Report: State Considering Lead-Testing Mandate for Schools

With Portland and other school districts reeling from disclosures that it's been years since they tested for lead - and, in many cases, never tested at all - state legislators are considering mandating testing in the future.

That's the word from Oregon Public Broadcasting, which talked to a couple of state legislators who think that might be the answer.

The cascading bad news about lead testing started last month when Beaverton disclosed two schools had come back positive for lead.

That was followed by the disclosure by Portland Public Schools of positive tests for elevated lead at two schools, which was quickly followed by the forced disclosure that they had known of positive tests at dozens of schools dating back years.

Since then, it's come out several districts including Lake Oswego, Oregon City, and Gresham-Barlow, have never tested.

One issue, as OPB points out, would be funding.

School districts and municipalities often fight mandates that don't come with money to pay for them.