Proponents tell House Rules committee tribes should be allowed to apply directly to State Board to open charter schools

House Bill 3,953 was presented April 21 to the House Committee on Rules. The bill would permit the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon to apply directly to the State Board of Education to sponsor a charter school, while preserving the tribes’ option to seek authorization through a local school district.

Representative Thomas Sanchez, sponsor and a state representative for House District 43, said the change is intended to respect tribal sovereignty and to address longstanding harms tribal communities have experienced in public education. Sanchez said tribes have distinct histories — including the boarding school era — that justify a direct application route so tribes are not forced to rely solely on local districts with which relations have sometimes been strained.

Justin Martin, representing the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and speaking as a tribal member, said the change would enable tribes to…