strategies for school transformation, addressing the root causes of declining mental health, increased absenteeism, and behavioral challenges in schools. They highlight the need for coordination across services at the community level, citing the importance of integrating academics with health and social services to meet students' holistic needs. Advocates argue that full-service community schools can bring together families, students, educators, and community members to better address barriers to learning and ensure children's success, particularly in addressing issues like chronic absenteeism and low test scores.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
The opposition to HB 3941 is centered on concerns regarding the lack of essential safeguards in the proposed community schools model. Testifiers from the Oregon Education Association emphasize the need for robust public accountability measures, fair labor practices, and a long-term sustainability framework to ensure that such initiatives prioritize the needs of students, teachers, and local communities over short-term gains or special interests. Without these protections, opponents argue that community schools may ultimately undermine the very principles they aim to support, such as equity, quality education, and social justice.