2026 Legislative Agenda
Oregon thrives only when every Oregonian has the opportunity to thrive. This begins by delivering an effective public education system that embraces every child and helps all children learn, grow, and succeed. To solve our biggest challenges as a state, we must nurture the next generation of leaders and creative problem-solvers.
In recent years, the Legislature has taken important steps to strengthen our education system, including linking critical funding increases to higher expectations for outcomes and system accountability. This community-driven legislative agenda builds on progress made and points to the leadership needed for Oregon to meet this critical moment.
To achieve a high-quality and racially just education system that works for every student in every corner of the state, we must:
Deliver on the Promise of Real Accountability for K-12 System Improvement
Boldly Recommit to Culturally Specific Student Support Strategies
Protect Summer Learning and Support After-School School Programs
Defend Students and Families Impacted by Aggressive Immigration Enforcement (LC 74)
Protect Oregon’s Future by Protecting Oregon’s Youngest Learners
Download the Agenda:
Call to Action!
2026 Legislative Priorities
Deliver on the Promise of Real Accountability for K-12 System Improvement
The Legislature must double down on concrete expectations outlined in Oregon’s 2025 K-12 Accountability and Improvement bill (SB 141). This bill represents our collective promise as state leaders, districts, educators, and communities to hold ourselves—and each other—accountable for the success of every child. With the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, states must step up to protect students’ civil rights, deliver strong guidance on best practices, and compile trustworthy data that tells the truth about student outcomes.
The Legislature must closely monitor implementation, ensure all K-12 funding is invested strategically, and provide relentless leadership to stay the course. As SB 141 moves into implementation, we as community partners not only expect, but insist, that state leaders hear our voices, leverage our contributions, and honor our lived experiences.
Boldly Recommit to Culturally Specific Student Support Strategies
Equity-focused and culturally specific investments have been rolled back both in Oregon and nationally. The Legislature must stand up against further erosion of targeted, community-driven student support strategies, and courageously uphold Oregon’s value of opportunity for all.
Community-based strategies work because our organizations are able to engage kids and families who our public systems fail to reach. We are integral parts of the education ecosystem, and we know what our kids need to stay engaged. In partnership with schools, we can help ensure that every student has access to the resources and relationships they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Protect Summer Learning and Support After-School Programs
In the face of budget pressures, legislators must protect hard-earned funding for summer learning. They must also restart the necessary conversation about funding for after-school programs.
Summer and after-school programs pick up where school leaves off, creating opportunities for learning and social emotional growth while providing students a sense of safety and deeper connections to school. The strongest programs are delivered in partnership between schools and communities, and provide a balance of high-quality academic and enrichment activities.
With stable funding, schools and community partners can move beyond a patchwork of uneven programming to build a reliable network of high-quality programs that students and families can count on, during both the summer and after school.
OPEJ is proud to stand in solidarity with advocates advancing two additional priorities for the 2026 legislative session:
Defend Students and Families Impacted by Aggressive Immigration Enforcement (LC 74)
OPEJ stands with immigrant rights advocates in calling on the Legislature to ensure that schools provide clear and timely notifications to families and community partners any time federal immigration enforcement officers enter school property.
For more information, contact:
Mercedes Elizalde, Latino Network (mercedes@latnet.org)Protect Oregon’s Future by Protecting Oregon’s Youngest Learners
OPEJ echoes parents, caregivers, business leaders, and early childhood advocates as we all call on the Legislature to restore recent funding cuts and shore up the state’s most critical investments in early childhood health, well-being, and education.
For more information, contact:
Dana Hepper, Children’s Institute (dana@childinst.org)
We envision a racially just, community-centered education system that supports every child with equitable access to safe, inclusive, and welcoming learning environments, ensuring all children in Oregon are empowered to grow into thriving global citizens.
