As a parent with two students in the Portland Public School District, I have witnessed the constant disruptions to their education over the past seven years. These challenges have included the global COVID-19 pandemic, staff strikes, persistent staffing shortages, reduction in essential services and programs, and an alarming failure to meet even the minimum education hours, which are already among the lowest in the nation.

The frequent instability and lack of consistent resources have had a significant impact on not only my children but also tens of thousands of other students across Oregon. The consequences are unmistakable: classrooms struggle to maintain adequate staff, students experience larger class sizes, and many programs that contribute to a well-rounded education are continuously threatened. This is not the future we envisioned for our children, nor does it align with our community’s commitment to providing quality education.

It’s time for change. We, the community, call upon the Oregon Legislature and Governor Kotek to pass a dedicated and stable funding formula specifically for K–12 schools. School funding in Oregon relies heavily on volatile sources like local property taxes and economic fluctuations, which do not provide the consistency needed for long-term planning and stability. A new funding model is crucial to ensure that all students, regardless of their district, have access to quality education year after year.

With stable and dedicated funding, schools can better plan for the future, recruit and retain qualified teachers, provide essential services and programs, and ultimately provide every student with a fair chance to succeed. The future of thousands of Oregon children depends on the legislature taking decisive and immediate action.

Support this petition to hold our elected officials accountable for the education of our children and the future of our state. Sign this petition and send a clear message to the Oregon Legislature that we will not settle for anything less than a full commitment to our children's education.