Oregon changes funding method for summer learning programs
By Terry Murry on Thursday, April 25th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – The Oregon Legislature has changed the way public school districts fund summer learning programs. Lawmakers who set aside more money than before for the programs, specified precedence should be given to districts with underserved students.
The result is there will be two rounds of funding. The first named more than 70 districts in the state that are guaranteed funds if they apply. InterMountain Education Service District Superintendent Mark Mulvihill said that it’s probable that not all of them will choose to apply.
The remaining funding is set aside for a second round of funding. The state ranked the districts that applied as well as those placed on a waiting list. ODE also gave the order of priority for the districts on the waiting list.
In this area, Nixyaawii Community School, InterMountain ESD, and the Hermiston, Umatilla, Ukiah, Milton-Freewater, Morrow County, and Stanfield school districts were all deemed eligible to apply. Of those, the largest grant was for $1,237,000 for the Hermiston School District’s summer learning program.
The chart below, put together by IMESD Program Resources Director Denyce Kelly, shows the rankings of all the schools within the IMESD service area, including those that have opted to provide their own services independent of InterMountain.
Photo: File photo from a previous summer learning program at the Hermiston School District
