Chalkboard Project Releases It’s 2007 Legislative Proposals

The group is calling for targeted investments in proven reforms, efficiency savings, bigger stability fund, and no new taxes.

(PORTLAND) - Oregon schools must transform the way they support educators and their youngest students, while renewing their efforts to save money and show citizens how money is spent.

In return, the state must provide a guaranteed level of school spending that provides more financial and service stability from year to year.

Those are the key legislative action items the independent, non-partisan Chalkboard Project will focus on during the 2007 legislative session.

“Thanks to a growing economy, we will have more money to invest in our schools next year, which we support,” said Sue Hildick, Chalkboard Project president. “But our message to the governor and legislators is clear: Stronger school budgets are only part of the solution to the challenges we face. We’ve got to target funds toward proven reforms that will raise student achievement and increase Oregonians’ confidence that they’re getting the most for their K-12 investment.”

Chalkboard’s legislative priorities center on four areas where Oregon can begin improving schools immediately: Ensuring high-quality teachers in every classroom and high-quality principals in every school; providing more support to early learners; increasing financial accountability; and strengthening school system funding.

“We must lower dropout and teacher attrition rates, and reduce class sizes in key grades. We must raise our students’ reading and math performance. And we must increase Oregonians’ confidence that schools are spending money wisely,” said Hildick. “Eighty percent of Oregonians want our schools to be among the best in the country, and Oregon needs to make a commitment to get them there.”

“For too long, we’ve put off taking the pragmatic, research-based steps that address these challenges. It’s time for Oregonians and their leaders to stop talking about what our schools need to do to improve, and take actual steps to improve them. It’s time to stop arguing over which budget number is ‘enough’ for schools and focus the growing resources we have on the areas where they will make the most difference for kids – a priority Oregonians agree with by a two-to-one margin.”

Provide high-quality mentors for new teachers and administrators, expand training educators receive to raise student achievement, and make it easier for those in other professions to transition to teaching careers..

Phase in class size reductions in kindergarten and first grade, so that within four years, classes in those two grades will include no more than 15 students.

Fund individual reading support to every child reading below grade level in grades K-3.

Create a statewide program to improve schools’ financial accountability and save money by identifying and following best financial practices in business operations, restructuring how district transportation is funded, and setting long-term health care spending targets.

Establish a guaranteed level of spending per student to ensure Oregon can sustain the K-12 services it currently provides, capture efficiency savings and support targeted investments to improve student achievement, and double the size of the state’s education stability fund to make sure that spending guarantee can be supported in any given year.

Chalkboard, formed by five of Oregon’s largest philanthropic foundations in 2004, introduced its 2007 legislative agenda this morning at an event at Portland’s Rosa Parks Elementary School. Chalkboard board members and staff, state legislators and other citizens distributed free books to students in kindergarten through third grade to highlight Chalkboard’s emphasis on creating strong, young readers. Chalkboard will hold similar book distribution events Wednesday at Washington Elementary School in Medford, Thursday at R.E. Jewell Elementary School in Bend and Friday at Meadowlark Elementary School in Eugene.

“Change is uncomfortable, but necessary. We need major, statewide changes that can be locally implemented to boost student achievement significantly and give Oregonians renewed confidence and pride in their public schools,” said Hildick. “What we’re offering today is a choice to Oregon: A practical, research-based approach to improving schools that’s supported by a majority of Oregonians, or continued stalemate.”

Chalkboard will continue pursuing other initiatives outside the legislative process in 2007, including funding voluntary pilot programs in districts around the state to test new career paths and salary structures for teachers in Oregon and expanding the Open Book$ website (www.openbooksproject.org), launched earlier this year to show Oregonians how school district dollars are spent. And Chalkboard is continuing research on a number of other proposals to improve student achievement and spending efficiency, from giving students more choice about which public schools they attend, to finding more long-term savings while building a stronger school revenue structure. For more detailed information on Chalkboard’s initiatives, visit www.chalkboardproject.org.

“There are varied ways to strengthen schools, but Oregonians have stated their priorities,” said Charlie Walker, chair of Chalkboard’s board of directors. “Oregonians have spoken clearly. They want better schools with high student achievement. They want all students in all districts to receive a K-12 education that is among the strongest in the nation. They want to know their tax dollars are being used wisely. Let’s respond and move forward with an evidence-based, tested and proven plan to improve schools.”