SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon House has approved a pair of school funding bills that education interests warn will lead to teacher layoffs, shorter school years and larger classes.
The House votes on Wednesday followed a vigorous debate about how much spending should go to schools during a budget crisis.
The $5.7 billion spending plan draws on $123 million in savings but still leaves schools $1 billion short of the money they say is needed to continue services at their current levels. Education interests have warned that the approved funding is low and will force teacher layoffs, shorter school years and larger class sizes.
The House’s vote sends the measures to Gov. John Kitzhaber, who hasn’t said whether he’ll support tapping savings from the Education Stability Fund.
