Today, Governor Tina Kotek hosted a signing ceremony for House Bill 4082, which legislators passed and the Governor signed this year to provide $30 million in state funding for summer learning opportunities across Oregon.

The funding means an estimated 48,000 students across Oregon will benefit from summer learning programs this year. The bill also creates a workgroup to develop recommendations for sustainable long-term funding for summer.

“Our goals must be student-centered to reduce opportunity gaps for historically underserved students and raise the bar on outcomes for all students,” Governor Kotek said. “And we have to help families know their children have a safe, welcoming place to learn during the summer months and after school.”

“In Oregon, summer is another season for learning,” said Dr. Charlene Williams, director of the Oregon Department of Education. “This summer, students should grab their notebooks, pens, curiosity and hiking shoes and get ready for a summer of learning and adventure. Summer learning is not summer school. In Oregon, it's a season of creative thinking, problem solving and engaging, hands-on learning.”

Additionally, Governor Kotek gave an update on the commitment she made to address core issues that educators have raised about the funding necessary to improve outcomes for students across Oregon. Governor Kotek said her office and the Oregon Department of Education are working on:

• Updating the calculation of current service level for the State School Fund, starting with a series of roundtable discussions about education funding and learning outcomes;
• Reviewing the definition of education accountability;
• Strengthening financial transparency so that district budget information is more accessible and easier to understand for the public; and
• Developing long-term approaches for summer and afterschool learning and early literacy.

“Our basic approach to funding K-12 education is more than 30 years old,” Governor Kotek said. “It’s time to review and update.”