Oregon lawmakers are getting to work in Salem. Democrats have supermajorities in the House and Senate. Their jam-packed agenda includes rent control, cap and trade, education funding and campaign finance reform. OPB political reporter Dirk Vanderhart gives us a preview of the 2019 legislative session. And OPB reporter Jonathan Levinson fills us in on the gun control proposals on the table for the session.
Disability Rights Oregon has joined with other advocacy groups and parents of children with disabilities to file a class action lawsuit Tuesday against the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. The complaint claims that hundreds of children with disabilities across the state have been denied the opportunity to attend a full day of school. It says “many public schools throughout Oregon have unnecessarily and unlawfully shortened the school day for children who engage in challenging classroom behaviors related to their disabilities.” We’ll hear more about the lawsuit from Disability Rights Oregon staff attorney Joel Greenberg and hear the story of one mother whose child has been subjected to shortened school days. We contacted the governor’s office and the Oregon Department of Education to request comment on the lawsuit. Marc Siegel from the Oregon Department of Education sent us this statement: “Oregon Department of Education is committed to equity and excellence for every learner. As you know, the Department can’t comment on ongoing litigation.”
A former state behavioral health policy analyst has started a foster care agency to provide behavioral rehabilitation treatment foster care for youth. April Johnson started Youth Unlimited in 2016. Now, she is working to recruit and train more foster parents of color. She joins us.
Courtesy of April Johnson
/April Johnson founded the foster care agency Youth Unlimited. She previously worked as a behavioral health policy analyst for the Oregon Health Authority.
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