Outdoor School Funding Update

August 6, 2025

Outdoor School Friends,

Many legislators continue to lack accurate information about Outdoor School funding. This is creating a misunderstanding about the cut that Outdoor School is enduring. We need your help to guide legislators toward the correct funding details.


ACTION: Please call or email your legislators with the correct information.

TALKING POINTS:

  • In 2016, Oregon voters overwhelmingly approved 4% of Lottery funds via Measure 99 to work toward sending every Oregon student to a week of Outdoor School.

  • Over $51.5 million was provided to school districts during the 2023-2025 biennium to support student attendance at Outdoor School. 

    • OSU Extension worked with the Legislature in 2024 to spend down the COVID-era carryover for programming, freeing 2023-2025 allocated resources for urgent state needs while achieving voter-intended funding levels.

  • Providing only $43.2 million to school districts for the 2025-2027 biennium is a cut to Outdoor School funding, and 20% below what voters approved.

  • Increasingly, Oregon students are attending Outdoor School, and requests for funding from 2025 to 2027 are expected to surpass the 4% allocation intended by voters.

  • Encourage your legislator to find more detailed information here: https://oregonstate.app.box.com/s/ekxkchq8qpa8q108vy92fcqdodynpjjd

  • Include why Outdoor School is important to you.

  • Include your full name and address.

  • BCC Dan

This cut is already having a very real impact on Oregon students and the many adults working together to make Outdoor School happen for the kids. Together, with respectful yet assertive facts, we can correct this mistake. Thank you for helping to make Outdoor School possible for the kids!


For the kids!,
Kim & Dan


KEY INFORMATION:

Oregon State University Extension Service Outdoor School:

Important financial and impact information directly from Oregon State University Extension Service Outdoor School can be found here and will be updated regularly.

What’s happened so far:

July 24th: Oregon State University Extension Service Outdoor School announced funding decisions to date and explained next steps. Details are here.

June 23rd: The Oregon Legislature approved a 20% cut to Outdoor School funding despite voters overwhelmingly supporting Measure 99 designating 4% of state lottery funds to Outdoor School.

June 16th: The Senate approved a bill including a $12 million cut to Outdoor School funding from current service levels.

June 6th: The Oregon Joint Committee on Ways and Means voted to pass a budget that cuts Outdoor School funding by $12 million. Watch for yourself- the work session on SB 5525 begins at 1:22.

June 2nd: The Oregon Joint Committee on Ways and Means subcommittee on Education passed a budget that cuts Outdoor School funding by $12 million. Watch for yourself.

What to include in your calls and emails:

  • Recognize the difficult budget environment

  • Emphasize that they honor the will of the voters, who overwhelmingly passed Ballot Measure 99 in 2016. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER!

  • Share why you think Outdoor School is important for Oregon kids.

  • Ask them to restore the $12 million cut

  • Include your full name and address