rural schools

Most Oregon counties are set to receive nearly $100 million from the federal Secure Rural Schools Act after Congress let funding for the 25-year-old program lapse for almost two years.

The U.S. House voted 395-4 to renew funding that helps rural counties pay for schools, roads and public safety.

While the state average is 20.6% per district, nearly two-thirds of districts are above the average.

Families can now access preschool, medical and behavioral health care in one location near Rogue River schools.

A budget crisis a century in the making is coming to a head as Oregon’s rural counties wait on Congress to approve funding they’ve long relied on.

Rural school districts and counties are preparing for the potential loss of funding from the Secure Rural Schools program.

For the last century, the money has gone to counties with large amounts of federal land that can’t be taxed. Congress failed to include it in the upcoming budget.

Oregon will miss out on millions in funding from the Secure Rural Schools bill, which passed the Senate but failed to garner Republican support to pass in the House.

At some rural schools construction projects are left undone, teaching jobs are unfilled and students who need specialized services don’t get them.

Residents packed the gymnasium of one of Oregon’s smallest school districts on Wednesday night to discuss a controversial proposal for a new charter school.

More than $2 million will go to the schools to support the recruitment and retention of rural students.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden has once again secured nick-of-time aid payments for counties in the West whose economies are tied to resource extraction on federal lands.