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Families, educators urge legislature to add $24 million for early intervention and boost regional inclusive services funding
Summary
Parents, special‑education providers and regional directors told the Senate Ways and Means education subcommittee during a public hearing on SB 5515 that early intervention and regional inclusive services need substantial increases to avoid service cuts and layoffs.
Speakers at a March 26 public hearing on Senate Bill 5515 urged the Legislature to raise funding for Oregon’s early intervention and early childhood special education (EIE/Early Childhood Special Education) and regional inclusive services, saying current proposals fall short of federally mandated service levels.
Kevin Anderson, an administrator with the Multnomah Early Childhood Program, told the committee that EIE programs serve more than 14,500 children statewide and that “we are a federally mandated program, and we are not allowed to have any wait list or delays.” He described strict federal timelines for service delivery and said the governor’s recommended budget would require an additional $24,000,000 to meet adequate service levels.
That request was echoed by multiple presenters. Lisa McConachie, director of Columbia Regional…
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