Achievement Compact Authority and Rudy Crew Press Release

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OREGON SAVE OUR SCHOOLS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 5, 2012            

ADVOCACY GROUP TO TELL RUDY CREW AND STATE BOARD, “OBEY THE LAW!”

Oregon Save Our Schools (SOS) announced today they are challenging the Oregon Education Investment Board (OEIB), and its Chief Education Officer, Rudy Crew, with violating Senate Bill 1581, which established the Investment Board and Crew’s position. Senate Bill 1581 clearly mandates that every public school district prepare and submit an “Achievement Compact” to the Investment Board stating its projected targets for student performance.  

The law states that … “the governing body of the education entity (local school board) shall identify target numbers and percentages for the Achievement Compact. “  The power to order changes in those targets was not provided to Crew or the OEIB, yet Crew sent letters to 69 school districts demanding they raise their targets and re-submit their revised Achievement Compacts.

SOS will present testimony, as well as provide detailed information regarding their assertions, at the Investment Board’s meeting on October 9 in Salem.

Oregon Save Our Schools is also taking issue with Crew’s recent message that “funding is off the table,” which he delivered to the 275 participants at the September 19 Clackamas County Education Summit. SB 1581 requires that the OEIB notify districts regarding what their actual funding level will be and what the funding level would be based upon the state’s Quality Education Model.  

This information must be provided to each district BEFORE the district sets targets for the Achievement Compacts.  The law also specifies that school boards shall prepare their Achievement Compact each year AS PART OF THEIR BUDGETING PROCESS. SOS will demand that the state Board and Crew abide by this section of SB 1581 as well. SOS will also remind the Oregon Education Investment Board and Rudy Crew of the powers and duties provided local school boards in the Oregon Revised Statutes #332.

Oregon Save Our Schools is a volunteer advocacy organization of parents, private sector leaders, and educators advocating for improved funding for public schools, ending “high stakes” testing, and preserving local control and public engagement in developing state education policies. 

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