(1) As used in this section, ‘plan student’ means a student enrolled in early childhood through post-secondary education who:

(a) Is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; and

(b) Has experienced disproportionate results in education due to historical practices, as identified by the State Board of Education by rule.

(2)(a) The Department of Education shall develop and implement a statewide education plan for plan students.

(b) The Department of Education shall form an advisory group consisting of individuals who:

(A) Have lived experiences with, or a demonstrated understanding of, issues facing Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander communities, including students who have those experiences or understandings;

(B) Represent community-based organizations serving Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander youth and families; and

(C) Represent education stakeholders, including representatives of the Department of Early Learning and Care, the Youth Development Division and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

(c) The advisory group formed as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection shall advise the Department of Education regarding:

(A) Development and implementation of the plan;

(B) Eligibility criteria, applicant selection processes and expectations for recipients of grant awards described in this section; and

(C) Adoption of rules by the State Board of Education for the implementation of the plan.

(3) The plan developed under this section must address:

(a) The disparities experienced by plan students in every indicator of academic success, as documented by the statewide report card and other relevant reports related to plan students;

(b) The historical practices leading to disproportionate outcomes for plan students; and

(c) The educational needs of plan students from early childhood through post-secondary education as determined by examining culturally appropriate best practices in this state and across the nation.

(4) The plan developed and implemented under this section must provide strategies to:

(a) Address the disproportionate rate of disciplinary incidents involving plan students compared to all students in the education system;

(b) Increase parental engagement in the education of plan students;

(c) Increase the engagement of plan students in educational activities before and after regular school hours;

(d) Increase early childhood education and kindergarten readiness for plan students;

(e) Improve literacy and numeracy levels among plan students between kindergarten and grade three;

(f) Support plan student transitions to middle school and through the middle school and high school grades to maintain and improve academic performance;

(g) Support culturally responsive pedagogy and practices from early childhood through post-secondary education;

(h) Support the development of culturally responsive curricula from early childhood through post-secondary education;

(i) Increase attendance of plan students in community colleges and professional certification programs;

(j) Increase attendance of plan students in four-year post-secondary institutions of education; and

(k) Align the plan with statewide education plans developed and implemented under ORS § 329.841, 329.843, 329.845 and 329.847.

(5) The Department of Education shall submit a biennial report concerning the progress of the plan developed and implemented under this section to a committee of the Legislative Assembly related to education at each even-numbered year regular session of the Legislative Assembly.

(6) The Department of Education, in consultation with the advisory group, shall award grants to Early Learning Hubs, providers of early learning services, school districts, education service districts, post-secondary institutions of education, tribal governments, community-based organizations or a consortium of these entities to implement the strategies provided in the plan developed and implemented under this section.

(7) To qualify for and receive a grant described in this section, an applicant must identify and demonstrate that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria established by the State Board of Education by rule. [2023 c.530 § 1; 2023 c.530 § 2]

329.849 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS Chapter 329 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

MISCELLANEOUS