Lawmakers in Oregon are pushing for a significant overhaul of the state’s school funding model, which has been in place for 27 years. The proposal, led by Sen. Janeen Sollman and Rep. Ricki Ruiz, aims to replace the existing Quality Education Model with a new framework that re-evaluates how funding levels are determined for public education.
During a recent meeting of the Joint Public Education Appropriation Committee, Sollman and Ruiz presented a plan to eliminate the Quality Education Commission, which has been responsible for assessing educational funding needs since 1999. The commission’s recommendations, designed to ensure a 90% graduation rate statewide, have only been fully funded once in its history, most recently in 2025 when the legislature allocated a record $11.4 billion for schools.
The proposed changes come at a critical time as the legislative session begins on February 2, 2024. Sollman emphasized that the current model is outdated, stating, “No other state has a QEM-type model.” The legislators’ intention is to streamline the funding process by shifting the responsibility for determining financial needs from the commission to the Legislative Policy and Research Office. This office would collaborate with external public or private firms to conduct analyses of school finance, ensuring that funding recommendations are based on current educational needs.
Significant Changes Ahead
Under the new proposal, the Legislative Policy and Research Office would be tasked with presenting funding recommendations to the legislature every eight years. In the interim, the Department of Administrative Services would adjust these levels to account for inflation and other costs every two years. This shift in responsibility has raised concerns among some lawmakers regarding its potential impact on educational standards.
The bill also seeks to redefine the goals for public education in Oregon. It would establish that a “standard school district” must employ only licensed teachers in order to qualify for state and federal funding. Schools would be expected to meet not only the graduation rate target but also performance metrics outlined in a 2024 education accountability law. This law mandates school districts to set specific goals for improving various academic outcomes, including third-grade reading scores and eighth-grade math scores.
Concerns have been voiced by legislators like Rep. Emily McIntire, who noted that schools are already overwhelmed with legislative changes that require extensive reporting. “I think that our schools are saying, ‘please stop. Please leave us alone,’” she remarked, highlighting the potential burden of additional requirements before the implementation of the 2024 law is finalized.
Debate and Dissent
The proposed overhaul has met with mixed reactions. Rep. Susan McLain, a veteran educator and member of the committee, expressed her surprise at the breadth of changes being suggested. She believes that the bill extends beyond merely updating the funding model and could significantly alter the responsibilities of schools in demonstrating their funding needs. “This bill is not just about doing away with the quality education model,” McLain stated, stressing the importance of understanding the full implications of these changes.
Ruiz defended the proposal, arguing that more rigorous standards for schools would foster greater public confidence in the educational system. “I’m just sick and tired that we put so much money into the education system and we’re seeing little to no progress,” he commented during the committee session.
Despite the contentious nature of the discussions, the committee agreed to advance the bill for further debate during the legislative session. The outcome of this proposal could have profound implications for the future of Oregon’s public education system, as lawmakers grapple with the balance between accountability and support for schools.
