HB4082 funds a Summer Learning Grant program for K-12 students, providing $30 million from the Corporate Activity Tax for summer 2024 programs focused on academic enrichment, mental health, and equitable access. The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) will oversee the grants with an additional staff position. The bill also allocates $417,039 from the General Fund for three temporary ODE positions to study and recommend improvements for summer and after-school learning programs, with a final report due by September 15, 2024.
The Oregon State Senate passed HB4082 on March 5, 2024 by a vote of 26 to 4. We have assigned pluses to the nays because education is not a proper function of government, and taxpayers should not be forced to fund schooling and education programs for other people’s children—especially through taxpayer-funded grants that allow the government to pick winners and losers. Furthermore, prioritizing equity over equality fosters division rather than unity. Instead of relying on government-run schools, we encourage parents to seek sound alternatives, such as homeschooling or patriotic private institutions like FreedomProject Academy, which operate free from government influence and funding.
