SALEM, Ore.-Bills that would provide the largest K-12 education budget in Oregon state history and expand accountability guidelines for schools passed through the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education on May 28.
“Increasing funding while providing clear expectations and ongoing oversight will help ensure our students and educators are getting the support they need,” said Sen. Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro), co-chair of the committee.
Senate Bill 5516 would provide $11.4 billion to the State School Fund, and matches the request in Governor Kotek’s recommended 2025-2027 biennium budget.
The State School Fund is used to pay educator salaries, buy textbooks, maintain schools, and serve over 545,000 K-12 students across Oregon, according to a State Senate press release.
Combined with local school revenues (primarily property taxes), Oregon’s K-12 schools will receive $16.7 billion for the upcoming biennium, a 10.5 percent increase over the previous two years.
How much each district receives from the Common School Fund is based on student population in each county and district in the state, and payments are made in two equal installments in February and July.
The committee also passed Senate Bill 141 on May 28, which would add new student success metrics, strengthen district accountability for student outcomes, provide coaching and support to struggling districts, and help schools focus more on students and less on paperwork.
“Providing for the education of Oregon’s young people is one of our greatest responsibilities as elected leaders,” said Rep. Ricki Ruiz (D-Gresham), co-chair of the committee. “We want to help school districts that are struggling and make positive changes as quickly as possible.”
New student success metrics would include 8th-grade math proficiency and K-2nd-grade regular attendance rates. Interim assessments will also be used to track student progress so schools can make adjustments to improve learning in real time.
According to the State Senate, the results of those assessments would be made public for transparency and accountability.
“The Legislature is stepping up to fund schools while we look for targeted ways to improve outcomes for students across the state,” said Rep. Ruiz.
The Joint Committee on Ways and Means will consider SB5516 and SB141 for final approval before the legislation is considered in the Senate and House. A work session on the bills is scheduled for May 30.
The Hermiston School District provided the following statement to Northeast Oregon Now regarding the funding legislation:
The Hermiston School District acknowledges the record-setting K-12 budget allocation approved by the Ways and Means Education Subcommittee. While this level of funding is significant, much of it is already earmarked for specific state initiatives, rising Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and insurance costs, or to offset the loss of expiring federal relief funds. In our 2025–2026 adopted budget, for example, we are projecting only modest growth in discretionary General Fund revenue. As a result, the direct impact on classroom-level investments remains limited.
State School Fund 2025-2026 payment estimates for Eastern Oregon districts as of March 2025 from the Oregon Department of Education.
- Morrow County School District: $316,738.46
- Helix School District: $28,596.46
- Pilot Rock School District: $40,354.40
- Echo School District: $48,193.02
- Umatilla School District: $204,675.17
- Milton-Freewater Unified School District: $221,368.54
- Hermiston School District: $760,636.82
- Pendleton School District: $$416,318.02
- Athena-Weston School District: $66,773.46
- Stanfield School District: $73,886.29
- Ukiah School District: $3,774.15
- La Grande School District: $299,028.98
- Imbler School District: $44,273.71
- Elgin School District: $56,176.80
