Education (K-12 Education)

Directs the State Board of Education to allow play-based learning to be considered instructional time for students in kindergarten through grade five.

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require a portion of surplus revenue that would otherwise be returned to personal income taxpayers to be used for funding public kindergarten through grade 12 education, community colleges and wildfire prevention and suppression, if surplus revenue exceeds a certain threshold. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Establishes the Oregon Imagination Library Program to provide a free book each month to eligible children, encourage children to develop a love of reading and learning and improve school readiness, third-grade reading proficiency and high school graduation rates. Directs the Department of Early Learning and Care to implement and administer the program. Authorizes the Early Learning Council, in consultation with the department, to adopt rules necessary to implement the program. Establishes the Oregon Imagination Library Account within the department for purposes of funding the program.

Authorizes a teacher to immediately remove from the classroom setting a student who repeatedly interferes with the teacher's ability to communicate effectively with the students in the class or with the ability of the students to learn. Prescribes requirements for the return of a student to the classroom setting. Requires a school district to convene a placement review committee when a student is removed from a classroom setting. Requires a student to demonstrate proficiency in specified Essential Learning Skills prior to the student being awarded a high school diploma or a modified diploma. Directs the State Board of Education to adopt academic content standards for language arts based on the science of reading and writing. Prohibits school districts from advancing students who are not able to demonstrate third-grade reading proficiency. Provides exceptions. Takes effect July 1, 2026.