House committee hears testimony for $10 million transfer to Oregon Teachers Scholars Program

House Education Committee Chair opened a public hearing Feb. 12 on House Bill 3,200, which would direct the Oregon Department of Education to allocate $10,000,000 from the Fund for Student Success to the Oregon Teachers Scholars Program and declares an emergency with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Supporters told the committee the program is a targeted investment to increase the number of linguistically and culturally diverse educators in Oregon classrooms. Sarah Arbuckle, chief of staff to Representative Hua Wynne, read Wynne’s written testimony into the record, saying, “I am state representative Hua Wynne and I represent House District 48, which includes Outer Southeast Portland and North Clackamas County. I'm here today to testify in strong support of house bill 3,200,” and urging the committee to back the bill. Cynthia Branger Munoz, speaking for the Oregon Education Association, said OEA “strongly supports HB…