For more than a century, OEA members have joined together with families and community leaders to advocate for our students and our public schools.
And along the way, we’ve accomplished quite a bit.
Take a look at what we can do together when we use our collective power to speak up for students and educators.
Our 2023 Legislative Victories
Public Education Funding
A No-Cuts Budget For K-12 School and Community Colleges
Following the advocacy of OEA members, lawmakers passed $10.3 billion of funding for Oregon's K-12 neighborhood public schools, and $800 million for Oregon's community colleges. This funding meets the amount OEA has determined necessary for districts and colleges to maintain their current service levels for Oregon's students.
Access to Higher Education
Historic Increases to Oregon Opportunity Grants
Expanding access to learning opportunities is a foundational goal of OEA's legislative program. That's why we have long advocated for greater funding for the Oregon Opportunity Grants program, which helps Oregonians attend community college. This year, lawmakers allocated $308 million for the program - a historic level of funding.
Local Support for Student Needs
New Funding for Student Investment Accounts
Nearly 1,000 OEA members from across the state wrote their lawmakers and urged them to protect the Student Success Act and ensure that Student Investment Account funding would continue to be directed by local districts and educators. Not only was our lobbying successful, but it resulted in $146 million in additional funding for communities to address the unique needs of their students.
Part-Time Faculty Healthcare
Dental and Vision Required in Part-Time Faculty Health Care Plans
After years of advocacy around the issue, OEA was able to win guaranteed access to health care for Oregon's part-time faculty members who are eligible for PERS during the 2022 legislative session. This year's bill builds upon that win, and requires that health care plans for part-time faculty members include dental and vision care.
Workplace Protections for Support Staff
Just Cause Required for ESP Terminations
Under new legislation passed during the 2023 legislative session, Education Support Professionals (ESPs) working for Oregon's public schools can only be fired from their position for just cause - giving the hardworking staff who help our schools operate a basic workplace protection they have long deserved.
Improving the Educator Pipeline
Additional Scholarship Funding for Oregon's Student Teachers
We know that one of the main barriers to new educators entering the profession is the cost. OEA continues to work with lawmakers to find new ways to bring down the cost of earning a teaching license, and this legislative session we were able to increase the amount of student teaching scholarship awards from $10K to $12K.
