How much money does it take to “fully fund” Oregon’s public schools? Last month a Joint Committee of the Oregon legislature released a “Report on the Adequacy of Public Education Appropriations.” Oregon’s Fiscal and Policy Research offices examined the level of funding provided by the Legislature and other sources for public schools.

They concluded that public schools today receive the full $13.5 billion recommended by the Education Commission in 2024 to “fully fund schools.” That means the Legislature appropriated $11.3 billion and the Corporate Activities Tax came in at another $2.2 billion.

According to the Oregonian’s analysis, advocates for public school funding, like PPS board member Christy Splitt, dismiss the expert report and opines that school funding is “not enough.” She complains the report’s conclusion is the result of a “political narrative.”

However, the facts remain that school funding has increased over the years while academic outcomes and the student population have declined. Lawmakers have asked for accountability on how schools are using state dollars, only to see plummeting national scores of about 25-percent proficiency in reading and math for today’s eighth graders.

Maybe more money is never enough because money is not the problem – or the solution – to Oregon’s education. At Cascade, we believe options in education would make better use of funding and allow parents a greater say in choosing the school -- public, private or charter -- that meets their child’s learning needs.

Read the full commentary at www.cascadepolicy.org