Oregon State Seal

OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICANS

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 28, 2011

Contact: Rep. Matt Wingard

503-986-1426

 

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL

TO SUPPORT OREGON’S PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS

 

SALEM—The House Education Committee today approved legislation to improve Oregon’s charter school law.  Committee Co-Chair Matt Wingard (R-Wilsonville) says HB 2287 will establish clear and fair standards for those working to open and maintain charter schools in their communities.

 

“Over the past ten years, many charter schools have faithfully followed state laws and guidelines in opening new schools to educate our kids,” Rep. Wingard said. “However, many have experienced arbitrary and unreasonable roadblocks in the process.  This bipartisan bill attempts to fix some of those problems and ensure that the intent of Oregon’s charter school law is honored.”

 

HB 2287 provides consistent guidelines for school districts to follow as they determine whether to accept or deny a proposed charter school, and it prohibits districts from imposing certain bureaucratic obstacles that are only intended to delay a proposed charter school from moving forward. 

 

Under current law, a district can arbitrarily determine that a proposal is incomplete and stop the process before it ever gets started.  They can also approve a proposal but later insist on provisions that are different from the proposal they approved.  Districts can even deny a proposal citing specific concerns, and after organizers address those concerns, deny a re-submitted proposal for entirely different reasons. Rep. Wingard says HB 2287 will solve these problems.

 

“This bill is designed to prevent abuse of the charter school approval process,” Rep. Wingard said.  “HB 2287 improves Oregon’s charter school law, and ensures that proposed charter schools are judged on their merits.” 

 

HB 2287 now moves to the House Floor.

 

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