Education

Digest: Tells DELC to provide information to some people who are looking for child care. Allows ODHS to provide that information on behalf of DELC. (Flesch Readability Score 67.7). ] Directs the Department of Early Learning and Care to provide standardized information on all publicly funded early learning and care programs and resources available in this state to people who apply for or are placed on the waitlist for the Employment Related Day Care subsidy program. Allows the Early Learning System Director to delegate this responsibility to the Department of Human Services by interagency agreement with the Director of Human Services. [ Directs the Department of Early Learning and Care, in consultation with the Department of Education and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, to review and develop recommendations on background check requirements for publicly funded staff working under the jurisdiction of these agencies and submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to education and early learning and care no later than September 15, 2026. ] Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Directs school districts to adopt policies that provide for the immediate enrollment, school placement and provision of services to homeless students. Directs the Department of Education to designate a state coordinator for the education of homeless students.

Establishes the Oregon Imagination Library Program to provide a free book each month to eligible children, encourage children to develop a love of reading and learning and improve school readiness, third-grade reading proficiency and high school graduation rates. Directs the Department of Early Learning and Care to implement and administer the program. Authorizes the Early Learning Council, in consultation with the department, to adopt rules necessary to implement the program. Establishes the Oregon Imagination Library Account within the department for purposes of funding the program.

Expands the goals and purposes of the Prosperity 10,000 Program. Requires the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to award grants to local workforce development boards to administer the program. Requires local workforce development boards to consider certain factors when distributing funds to certain entities.

Directs the State Board of Education to allow play-based learning to be considered instructional time for students in kindergarten through grade five.