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Bill

SB 653

Relating to the abolishment of the Department of Education.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Daniel Bonham and 2 co-sponsors

SB 653 would abolish Oregon's Department of Education, eliminating state oversight of K-12 schools, teacher certification, and education funding distribution affecting 560,000+ students.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SB 653

Legislative bill overview

SB 653 proposes to eliminate Oregon's Department of Education entirely. The bill has been introduced but remains in the Education Committee without advancement since January 2025. No fiscal analysis or implementation details are currently available in the legislative record.

Why is this important

Oregon's Department of Education oversees K-12 public schools, special education, school finance, teacher certification, and curriculum standards affecting 560,000+ students. Abolishing it would require transferring these functions elsewhere or eliminating them, fundamentally restructuring how the state manages education policy and funding.

Potential points of contention

  • Regulatory vacuum: No clear mechanism specified for who manages teacher certification, school accreditation, special education compliance, or federal education funding requirements
  • Local control vs. accountability: Unclear whether the bill intends to shift all responsibility to 197 school districts or eliminate state oversight entirely, potentially creating equity disparities
  • Federal compliance: States must maintain education departments to administer federal programs (Title I, IDEA, civil rights enforcement); abolishment could jeopardize federal funding and create legal liability
  • Implementation costs: Eliminating a major state agency typically requires significant transition spending, yet no fiscal impact statement appears available

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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