WOODBURN, Ore. — Gov. Tina Kotek signed a bill Wednesday allocating $30 million to Oregon schools to improve student learning. The funding was passed in the most recent state legislative cycle.
The $30 million will be used for summer learning programs; along with math and reading curriculum, funding will also be used for STEM, arts and cooking classes.
During the legislative session, there was some concern that the bill wouldn’t pass. However, teachers said the funding will be impactful at a time when Oregon students are struggling.
“We would definitely be limited in the number of students we would be able to invite,” Ronda Johnson, a first-grade teacher in the Woodburn school district said, if it weren’t for state funding.
Johnson said additional money will allow Woodburn to provide summer curriculum for an additional 500 students.
"The evidence is clear: summer learning opportunities reduce learning loss," Kotek said Wednesday.
A recent study of 30 states showed Oregon is the only state where students fell further behind in math and reading after returning to classrooms full-time, following pandemic closures. School districts are also grappling with a loss of federal relief funds, which run out in September. Many districts were using those funds to fund summer programming.
"We made a commitment to get this money out the door as soon as possible," Rep. Susan McLain, the chief sponsor of the bill, said.
Originally, McLain wanted the state to sponsor $50 million for summer learning.
"We were able to get $30 million this year,” McLain said. “We know that $50 million would've allowed us to help more students and more school districts, but it is a reasonable amount of money to get forward."
Teachers in Woodburn said the funding will make a big difference in its programming.
“With the funding, we’re able to do even more enrichment,” Johnson said. "You can't cram it all into the school year."
The funding is also available for nonprofits who provide summer learning programs. McLain said the state is working to fulfill grants. She is also working to ensure more summer program funding is granted to school districts in future legislative sessions as well.