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Students and CTSO leaders urge lawmakers to preserve CTE student‑organization funding amid proposed cuts
Summary
Student leaders and representatives of career and technical student organizations told the SB 5515 hearing that an 11% cut to CTSO funding would reduce access to hands‑on career education and urged the Legislature to hold or increase current grants-in‑aid.
Students, CTSO leaders and CTE advocates urged the subcommittee to maintain or increase state funding for Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) as part of SB 5515 deliberations.
Ryan Underwood, director for the Oregon CTE Student Leadership Foundation, described a consortium of CTSOs that serve 25,000 students across more than 200 schools and said the current $400,000 annual state allocation has been essential but “the governor's recommended budget is proposing an 11% cut to the funding level.” He asked the committee to sustain the current level so CTSOs can continue student membership, leadership development and competition programs.
Student leaders testified about personal benefits. Kavliya Malia, a Westview High School senior and former Oregon HOSA state president, described HOSA’s role in providing pathways into health careers and called for continued funding so students — especially those from rural or low‑income backgrounds — can access mentorship and hands‑on training. Alex Wise, newly elected Oregon FFA state president, and Henry Bennett of FFA described how FFA projects and shop access translate into real business and career outcomes.
Bill Grout, treasurer for the Oregon CTE Student Leadership Foundation, said CTSO grants help with organizational operations and subsidize student membership fees; the foundation asked the Legislature to hold funding at current levels (near $1 million across programs) or increase it to $2,000,000 to expand equity and access across rural schools.
Speakers asked the subcommittee to preserve the existing grants‑in‑aid allocations for CTSOs and to consider modest increases to help introduce modern curriculum (for example an AI‑introduction effort described by an FBLA board member) and to offset declining post‑COVID participation in some student organizations.
