New Report Shows Oregon Education Lagging Behind National Average

Across the state, teachers are getting back to work, getting ready for another year of trying to prepare Oregon children for college and the world ahead. In some cities - most notably Portland - classes start on Monday.

A new report commissioned by the Oregon Education Association - the state's teachers union - is very critical of the state's funding mechanism, showing the differences between Salem, Oregon and Salem, Massachusetts to make the point.

"When I look at the comparison between Salem, Massachusetts and Salem, Oregon, I can’t help but think we failing our children," said Otto Schell, Oregon PTA’s legislative director.

"To match what other states with better education outcomes are doing we need to stop the disinvestment and start funding our schools at a level we can be proud of."

The report lays much of the blame at the 1990 passage of Measure 5, which shifted the funding for schools from property taxes to the state.

Oregon has become a state with some of the largest classes, shortest school years, and lowest graduation rates in the country.

Among the findings of the report:

In 2014-2015 Oregon had the third largest classes in the country. Oregon’s 20.7 student-to-teacher ratio was about one-third higher than the national average (15.8);

In the 2014-2015 school year, Oregon students averaged 169.9 days in the classroom. Most states
require a minimum 180 days per school year, two full weeks longer than what the average Oregon
student receives;

Oregon used to have more than 1,200 career and technical education programs, but now there are
fewer than 700 statewide;

Since 2008, one in 20 schools has closed or consolidated, which means fewer kids are going to
neighborhood schools and transportation costs are higher;

Education Week ranked Oregon 35th in school funding, with a D+ grade;

In 2013-14 the National Center for Education Statistics ranked Oregon’s graduation rate fourth lowest
in the country;

The Quality Education Model, the guiding document behind school funding in Oregon, identi es a
$2 billion funding gap in 2015-2017. That much investment would move Oregon up to around 15th
in per-pupil funding for K-12 — Oregon’s ranking before Measure 5 took effect; and

To equal the investments made in Massachusetts, Quality Count’s top-rated state, Oregon would
have to spend around $3 billion more per year on K-12 education, or $6 billion per biennium.

Whether you go to school in Clackamas County, Multnomah County, or Washington County, the problems are fairly universal.

Spending per Student:

National Average: $12,578

Clackamas County: $10,275

Multnomah County: $12,038

Washington County: $10,103

Class Size:

National Average: 15.8

Clackamas County: 24.9

Multnomah County: 23.2

Washington County: 24.4

Graduation Rate:

State Average: 78.4%

Clackamas County: 81.2%

Multnomah County: 77.3%

Washington County:82.0%

"We can improve outcomes for our students by bringing Oregon’s class sizes and instructional time up to the standards set by the rest of the county," said Hanna Vaandering, an elementary physical education teacher and president of OEA.

"What we can’t afford to do is stay on the same path that we have been on since Measure 5."

SOME OF THE AREA'S BIGGER SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Beaverton

Funding Per Student National Average: $12,578

Funding Per Student Beaverton: $9,916 (21.2% below national average)

Average National Class Size: 15.8

Average Beaverton Class Size: 23.8 (50.8% above national average)

Oregon graduation rate: 78.4%

Beaverton Graduation Rate: 79.3%

Centennial School District

Average National Funding Per Student: $12,578

Average Centennial Funding Per Student: $10,565 (16% below national average)

Average National Class Size: 15.8

Average Centennial Class Size 25.9 (64.2% abover national average)

Oregon Graduation Rate: 74.8%

Centennial Graduation Rate: 77% (1.7 5 below state)