SALEM, Ore. (AP) — After weeks of negotiations over major education initiatives, Oregon lawmakers have agreed to advance 13 bills for votes in the House and Senate.
Lawmakers say the package will be changed and passed out of a budget committee on Friday. There is no agreement that the bills will pass the full House or Senate.
The package gives Republicans, Democrats and the governor an opportunity to advance their top education priorities. Republicans want expanded access for charter schools and more opportunities for students to attend schools outside their home district.
Democrats want more funding for schools, expanded access to full-day kindergarten and the ability for schools to opt out of education service districts.
Gov. John Kitzhaber wants to merge the governance of education into a single panel called the Education Investment Board.
