Policy Primer: The Oregon Education Investment Board (OEIB)

What is the OEIB?

The Oregon Education Investment Board, chaired by the Governor John Kitzhaber, is overseeing an effort to create a seamless, unified system for investing in and delivering public education from early childhood through high school and college.

The Oregon Education Investment Board will make recommendations to the Governor about the 2013/15 budgets levels for the seven institutions of the Oregon University System, including the University of Oregon. The board will also negotiate an achievement contract with each university that outlines the expected performance and outcomes. The OEIB has also formed several subcommittees, one of which will make recommendations concerning the statewide governance structure for Oregon’s public universities.

Who serves on the OEIB?

The Governor named 12 educators and community leaders from around Oregon to serve on the board, with Nancy Golden, Superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, as his alternate chair. (Read August 2011 news release

What are the goals of the OEIB?

Oregon’s goal is that by the year 2025, 100 percent of Oregonians will earn a high school diploma or its equivalent, 40 percent will earn a post-secondary credential, and 40 percent will obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher.

If achieved, this standard would represent a significant improvement from today’s educational success. Achieving it, however, will require changes to Oregon’s public education system to produce better results for students, more resources for teachers and greater return on the taxpayers’ investment.

What is the OEIB’s charge?

Senate Bill 909 in 2011 created the board and outlined specific charges:

  • Developing an education investment strategy to improve defined learning outcomes from early childhood through public schools, colleges and universities.
  • Hiring a Chief Education Officer to oversee the unified public education system.
  • Establishing a statewide student database, from early childhood through higher education, that encourages accountability foroutcomes, and provides better information for policy makers, educators, students and their families to ensure progress along the entire educational path.
  • Establishing an Early Learning Council to streamline and strengthen early childhood services to at-risk youth to ensure all children are ready to learn when they enter kindergarten.
  • Reporting back to the Oregon Legislature, on progress and legislation for 2012.