Education Leaders Applaud the Oregon Legislature’s Passage of Critical Education Bills

SALEM, ORE.—June 22, 2011— With the passage of a historic package of bills aimed at improving Oregon’s statewide education system, the Oregon Legislature made a strong statement that this state can and will do a better job of educating its students. These bills have the potential to improve the governance and efficiency of our school systems, to better prepare and support our classroom teachers, and to give students more pathways to success. We applaud the commitment of the Governor and leaders of both parties in working to reach a compromise on these important bills.

Throughout the session, the Chalkboard Project, the Oregon Business Association, Stand for Children and a small group of district superintendents worked in concerted support of positive changes to our education system, and it is our belief that Oregonians will be well served by this legislation.  There is much more work to be done if we are to truly transform our education system into one that can meet the needs of our state and our students, but these bills represent important first steps in a brighter, more hopeful direction.