New Oregon Law Protects Children from Shortened School Days
Senate Bill 819 Helps Provide Children with Disabilities Equal Education Access
Every year, more than 1,000 young people — mostly between the ages of five and 10 — are being illegally denied full days at Oregon schools solely because of their disability. As a result, these children are missing crucial learning opportunities, experiencing extreme social isolation from their peers, and not being provided the tools they need to reach their full potential.
This discriminatory practice is not only wrong, it’s unconstitutional, and Disability Rights Oregon has been working for years to end it, one way or the other.
SB 819 Took Effect on July 13, 2023
An important step towards that goal was reached on the final day of the 2023 session, when the Oregon State Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB 819), helping more Oregon children with disabilities have equal access to education. The resulting new law took effect on July 13, 2023 and:
States clearly that the use of an abbreviated school day program for students with disabilities should be infrequent and, under most circumstances, used for a limited time period.
Ensures parents receive notice specifically about shortened days and their right to consent to, revoke consent, or oppose the shortened day for their child.
Requires regular meetings to discuss the need for continuing shortened school days.
Ensures there is a consistent plan to provide support to the student on a shortened day and a plan for when the student returns to full-time school.
Provides a clear legal framework that requires the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to aggressively pursue the elimination of frequent and long-term shortened school days in an accountable way.
Funds an additional $3.1 million to assist ODE in implementing the new law.
What SB 819 Means for Parents
If your child has received a shortened school day for more than 10 days during the prior school year — or if your district has told you that it plans to provide a shortened day during the coming school year — the district must contact you in writing by the end of July to inform you of your rights under the new law. In that notice, the district must also provide specific information about how you can:
Notify the district, if you revoke or refuse to provide parental consent to a shortened school day at any time. Download a sample letter to send to your school district.
Contact the correct person at ODE, if you believe that the district is violating the requirements of the new law.
That notice must also inform parents that the district will return your child to a full day of school at the beginning of the school year, unless you provide written consent to continue shortened school days.
But what happens if you don’t receive notice by the end of July? Or if the district revokes or refuses to provide consent? Or if a district says they can’t afford to provide full-day school for your child or says they lack the staff? There’s a lot of detailed ground to cover, so Disability Rights Oregon produced a FAQ to help you navigate this new law on behalf of your child.
Thank you
Championed by Oregon Senators Gelser Blouin (D-Corvallis) and Knopp (R-Bend), and Representatives Hudson (D-Troutdale) and Neron (D-Wilsonville), SB 819 passed by 38-14 votes in the House, and 19-6 votes in the Senate.
A sincere thank you to hundreds of parents and other advocates for answering Disability Rights Oregon’s calls to action this session. Because of you, more children will receive what everyone deserves: the educational foundation needed to thrive today and into the future, and a fair chance to achieve our dreams.
