Kotek: ‘Oregon students deserve more’ than status quo

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — One of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s priorities for this legislative session is dealing with a number of education issues. On Monday, she held a press conference to lend her voice to a bill that she said aims to ensure good educations for every student.

House Bill 2009 would task the Oregon Department of Education

to “study the adequacy” of the education provided in Oregon and submit a report in 18 months.

Kotek’s office said this “legislation renews Oregon’s K-12 education accountability system.”

The governor, along with House Speaker Julie Fahey and Senate President Rob Wagner, said more accountability and more student testing is needed.

Oregon’s math and reading scores were among the lowest in the nation in 2024, and the state already spends about $17,000 per student.

The bill calls for more standardized state testing of students throughout the school year so teachers can make adjustments. The measure would require more state intervention, require coaching and support and more state involvement in how the money is spent if students in a certain district aren’t measuring up.

“I’ve already proposed an $11.3 billion state school fund investment and have a bill in the session to more predictably calculate school funding needs going forward,” Kotek said Monday,. “But I don’t believe in writing a blank check. And I don’t believe in accepting the status quo when it comes to delivering for our students. Oregon students deserve more.”

Kotek wants more accountability for student performance — or lack of performance — and a closer eye on when it is not going well.

Some Republicans, like Rep. Dwayne Yunker, call this bill a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

“Kotek’s not fixing failing schools—she’s consolidating power,” Yunker said in a statement. “After years of state mandates that have lowered standards and created chaos, she now wants to usurp even more local control from school districts, disguised as ‘accountability.’”

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.