Leading Oregon Democrats are pushing two companion bills that aim to set stricter academic metrics for schools and lay out steps they’d have to take if they don’t meet them.

Oregon student outcomes rank amongst the lowest in the nation. A new bill would add assessments, metrics and oversight in hopes of boosting outcomes.

Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong said she welcomes added scrutiny about how hers and other school districts are spending tax dollars, but believes calls for improved student outcomes should be backed by significant financial investments.

Facing a $40 million budget shortfall for year, the Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong is tentatively planning to propose a budget that cuts more than 200 positions. On Monday,

“I’ve been really clear with people: don’t talk to me about more money,” Kotek, who has proposed spending $11.3 billion for schools over the next two years, roughly an 11% increase over current funding, told The Oregonian/OregonLive in an interview this week. “We have to make sure that we are getting better outcomes with the resources we have.”