Oregon’s school funding formula undercounts poverty, denying some districts millions. Lawmakers are poised to approve it anyway

We don’t need to defund education

Every four years, the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) provides a snapshot of how students across the country are performing in math and English. It doesn’t tell us about individual students; instead, it gives us information about how well our public schools are preparing students. The 2024 results showed that 28% of 8th graders were proficient in mathematics (on grade level), and 30% were proficient in reading. In both, the a…

Oregon’s school funding formula undercounts poverty, denying some districts millions. Lawmakers are poised to approve it anyway

According to state data, about 24% — roughly one in four — of Portland Public Schools students lives in a family that receives government anti-poverty aid or is homeless, is from a migrant family or lives in foster care.