Hearing on Oregon SB3 Rule Implementation

Posted by Pam Leavitt on May 31, 2024

The Oregon Senate Interim Education Committee held a hearing this week on rule implementation of SB3, the GoWest Credit Union Association’s financial education bill from the 2023 legislative session.  As a reminder, Senate Bill 3 modified high school diploma requirements. Prior to the enactment of SB 3, the 24 total credits were required to include at least three credits of mathematics, four credits of language arts and one half-credit of civics. With the enactment of SB 3, the subject-matter credit requirements were expanded to include one half-credit of higher education and career path skills and one half-credit of personal financial education.

On April 18, 2024, the State Board of Education proposed two options for a rule that would implement the new subject-matter credit requirements prescribed by the enactment of SB 3. Of concern was the issue of not having financial literacy as a stand-alone course.  The Board is scheduled to consider the academic course subject standards and the implementation rules at its meeting on June 13. The Department of Education staff have recommended an option that would give Oregon districts the flexibility to include personal finance concepts in a different academic course, as opposed to a standalone class.  A standalone class is a national best practice and important to correct inequity in the current system that penalizes students from underrepresented communities, who are far less likely to get the financial education they need if a class is not mandatory and guaranteed. The Board is scheduled to consider the academic course subject standards and the implementation rules at its meeting on June 13.

Yesterday, the Office Legislative Counsel issued an official position on the two proposed rules stating that these options “exceed the statutory authority granted by the enabling legislation.”  They are basically telling the Department of Education that neither rule complies with the legislative intent of SB3. 

Their opinion reads, “As a result of our analysis of the text and context of ORS 329.451 and the legislative history of SB 3, we conclude that the State Board of Education lacks the statutory authority to integrate the new subject matter requirements into other subject matter courses. Whereas both Option A and Option B authorize that approach to various degrees, both options exceed the statutory authority granted by the enabling legislation. Accordingly, we find that both Option A and Option B do not comply with the statutory authority of SB 3.”

The Department stated in the hearing that they will have a new proposed rule for consideration on June 6 with a final vote on June 13^th.

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Oregon Advocacy.