Education Policy Proposals
State of Oregon
Eliminate in school arrests
With the removal of SROs in schools, redirect funding for increased school counselors and restorative justice practitioners trained in de-escalation, mental health supports and/or culturally specific social service backgrounds.
Prognosis: In discussion
Timeline: 2021 Legislative Session (Feb. 2021 - Jun. 2021)
Legislative Lead: Senator Robert Wagner & Senator Michael Dembrow
Establish pay equity for early learning childcare providers
There is significant disparities in early learning childcare provision, on which Black families rely for childcare support. Representative Karin Power will be leading discussions to understand if this is specifically for providers that accept ERDC or are Head Start or otherwise receive state funding vs. private-pay systems.
Prognosis: In discussion
Timeline: Unknown
Legislative Leads: Representative Karin Power
End zero-tolerance discipline policies in schools
Targeting Black children starts at young age. Unbalanced approaches that lack cultural awareness end up punishing young people resulting in disproportionate impacts on school records thereby increasing their risk of interfacing with the criminal justice system.
Prognosis: In research
Timeline: Unknown
Legislative Leads: Senator Robert Wagner with Senator Dembrow
Ensure affordable quality childcare for all Oregonians
Investment in ensuring affordable childcare for Oregonians will have a major benefit for Black families with long-last ripple effects in educational attainment, socioeconomic advancement and economic stability.
Prognosis: Long-term planning
Timeline: Unknown
Legislative Leads: Representative Karin Power
Mandate restorative justice practices and trainings for educators and students
Mandate Restorative Justice practices and trainings for educators and students as a first attempt at addressing students. When a student or student's family has identified a racist or incidence of prejudice, require restorative justice process with school official involved, the student, school administrative official/supervisor and family.
Prognosis: Unknown
Timeline: Unknown
Legislative Leads: Representative Teresa Alonso-Leon and Senator Robert Wagner
Ensure equitable funding for charter schools serving Black children
Charter schools targeting kids of color have all the same rules and regulations as district-run schools, we are expected to produce the same student outcomes and only have 60% of public funding. Equitable funding
Prognosis: Unknown
Timeline: Unknown
Legislative Leads: Senator Arnie Roblan, Senator Steiner Hayward
Expand the Oregon Educator Equity Act
Expand the Oregon Educator Equity Act (formally known as the Minority Teacher Act and Senate Bill 755). Oregon can make a solid investment expanding the OEEA and adding additional funding to ensure that more teachers of color are present in our classrooms. Work will be brought to the Educator Advancement Council.
Prognosis: Unknown
Timeline: Unknown
Legislative Leads: Senator Wagner reaching out to Senator Dembrow
Take Student Success Act framework and establish similar accountability measures for state school fund
Accountability frameworks created in the Student Success Act should be established for state school fund to ensure equitable outcomes for students.
Prognosis: Unknown
Timeline: 2021 Legislative Session
Legislative Leads: Needs to be identified
Multnomah County
Advocate for mandating restorative justice practices in Multnomah County schools
Mandate Restorative Justice practices and trainings for educators and students. When a student or student's family has identified a racist or incidence of prejudice, require restorative justice process with school official involved, the student, school administrative official/supervisor and family. While Multnomah County does not have jurisdiction in schools, they do provide funding for after school programs and supplemental support. Using this relationship, Multnomah County has committed to advocating for mandating Restorative Justice practices.
Prognosis: In dicsussion
Timeline: 30 - 90 days
Legislative Leads: Commissioner Susheela Jayapal will advocate with Portland Public School board
Clackamas County
Advocate for mandating restorative justice practices in Clackamas County schools
Mandate Restorative Justice practices and trainings for educators and students. When a student or student's family has identified a racist or incidence of prejudice, require restorative justice process with school official involved, the student, school administrative official/supervisor and family. While Clackamas County does not have jurisdiction in schools, they do provide funding for supportive programs and more.
Prognosis: Unknown
Timeline: Unknown
Legislative Leads: Unassigned
Washington County
Advocate for mandating restorative justice practices in Washington County schools
Mandate Restorative Justice practices and trainings for educators and students. When a student or student's family has identified a racist or incidence of prejudice, require restorative justice process with school official involved, the student, school administrative official/supervisor and family. While Washington County does not have jurisdiction in schools, they do provide funding for supportive programs and more.
From Washington County Staff: “Washington County doesn't have oversight over education programs. However, we encourage [advocates] to reach out to our Board [of County Commissioners] to see if there might be a Commissioner who would want to personally champion an effort like this out of their office. [Staff] is available to help with any outreach or coordination.”
Prognosis: Unresponsive
Timeline: Unresponsive
Legislative Leads: Unassigned
City of Portland
Invest $1M in youth controlled Black Youth Development Fund
Partnered with local Oregon foundations for matches, the City of Portland took $1 million redirected from the Portland Police budget to invest in a $1M youth controlled development fund.
Prognosis: Done
Timeline: Done
Legislative Leads: Commissioner JoAnn Hardesty
Mandate Restorative Justice practices and trainings for educators and students
Mandate Restorative Justice practices and trainings for educators and students. When a student or student's family has identified a racist or incidence of prejudice, require restorative justice process with school official involved, the student, school administrative official/supervisor and family.
Prognosis: In discussion
Timeline: 30 - 90 days
Legislative Leads: Mayor Ted Wheeler
Eliminate in school arrests
Eliminate in-school arrests, remove SROs from school and redirect funding for increased school counselors and restorative justice practitioners trained in de-escalation, mental health supports, and/or culturally specific social service backgrounds. Funding for SROs have been removed from Portland Public Schools.
From City of Portland “How will we reinvest resource from defunding SROs?”
Prognosis: In discussion
Timeline: 30 - 90 days
Legislative Leads: Mayor Ted Wheeler
End zero tolerance policies in schools
With the removal of SROs in schools, redirect funding for increased school counselors and restorative justice practitioners trained in de-escalation, mental health supports and/or culturally specific social service backgrounds. The City of Portland is looking to support this effort.
Prognosis: In discussion
Timeline: 30 - 90 days
Legislative Leads: Unassigned
