On this day, July 22, 2020, protesters broke into the Portland Police Association building, set it on fire and started dumpster fires late today, as demonstrations that have been taking place since the death of George Floyd intensified for another night. Navy veteran Christopher David (53), a peaceful protester, was hit with a baton five times by one of the militarized federal agents deployed by President Donald Trump. Another officer, wearing green military camouflage, a helmet and gas mask, sprayed David full in the face with what appears to be pepper gas. Video of the incident went viral. Federal authorities had assembled a force of 114 federal officers to protect US government buildings in Portland, in response to ongoing protests, unrest and violence there, as part of a mission dubbed "Operation Diligent Valor".
One allows parents to set up a School Choice Account
Advocates of school choice are taking a new run at amending the Oregon Constitution to provide for open enrollment and school choice. Proposed for the November 2024 ballot are two initiatives.
Initiative petition #5 would allow any child to attend any public school in which space is available and is called the Open Enrollment Amendment. Should a school have more applicants than space, it would be required to conduct an “Equitable Lottery†which means a process that must give each participating child an equal chance of selection.
Initiative petition #6 is called the School Choice Amendment and allows parents to set up a School Choice Account which is funded by 80% of the state education dollars intended for the student, which would then be controlled by the parent for educational purposes.
According to Donna Kreitzberg of
Education Freedom for Oregon, "We are bringing School Choice to Oregon to give parents a voice in the education of their children and so that parents have equal access to Oregon's education dollars. Oregon's education dollars are meant to educate ALL of Oregon's K-12 students, not just those in public school. By using our School Choice measures parents will have the constitutionally protected right to choose the schooling for their children, whether that is in traditional public school, public charter school, private school or homeschool. We would love the public's help to gather our needed 2000 sponsorship signatures for each measure so that these amendments will be on the Nov 2024 ballot. Together we can ensure that all Oregon's K-12 students have the opportunity for a great education."
Many Oregon residents have become disillusioned with the performance of public schools and school choice backers see the current climate as an opportunity to make changes in how education is funded and where a child can attend school.
An initiative proposal sponsored by Marc Thielman
was rejected in January this year based on advice from Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. That initiative had a similar proposal requiring education dollars to be controlled by parents. It was rejected because it changed multiple parts of the Oregon Constitution, which is not allowed under the "single subject" rule.
--Staff Reports| Post Date: 2022-05-25 15:26:33 | Last Update: 2022-05-25 20:33:50 |
