Education Committee
Chair: Morgan Anderson, Intel
Ensuring a world-class education system for all Oregonians is critical to the state’s ability to compete in the global economy and maintain a high quality of life for all Oregonians. There is a need for a coordinated systematic approach to delivering a highly qualified workforce for Oregon businesses. In addition, investments are needed at every stage of the education continuum, from Pre-K to higher education.
K-12 Funding and Reform
OBA has worked jointly with several Superintendents, Stand for Children, and Chalkboard Project on a bold agenda that identifies high leverage opportunities to create an educational system that prepares Oregon’s students for their next level or education and training to compete in a global economy.
Improve Statewide Governance & Maximize Teacher Quality
- Make the state superintendent an appointed position, confirmed by the Senate
- Continue the current investment in quality core professional development and mentorship for teachers and administrators
- Implement a rigorous statewide performance evaluation system for every educator, allowing local districts to develop systems with a multiple performance measures, including student growth as a factor. The evaluation must be proficiency-based and aligned with adopted state teaching standards.
- Explore and develop new career pathways and new compensation models by investing in research-based initiatives like the CLASS Project by creating the School District Collaboration Grant Program.
Reform Education Service Districts
OBA supports efforts to increase efficiency of school administration by consolidating back-office services and reforming ESDs.
Invest in Early Childhood Education
OBA supports maintaining funding for Head Start and Early Head Start at 09-11 budget levels.
Restructure Higher Education
Oregon’s economy depends on a well-educated workforce. OBA has worked with the state’s three other major business associations – Associated Oregon Industries, the Oregon Business Council and the Portland Business Alliance – to develop a common message about improving Oregon’s university system.
1. The Joint Task Force supports the recommendations of the Chancellor and the OUS Board to discontinue the system’s status as a state agency to improve flexibility to meet statewide education goals as efficiently as possible.
2. OUS needs a financing mechanism that provides adequate, predictable and ongoing support for the institutions. Any governance change must be made within the context of the state’s comprehensive and long-term funding solution for all of education. We urge the state to maintain appropriate funding for the entire post-secondary system.
3. A centralized coordinating board is imperative to ensure that programs are delivered in a manner that ensures maximum benefit to all Oregonians and quality standards are achieved. The overall system must be designed and managed to achieve the best results for the entire university system, not for the benefit of any one university or state agency.
4. For universities positioned to have them, the question of local boards should be answered, including how and when they will be formed and what authorities they should have. Additional university-level local governance may strengthen the ability of some institutions to serve Oregon students; therefore, we believe this idea should be more thoroughly explored.
2012 Committee Schedule: Third Fridays, Noon – 1:30
OBA Staff Contact: Elizabeth Howe