Gov. Kotek promises changes to Oregon schools in second term

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has won another four years in office, and among the biggest challenges facing her second term are the state's struggling public schools.

With student achievement still lagging, enrollment declining and school districts facing millions of dollars in budget cuts, Kotek is promising changes that include more classroom time, stronger academic standards and greater accountability. She's also raising questions about whether it's time to overhaul the way Oregon funds public education.

"We have still too many children who aren't reading at grade level. So, we are going to continue to double down on literacy. Make sure instructional time is improved. We have work to do there," Kotek said at a recent news conference.

The latest statewide assessment results for the 2025–26 school year show fewer than half of Oregon students tested are meeting state standards in reading and writing.

Reading and writing : 43.8% proficient Math : 32.9% proficient Science : 30.6% proficient That means only about one in three Oregon students tested are meeting grade-level expectations in math and science.

Kotek says improving those outcomes will require giving students more time in the classroom.

Oregon ranks near the bottom nationally for instructional time. The governor wants to bring the state up to the national average by the end of her second term.

Kotek issued an executive order preventing school districts from further reducing instructional time.

Increasing classroom time could come with a higher price tag at a time when school districts across Oregon are already struggling financially. Many districts are facing significant budget shortfalls, driven in part by declining student enrollment and rising operating costs.

Kotek says district leaders must prioritize students when making difficult financial decisions.

"They have to make the right choices for their students. And that means being transparent and reducing all their costs before they start impacting the student experience," Kotek said.

One of the potentially biggest changes Kotek is considering involves Oregon's school funding formula.

Currently, the state distributes education funding largely based on student enrollment, with additional funding weights for students with greater needs, including those receiving special education services, English language learners and students experiencing poverty.

But as enrollment declines, districts can lose funding even as many of their operating expenses remain.

Kotek says it may be time to reconsider whether enrollment should remain the primary factor in determining how much money schools receive.

"I think we have to have a conversation about how we do the formula of our schools. Maybe enrollment is the wrong marker. That was established almost 30 years ago. Maybe it must be student need," Kotek said.

Any significant overhaul of the funding formula would require legislative action and could change how money is distributed among Oregon's school districts.

Kotek also plans to introduce legislation aimed at better coordinating Oregon's early childhood education programs and expanding access to affordable child care and preschool.

The proposal would build on recommendations from a statewide early childhood care and learning roundtable, with an emphasis on better aligning services for young children and their families. However, the governor has not committed to a specific funding plan for those initiatives.

Many of her education priorities will require additional resources and support from state lawmakers.

Kotek is also signaling support for changes to how Oregon handles statewide academic assessments.

Under Oregon law, parents can opt their children out of state English language arts and math tests.

The governor says she would support ending the practice of school districts proactively informing families about the option to opt out, while preserving parents' legal right to make that decision.

The issue is part of a broader conversation about accountability and how Oregon measures student achievement.

For Kotek, the next four years will be a test of whether her administration can translate promises of more instructional time, stronger academic performance and potential funding reforms into measurable improvements for Oregon students.

And with school districts already making difficult budget decisions, the challenge will be finding the resources — and political support — to make those changes happen.

Gov. Kotek promises changes to Oregon schools in second term

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