OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICANS

KIDS LOSE AGAIN IN THE ‘HOUSE THAT OEA BUILT’

Special Interests Write, Push Bill to Stop Innovative Virtual Schools

SALEM—The House today passed a bill written by special interests that could enable state bureaucrats to shut down online virtual schools in Oregon. House Republicans today opposed Senate Bill 767 to protect the ability of parents to seek alternative educational opportunities for their children.

“Kids deserve the opportunity to learn, and parents deserve the ability to choose the best learning environment for their children,” said Rep. Sherrie Sprenger (R-Scio), Vice Chair of the House Education Committee. “SB 767 moves Oregon backward by allowing the state’s bureaucracy to stifle these innovative virtual schools.  It is unfortunate that the Legislature today chose to put the special interests ahead of all Oregon kids.”

SB 767 specifically threatens the Oregon Connections Academy (ORCA), a large and successful online virtual charter school, and imposes heavy-handed regulations that will stifle the creation of additional online charter schools. SB 767 also threatens to overturn a waiver that ORCA received from the Board of Education, which allows it to continue operating under current Oregon law. Further, the bill creates a special task force to study online charter schools. However, the panel will be dominated by members from groups that have been openly hostile to alternative education in the state.

“Thanks to effective curricula and qualified educators, Oregon’s virtual schools are helping many kids who might not be able to succeed in traditional bricks-and-mortar schools,” said Rep. Matt Wingard (R-Wilsonville). “Though virtual schools such as the Oregon Connections Academy already meet state standards, the Legislature is passing a bill that could regulate ORCA and other schools out of existence. SB 767 could close the door to brighter futures for many Oregon kids.”

The bill has been pushed primarily by Oregon Education Association, which spent over $10.4 million during the 2008 election cycle. House Republicans say the bill is yet another example of how special interests, not good policy, are dominating the agenda in the 2009 Legislature.

“With passage of SB 767, Oregon’s kids have lost again in the ‘House that OEA Built,” said House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna. “As quickly as the Democrats reject our solutions for improving the economy and moving Oregon forward, they are rubber-stamping special interest bills to settle scores and eliminate the competition. Oregonians lose when the legislative agenda is sold to the highest bidder.”

###