HB 4112
Increases the biennial lottery allocation made for the outdoor school program.
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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 increases the amount of money the state lottery provides to the Outdoor School program. Specifically, it raises the biennial allocation from the Administrative Services Economic Development Fund to the Outdoor School Education Fund. The increase is set at $6,000,583 for the 2025-2027 biennium. The bill was passed with an emergency declaration, meaning it goes into effect immediately.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of restoring $6 million in funding for the Oregon Outdoor School Program emphasize its unique value in teaching survival skills, life lessons, and hands-on science education in nature. They highlight the importance of ODS in fostering connections among students and counselors, promoting environmental literacy, mental health, and academic performance, particularly for vulnerable students. Advocates also stress the program's role in providing equitable access to climate education, social-emotional education, and experiential learning experiences that enhance critical thinking, creativity, and self-reliance. Many testifiers share personal experiences of the positive impact of Outdoor School on their lives, citing increased confidence, motivation, and mental health benefits, as well as its ability to support students with special needs and promote diversity, inclusivity, and equity in education.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Several ed concerns that the current implementation of Outdoor School has deviated from its original educational goals, with some arguing that it now prioritizes social and identity-based programming over environmental science education. They claim that this shift may not be suitable for younger students, who are still developing their critical thinking skills and may benefit more from a focus on scientific principles and hands-on learning experiences. Additionally, some ed concerns about the potential impact of Outdoor School's emphasis on social issues on students' academic performance and overall educational experience.
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