Note:  Education reports after January, 2024, are included in Social policy reports. Education reports prior to February, 2024, can be found HERE.

Please see the Legislation Tracker for 2025 Social Policy bills.

Jump to topic:

• Afterschool and Summer School

• Behavioral Health

• Education

• Housing Legislation

Afterschool and Summer School

By Katie Riley

The Senate Interim Committee on Education heard a report from ODE about HB2007’s

Summer Learning grants. A final report will not be available until February. The 139

grantees included 105 school districts, 13 charter schools, 15 ESDs, and 6 tribes, more

than in 2024. The legislation mandated an emphasis on research-based literacy

instruction but districts could include other academic activities. Enrichment activities could be provided if they were consistent with literacy instruction. Community-based

organizations could only be funded through partnerships with school districts or tribes.

No summer after-school programs were funded directly. Grant implementation had a

short timeline for summer 2025, but the bill framework allows multi-year funding in the

future. Currently, ODE is engaging in a rule-making process for future planning. A policy

advisory committee will be formed.

On the national level, funding has been cut for the 21st Century Learning Centers program, which paid for after-school and summer programs with academic enrichment, youth development, and family engagement opportunities for students in high-poverty schools. 

Behavioral Health

By Trish Garner

A workgroup formed by Democratic legislators has formed to consider whether

and how funding can be allocated to Planned Parenthood. This funding had been

eliminated earlier this year when H.R. 1 passed in Congress and was signed into law by

President Trump. The legislators serving on this workgroup include House Majority

Leader Ben Bowmen, Represenatatives Andrea Valderrama, April Dobson and Sue Smith, and Senators Deb Patterson and Wlnsvey Campos. Planned Parenthood provides not only abortions but a broad array of reproductive and other health care services.

Education

By Jean Pierce

Oregon’s “School Medicaid” system has not been impacted yet by funding cuts in H.R. 1, but it is possible that impacts will be felt in the future. H.R. 1 increased the work requirement for some Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. People who live in rural areas where there are fewer jobs might lose benefits. Medicaid provides federal funding for medically-necessary health services required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). If fewer families qualify for medicaid, Tenneal Wetherell, of the Oregon Department of Education, has speculated that there would be fewer IDEA funds available for students in the Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education system. Further, families could experience reduced services and longer wait times.

Schools use SNAP numbers as well as Medicaid eligibility to calculate the need for free and reduced-price meals. If fewer people qualify for the program, there may continue to be the same needs  but less support provided to schools, particularly after 2030.   Currently, 757,000 Oregonians  receive SNAP benefits. Jessie Amaya Hoffman, of the Oregon Department of Human Services, summarized research saying that children in families participating in SNAP have improved reading and mathematics skills, a greater chance of graduating from high school, and less likelihood of repeating a grade.

Federal revenue for K-12 public schools will be decreased because of H.R. 1, which is providing tax credits supporting private schools. But it is not clear currently how much this will impact Oregon. 

Higher education

 One of the biggest impacts of H.R. 1 on higher education will affect graduate students, who will no longer be able to receive Grad PLUS loans.  These provided funding to students needing to borrow more than $20,500 to pay for living expenses in addition to academic costs. Students who have depended on these loans will likely be forced to turn to private loans, with higher interest payments. It is anticipated that this will reduce the number of students pursuing graduate degrees.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reported in July, “there are currently more than 530,000 people with federal student loan debt in Oregon who owe more than $23 billion to the federal government, according to the nonprofit Student Borrower Protection Center.”

Housing

By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona

Due to declining state revenues, cuts were made by the 2025 Legislature across the board to agencies such as the Housing and Community Services Department, which received $2.6 billion, representing $1 billion less as compared to last year. 

Most concerning is the $44.6 million for emergency rental assistance and homeless prevention services, representing a 74% cut from the $173.2 million needed to maintain the current level of statewide services. 

Potentially drastic cuts to federal funding are expected to be finalized by Congress. These would further reduce the social safety net in Oregon.

Despite these cuts progress is being made to allocate funds for affordable housing and services. Oregon Housing and Community Services is turning legislative intent into new homes for Oregonians, as shown below.  

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) 

OHCS announced in September, 2025 a commitment of $291 million in funding to help develop 1,171 new affordable housing, spanning rural, Tribal, and urban communities across Oregon. These homes are coupled with services such as culturally specific services, resident support, and community partnerships tailored to meet the needs of their families.

The 12 housing projects listed below will assist older adults, veterans, families exiting homelessness, agricultural workers, and communities of color. The remarkable collaboration of more than 40 partners across Oregon, from culturally specific nonprofits and resident service providers to developers, local governments, and health organizations, will bring these homes to completion.

• 34 units at Quarterdeck Apartments in Dallas, sponsored by Polk Community Development Corporation

• 116 units at Allenwood Apartments in Grants Pass, sponsored by Oregon Human Development Corporation and NeighborWorks Umpqua

• 76 units at Chenowith Affordable Housing in The Dalles, sponsored by Northwest Housing Alternatives and Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation

• 120 units at Compass Points in Salem, sponsored by Catholic Community Services

• 15 units at Cottages United in Salem, sponsored by United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley

• 60 units at Gussie Belle II in Salem, sponsored by Green Light Development, Seed of Faith Ministries, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency

• 183 units at Joseph Street Apartments in Salem, sponsored by Neighborly Communities LLC and Community Resource Trust 

• 74 units at Bull Mountain Apartments in Tigard, sponsored by Home First Development

• 104 units at Meadowlark Place in Beaverton, sponsored by Community Partners for Affordable Housing 

• 150 units at Barbur Apartments in Portland, sponsored by Innovative Housing, Inc.

• 96 units at Jamii Court in Portland, sponsored by Community Partners for Affordable Housing

• 143 units at Flatworks Building in Portland, sponsored by SDP-ODP Management LLC

Impact of funding cuts in communities

Lane County’s allocation from the state is not final, but officials expect it will be about $7.6 million for homeless shelters and outreach work, which started in July. In comparison, the county’s state funding last year was $15 million. 

This fiscal year, at least 1,700 fewer people will receive housing assistance from Multnomah County, as the county struggles to account for the loss of about half of the state ‘s homelessness and rent assistance funding.

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County is retooling its budgets, and is forced to look at cuts. The nonprofit provider serves 4,000 to 5,000 people annually, a figure that includes people who receive shelter and those who receive other services like support in finding housing and jobs. The potential reduction is approximately $1 million.

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