SALEM, ORE. – After a successful work session and passage out of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, HB 2815 passed out of the House and Senate floor. The bill previously passed out of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education with unanimous support before moving to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. The legislations intent is to create a Tribal Early Learning Plan and Fund, as well as a new Oregon Tribal Early Learning Alliance to ensure Tribes can operate early learning programs and supports in accordance with their unique needs.
HB 2815 helps to ensure that the nine federally recognized Tribes within Oregon’s border hold the ability to focus on initiatives most relevant for their Nations, and is in line with Governor Tina Kotek’s outlined budget priorities. The creation of a Tribal Early Learning Fund allows for flexible funding access to early learning resources for Tribes and strengthens Oregon’s government-to-government relationships.
HB 2815 is designed and supported by Tribal representatives from across the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon. The Plan will support experiential early learning and child care, promote and revitalize language, and ensure access to cultural resources and curriculum in early learning spaces. These resources are focused primarily on increased supports to Tribal children prenatal through age eight.
Previously, the legislature passed HB 2055 (2021), which among other things, outlined expectations for a new Tribal Early Learning Hub to coordinate early learning services in Tribal communities. However, as Tribal Representatives began working towards implementation, it was determined that the hub model created administrative burdens and limited the ability of Tribes to express their rights to self-determination in a government-to-government relationship with the State.
HB 2815 improves upon the initial concepts in HB 2055 by reducing barriers for Tribes in accessing state funding. Now that the bill has passed both houses it will be enrolled and sent to the Governor for her signature. The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) will administer grant awards directly to Tribes instead of third parties. In doing so, the bill will streamline the grantmaking process while ensuing Oregon is upholding government-to-government expectations.
HB 2815 also establishes the Oregon Tribal Early Learning Alliance (OTELA) in place of the current Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) and clarifies DELC’s rulemaking authority.
Supporters of the bill say this updated approach, along with the dedicated funding, will help to advance the state’s early learning goals while helping to close disparities in accessing early learning opportunities faced by Tribal communities. The funding may be used as directed by each Tribe to expand access to culturally relevant classroom materials, preschool or child care services, Tribal language immersion programs and caregiver education programs among many other Tribal early learning and care-focused goals defined within the Plan.
“It is imperative to send up words of respect and appreciation for our ancestors who did foundational work to get us to where we are today,” said Julie Siestreem, Tribal Council member of the Confederated Tribes of Coos Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. “The state hasn’t always upheld our right to self-determination. This bill is a step towards extending Tribal Sovereignty. A dedicated fund is needed to move the needle in the right direction – towards centering and respecting Tribal ways of knowing what’s best for our children.”
“This initiative was developed by the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon through a multi-year, Tribal-led process grounded in self-determination and government-to-government collaboration in close partnership with DELC, to ensure our youngest children have stable resources and brighter futures,” said Paulina Whitehat, DELC Tribal Affairs Director. “Now pending legislative approval, this initiative represents a powerful example of what respectful governance can achieve. In a time of uncertainty, it offers hope and demonstrates how honoring Tribal sovereignty, and mutual trust can guide meaningful, inclusive public policy, setting a model for others to follow.”
“The Tribal Early Learning Plan and Fund is a critical and vital next step for centering Tribal sovereignty in the early learning system,” said Angela Fasana, Education Director of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. “The Plan and Fund will assist the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde in furthering our goals as a people to foster and support our youth and families.”
“Investing in our youngest of learners allows for a strong foundation of lifelong learning, this bill does just that,” said Alissa L. Lane, CTSI Education and Cultural Programs Director. Dedicated funding would ensure Tribes can implement Tribal specific supports, learning materials and interventions, which is vital for ensuring our Tribal students have the strong start they need in life. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Education department fully supports the proposed bill.”
The Office of Tribal Affairs at DELC will continue to provide support to implement the plan and fund. To read more about this work please visit Tribal Advisory Committee page of the DELC website. Tribal Sovereignty is one of six goals in DELC’s strategic plan. To learn more visit the Growing Oregon Together page of the DELC website.
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