Column: Does Oregon underfund education?

Published 6:00 am Sunday, August 16, 2026

Oregon K-12 education is underfunded.

Suggest otherwise and people may look for your cloven hooves and horns.

This week, it was reported that “Oregon’s schools will need nearly $2.5 billion more to maintain the status quo of service for the 2027-29 school years, and nearly $5 billion more to help students meet new accountability and attendance targets,” according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle. That would mean “a roughly 22% increase to the $11.3 billion lawmakers most recently allocated for K-12 spending from the state school fund to maintain the status quo, and roughly 41% more to meet new accountability standards and rules.”

There’s no shortage of statements about Oregon education’s underfundedness. There’s no shortage of good reasons additional funding is important. “We can’t afford to underfund our students” — or some variation — is the frequent argument. I tend to agree. Except, there are good reasons to ask questions.

Oregon’s education spending has been going up. Oregon spends more per pupil than the national average. Oregon students are below average on some national assessments.

For reading, in 2015 “Oregon’s 4th graders scored statistically the same as the nation’s fourth graders. In 2024, Oregon’s 4th graders scored 207, which was statistically lower than 4th graders in the nation’s public schools,” according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Similarly in math, in 2015, “Oregon’s 4th graders scored statistically the same as the nation’s 4th graders. In 2024, Oregon’s 4th graders scored 229, which was statistically lower than 4th graders in the nation’s public schools.”

A few statistics don’t paint a complete picture. Many students excel in Oregon schools thanks to the great work of school staff. And anyone can cherry pick some statistics to make an argument. I am not trying to do that. I tried to find statistics to make the opposite argument. I could not. If you have them, send me a link.

The calls for more money for Oregon education aren’t limited to K-12. Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission has a memo discussing the need for at least doubling the state budget for public higher education.

“The state needs an investment of $2-3 billion per biennium of additional public investment to achieve state goals,” the memo says.

Add up the underfundedness for Oregon’s K-12 and higher education and it’s nothing several billion dollars more wouldn’t solve.

I want to see that good teachers and staff are well paid. The questions Oregonians need answered are: How can we get more out of the dollars we already spend? How do we know that more dollars will deliver better results? New state accountability measures could help.

And then we are told Oregon has many other underfunded needs. Mental health. Transit. Road maintenance. Bike paths. Pedestrian safety. Green energy. Environmental protection. Helping people with no homes. Helping people who go hungry. Protecting vulnerable children. And more.

Is education the best place to send the next dollars in shifted or added state revenue? Education is the foundation of so much else.

Richard Coe is editorial page editor at The Bulletin. He can be reached at richard.coe@bendbulletin.com.

In Bandon, neighbors and visitors walk barefoot across art in the sand at Face Rock. In Joseph, the whole town turns out for four nights of the Chief Joseph Days Rodeo. Carlton pours its way through 20 walkable tasting rooms, while Sisters keeps its Old West storefronts busy year-round. What makes these Oregon towns the nicest in the state is a mix of Pacific Northwest scenery and the people who fill the calendar with cranberry festivals, mushroom hunts, and summer concerts that pull newcomers right in. Every one of these eight small towns rewards a first trip and a second one even more.

Sisters

Visitors should plan their trip around exploring Downtown Sisters and supporting the many local businesses. Stitchin’ Post is a fantastic fabric store and a true paradise for any crafter or sewer, while Dixie’s brings the style of the Old West to present-day Oregon. Makin’ It Local celebrates and promotes local artists through galleries and exhibits, located right in the heart of Downtown Sisters. That same creative streak spills into the streets each July for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, the largest outdoor quilt show anywhere. What started in 1975 with a dozen quilts hung outside the Stitchin’ Post now drapes more than 1,300 of them across storefronts and fences all over town.

Yachats

Yachats is a small town united by its community events and annual festivities. There is no better way to visit and see everything this small town has to offer than by hopping aboard the Yachats Area Trolley, a simple, scenic way to explore the town. Just sit back, relax, and ride this hybrid electric trolley from Beachside State Park to Cape Perpetua.

The annual Sip & Stroll Yachats invites both visitors and locals to enjoy a delightful afternoon of exploring downtown with a glass in hand, tasting the very best from participating wineries, breweries, and spirits. Just northeast of Yachats, the Siuslaw Forest shines every October for the annual Mushroom Festival. Discover unique species, check out the many vendors, and learn something new through guides, keynote events, and workshops.

Florence

The nice town of Florence is the sum of its parts, the culmination of unique attractions and reasons for return visits. Old Town Florence is a collection of historic buildings, landmarks, public art, and shopping destinations lining the boardwalk. The Three Rivers Casino Resort is a premier casino and entertainment venue in Oregon, open 24 hours a day.

Florence also features some rather unorthodox attractions, but that’s what makes it so special. Exploding Whale Memorial Park provides access to the Siuslaw River and is a great place for a family picnic, named after the notorious incident in the 1970s. Those who want the full Florence experience should not only visit the Heceta Head Lighthouse but stay there as well. The bed and breakfast sits on the edge of ocean cliffs and offers the most stylish overnight stay in town.

Bandon

The Bandon community is incredibly inviting and welcoming, and its peak tourism season usually coincides with popular events throughout the year. Circles in the Sand brings Bandon together, encouraging residents and tourists to take peaceful walks atop artwork made into the sand. Hosted at Face Rock View Point, the event themes rotate through ideas like love, tranquility, and even the cosmos.

Bandon’s Old Town is another historic district and the true heart of the town. On any given day, visitors can check out numerous shops and dining options along the strip, such as Bandon Sweets & Treats for old-fashioned candy, Big Wheel General Store for gifts and fudge, and Alloro Wine Bar & Restaurant for an intimate dinner near the waterfront. Old Town Bandon also hosts Fourth of July celebrations, winter festivities, and the famous September Cranberry Festival, featuring a parade, music shows, art vendors, eating contests, and cranberry scavenger hunts.

Joseph

There’s something in Joseph for every type of traveler. Art enthusiasts can participate in the Bronze Artwalk, touring the town while searching for seven monumental bronze sculptures. Guests can also follow a foundry worker through their facilities to see how those sculptures were molded, replicated, and cast in metal.

Visitors who plan trips around local events should mark the Chief Joseph Days Rodeo on their calendars. On the last weekend in July, for four nights, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association showcases rodeo skills and entertainment along with a fabulous parade through downtown Joseph. Finally, those who prefer some outdoor excursions don’t have to travel very far. Wallowa Lake State Park sits along the glacial lake and beneath the peaks of the Wallowa Mountains as the perfect starting point for hikes through the wilderness or sports across the water.

Cascade Locks

Cascade Locks is a small town in Oregon where visitors can view relics of the past while exploring the wilderness of the present, all in one trip. Cascade Locks sits within the heart of the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascade Mountains, a prime location for outdoor adventures, and the locals will not disappoint with the numerous activities and events they host throughout the year. The Pacific Crest Trail Days at the Marine Park has over 100 sponsors selling outdoor products at the Gear Expo. With games, live music, and competitions, it’s a great event for newcomers to feel the community’s reception.

The Cascade Locks Historical Museum holds hundreds of years of history within its walls, with rotating exhibits like the “Bridge of the Gods,” art contests, and a variety of collections, including old clothes, books, art, clocks, and furniture from previous centuries. Just outside, guests can view the famous Oregon Pony all year, the first steam locomotive in the Pacific Northwest, which began running in 1862 and is preserved to this day.

Jacksonville

There are so many ways to explore Jacksonville and learn about its history in Oregon that no two travelers will experience the same trip. In fact, even the same traveler, visiting a second time, could experience Jacksonville in a completely fresh way. Like Yachats, the Narrated History Trolley Tours provide a scenic, relaxing ride with an overview of the town’s rich history, guided walking tours discuss the architecture and stories of the pioneers who built and occupied landmarks across Jacksonville. Meanwhile, the Haunted History Tour delves into vengeful women, obsessed husbands, and other dangerous individuals who still haunt the historic district. After exploring Jacksonville, the Britt Music & Arts Festival is the perfect way to complete your trip, with summer concerts in a range of genres, including orchestras, jazz, blues, pop, and country.

Carlton

The Carlton community is incredibly warm and receptive to newcomers, especially when those newcomers have a distinct interest in tasting wines. Carlton is located in the center of Oregon’s wine country and the North Willamette Valley, with around 20 unique wine tasting rooms, all within walking distance of each other.

Carlton isn’t just a great place for visitors looking to taste wines, but a rich, creative environment for those who want to make their own. The Carlton Winemakers Studio is a collaborative, shared studio space for winemakers to craft their own bottles. Additionally, Stone Griffon is just one of many local vineyards, known for bold wines sourced from the Walla Walla Valley.

Nice Oregon Towns With Something New to Discover

These eight small towns in Oregon rank among the nicest in the state because of those who live there already. Visitors feel welcome, they feel an invitation to participate in these towns’ annual events, and they feel inspired to revisit these towns again and again. Sisters brings the fashion of the Old West to the present. Carlton is the hub of wine country with endless tasting opportunities. There’s a small Oregon town for everyone. It’s all about choosing the one that’s right for you.

Oregon is associated with many foods, like marionberries, hazelnuts, Dungeness crab and more. But what Oregon dish is the most iconic? A poll celebrating the United States’ semiquincentennial is compiling responses to determine the official dishes of each state.

These are the Oregon delicacies vying to be the state’s top dish:

• Marionberry pie
• Dungeness crab
• Hazelnut-crusted salmon
• Smoked salmon
• Bacon maple bar
• Marionberry soft-serve
• Coastal chedder
• Wild Pacific chanterelles
• Razor clams
• JoJo potatoes

The winner will be included in an official registry of state dishes.

Marionberry pie was leading Aug. 14, with Dungeness crab in second place.

Cast a vote by choosing between all 10 options, narrow it down through head-to-head matchups or write-in a different dish.

America250 partnered with food delivery service Goldbelly to select the contenders.

“As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, food offers a powerful way to bring people together and tell the story of our nation,” America250 chair Rosie Rios said in a statement.