Oregon School Districts Will Need Significantly More Money to Achieve Growth Targets

Before the governor can expect Oregon school districts to improve academic achievements, significantly more money is needed to attain ambitious growth targets, says Kimberlee Armstrong, Superintendent of Portland Public Schools.

Governor Says Investments in Education Must Translate into Quality Teaching for K-12 Students

Her reaction follows Governor Tina Kotek’s 2025 Education Initiative to renew the state’s accountability to ensure that investments in education translate into quality teaching for all K-12 students.

Kotek proposes spending $11.36 billion on Oregon schools over the next two years and has told educators not to ‘talk to me about more money.’

Kotek’s proposals, House Bill 2009 and Senate Bill 141 give the state more power to intervene and direct spending in districts with high percentages of student failures in third-grade reading and eighth-grade math.

The governor’s proposals also aim to reorient the Oregon Department of Education to play a more dominant role in turnaround efforts at districts with poor academic levels, including sending coaches to monitor progress and direct improvements.

Speaking at a press conference after the governor introduced her bill to the House Education Committee last week, Armstrong said that without ‘significantly more money’ to avoid laying off staff members like reading specialists and librarians, Kotek’s targets could be difficult to achieve.

Portland School District is Planning a $40 Million Budget Cut

Portland is just one of many state school districts to announce staff layoffs and service cuts for 2025-2026 because of declining enrollment and rising costs.

A revision of a $40 million cut in layoffs and reduced services will be presented tomorrow (Tuesday) by the Chief Financial Officer Michelle Morrison.

Oregon school districts spend about 85% of their budgets on staff salaries and benefits. Kotek’s proposal will allow the state to direct 25% of the expenditure of poor performing districts – a measure that could phase in by 2029.

Tim Boyd, the state education agency’s director of district and school effectiveness, told the House Education Committee on Monday that the Oregon Department of Education would need more staff to meet the coaching needs.

State schools chief Charlene Williams said she plans an overall review of current Department of Education operations to ‘free up people and funds’ to help improve performance levels in Oregon school districts.