FACTS & DETAILS

FACTS:‍ ‍

  • In 2016, Oregon voters overwhelmingly dedicated 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.

  • Find more detailed information here: https://oregonstate.app.box.com/s/ekxkchq8qpa8q108vy92fcqdodynpjjd

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

    2025-2026 REVERSE TIMELINE

  • March 4th: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means did not pass HB 4112. Thankfully, they also did not subject the Outdoor School budget to further cuts that had been proposed.

  • Throughout February, Outdoor School champions filled hearing rooms, met with legislators, and called and emailed their representatives and senators to urge support for HB 4112.

  • January 16th: Rep Hudson filed HB 4112 with 48 legislative sponsors to restore $6 million of cut Outdoor School funding.

  • December 3rd: All state agencies were asked to present proposals for an additional 5% cut to their budgets. Despite the already drastic cuts to the Outdoor School budget, an additional cut of  $1.7 million to Outdoor School funding was proposed (line 23, column 7 of this spreadsheet)

  • November 6th: Dozens of Outdoor School champions advocated for no further cuts to Outdoor School at the Higher Education Coordinating Commission meeting. Watch here.

  • September 10th: Fall State of Outdoor School webinar. Listen here.

  • 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.