Tonya Coker advocates for House Bill 2682 to support early childhood education funding

In a compelling testimony before the Senate Committee on Education, Tonya Coker, executive director of early learning for Willamette Education Service District, passionately advocated for House Bill 2682, highlighting the urgent need for updated funding models for early childhood education services. Coker's remarks underscored the stark financial challenges faced by programs serving children with special needs, revealing a troubling trend: her program received $4 million less in funding for the 2023-2025 biennium, despite an increase in the number of children served.

Coker emphasized the significant return on investment in early childhood education, citing research that suggests every dollar spent yields a return of $4 to $9. She illustrated this point with the story of a former student, Jackson, who, after receiving early intervention services, made remarkable progress, transitioning off an Individualized Education Program (IEP) by second grade. Coker's testimony resonated with the committee, as she stressed that early investment in services not only benefits individual children but also strengthens communities as a whole.

The committee concluded the hearing on House Bill 2682 without further questions, but discussions are set to continue with upcoming informational sessions on other bills, including House Bill 2997, scheduled for April 21. The urgency of reforming funding for early childhood education remains a critical topic as lawmakers consider the long-term impacts on Oregon's youngest learners.