The 2021 Oregon legislative session started mid-January and will span 160 days. The Capitol is closed to the public until at least March to limit the risk of a coronavirus outbreak. Committee meetings and hearings are being held virtually.  Education topics include new high school graduation requirements, college and university regulations, racial justice efforts,  limits on virtualContinue reading "37 Oregon education bills to follow this session"

As soon as schools stopped in-person learning last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the many activities that students enjoyed also came to a halt.  Students in music programs lost their final chance to perform with graduating seniors and missed out on annual concerts and competitions. At the same time, professional musicians around the world wereContinue reading "Masterclass born in pandemic, for young musicians"

The seven members on the Salem-Keizer School Board are voted in via an at-large system, meaning voters — regardless of where they live — can vote for the representatives of all zones. But that might change. Read the full story here.

Woodburn School District is home to one of the nation's only public K-12 Russian language programs. But enrollment fell this year after schools switched to remote learning and two new private schools came to town, leaving some to fear the program may be at risk. District leaders reassigned two Russian-language teachers at the start of the school year. InContinue reading "Parents fight for Woodburn Russian program through enrollment dips"

Public schools across the country are more racially and linguistically diverse than ever, including the students in Salem-Keizer Public Schools. But most of the educators who work with them are not.  About 54% of Salem-Keizer's nearly 42,000 students identify as a race or ethnicity other than white. This includes Latino/Hispanic, Black/African American, Pacific Islander, NativeContinue reading "The push to recruit and retain more educators of color"

Groups such as Sit-In Salem, Black Joy Oregon and Latinos Unidos Siempre have been especially active the past six months with regular protests, petitions and other efforts to change the way area agencies and leaders address racial discrimination. They've held protests calling for more equitable and transparent police practices. They've called out members of theContinue reading "Community activists pursue new efforts to continue fight against racism"

The Salem-Keizer branch of the NAACP will have a newly elected president for the first time in 10 years. Come January, Reginald Richardson, Sr. will take over the role, following the decade-long tenure of Benny Williams.  The Statesman Journal spoke with Richardson about his previous experiences and plans for his new role. Read the full interviewContinue reading "Q&A: Salem-Keizer NAACP elects first new president in a decade"

The Salem-Keizer School Board approved an amendment to its governing policies, giving the chairperson more defined power to restrict public comment. Since June, activists have testified repeatedly about issues surrounding the treatment of Black and brown students in the district. Speakers have consistently critiqued select board members for alleged racist acts and affiliations, and the rest of the board's refusal to condemnContinue reading "School board approves restriction on public comment"

Journey Love Hoffman was given seven days to live.  Born with an extra chromosome, Journey was diagnosed at birth with Trisomy 13. The rare genetic condition, also known as Patau syndrome, affects about one in every 10,000-16,000 babies and is described as "incompatible with life." About 90% of the babies who survive through birth die in their first year. But JourneyContinue reading "Child with Trisomy 13 defies condition labeled ‘incompatible with life’"

Democratic newcomer Ramiro "RJ" Navarro Jr. wants to represent District 25 in the Oregon House of Representatives. To do so, he has to beat Bill Post, the three-term Republican incumbent who intends to serve two more years. Read the full story here.