Charter leaders and critics clash as committee hears bill to equalize charter funding

House Bill 3,444—proposed legislation to increase state funding parity for public charter schools—drew a large in-person turnout during a lengthy House Education Committee hearing. The measure would require school districts to pay non-virtual public charter schools 95% of the district’s general-purpose grant per weighted average daily membership and would make those charters eligible for certain local, state and federal funding programs, including student achievement and transportation grants, according to the staff summary.

Supporters—charter leaders, parents and students—testified that current Oregon law leaves many charter schools underfunded and forces them to divert limited operating dollars to basic…