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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3449
Sponsored by Representative MCLAIN
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: Modifies the grants and rules for a pilot program that provides support to foster child
students. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.6).
Allows moneys available for a pilot program to provide support to foster child students to be
used in other schools of the grantee’s school district. Requires collaboration between the Depart-
ment of Education and the Department of Human Services for the administration of the pilot pro-
gram.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to a pilot program to provide support to foster child students; creating new provisions;
amending sections 1 and 3, chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2024; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. Section 1, chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2024, is amended to read:
Sec. 1. (1) As used in this section, “foster child student” means a student enrolled in middle
school or high school who is a foster child because the student is:
(a) In the care and custody of the Department of Human Services pursuant to the provisions of
ORS chapter 418 or 419B and is placed in substitute care; or
(b) A ward, as defined in ORS 419A.004, who remains in the legal custody of the ward’s parent
or who is in the care and custody of the Department of Human Services but who is residing with
the ward’s parent.
(2)(a) The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Human Ser-
vices, shall establish and administer a pilot program to provide support for foster child students to
improve the educational outcomes of foster child students.
(b) Under the pilot program, the Department of Education shall provide grants to [public
schools in this state] school districts for distribution to any of the middle schools or high
schools of the school district to improve the educational outcomes of foster child students by ad-
dressing:
(A) The disparities experienced by foster child students in indicators of academic success;
(B) The historical practices leading to disproportionate outcomes for foster child students; and
(C) The educational needs of foster child students.
(c) [Schools] School districts participating in the pilot program must ensure that foster child
students are provided access to an individual who will:
(A) Serve as an educational advocate for a foster child student; and
(B) Provide guidance for and support to a foster child student for educational purposes.
(3) The Department of Education shall use moneys in the Statewide Education Initiatives Ac-
count to provide funding for the pilot program. The pilot program shall be considered a statewide
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 4106 HB3449
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education plan for purposes of ORS 327.254.
(4) The Department of Education shall select three [public middle or high schools in this state]
school districts to participate in the pilot program. The school districts shall distribute moneys
received under this section to any of the middle schools or high schools of the school district
for the purpose of the pilot program. The department shall focus on geographically diverse re-
gions when selecting [schools] school districts to participate in the pilot program.
(5) The Department of Education shall submit reports concerning the pilot program to the in-
terim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to education as follows:
(a) The first report must be submitted no later than September 15, 2025, and must summarize
progress on the development and administration of the pilot program.
(b) The second report must be submitted no later than September 15, 2027, and:
(A) Must provide a summary of the pilot program, including any changes in the educational
outcomes of foster child students who participated in the pilot program; and
(B) May provide recommendations for a statewide education plan related to foster child stu-
dents.
(6) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the administration of this
section, and any rules must be adopted after consulting with the Department of Human Ser-
vices.
SECTION 2. (1) The amendments to section 1, chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2024, by section
1 of this 2025 Act, apply to grants awarded prior to, on or after the effective date of this 2025
Act.Any grants awarded to a school prior to the effective date of this 2025 Act may be
distributed to other schools in the school district in a manner consistent with section 1,
chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2024.
(2) The amendments to section 1, chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2024, by section 1 of this 2025
Act apply to rules adopted on or after the effective date of this 2025 Act. Within 30 days of
the effective date of this 2025 Act, the State Board of Education shall review with the De-
partment of Human Services any rules adopted prior to the effective date of this 2025 Act
and shall consider any proposed amendments that would assist with the administration of
the pilot program.
SECTION 3. Section 3, chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2024, is amended to read:
Sec. 3. Section 1 [of this 2024 Act], chapter 33, Oregon Laws 2024, is repealed on [June 30,
2027] January 2, 2028.
SECTION 4.This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect
on its passage.
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