About 15% of adults in Oregon prisons read below an eighth-grade level, an analysis by the Statesman Journal found. Nationwide, an estimated 70% or more of incarcerated people can't read at the fourth-grade level. It's not clear whether Oregon prisoners are actually more literate since there is no state-by-state comparative data or federal oversight. Corrections officialsContinue reading "Learning to Read Behind the Fence: The path to prison is often paved by illiteracy. Yet many prisoners aren’t being taught to read"
Families, former Portland Public Schools employees fight cuts to language services
PPS dismantled the Language Access Services team this past spring amid millions of dollars in budget cuts. They say needed services are still provided, but some argue vulnerable families are worse off. Read and listen to the full story here.
Declining enrollment, shrinking budget push Corvallis to consider closing schools
Corvallis is among the latest school districts to look at closing schools in light of Oregon’s education budget crisis. Read the full story, with the result of the vote, here.
Are the kids OK? A look at how a generation of COVID students is faring in Oregon
There’s been some but little recovery since the global pandemic shuttered brick-and-mortar schools. McMinnville shows there’s hope if the right support is in place. Read the full story here.
What Oregonians need to know about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in local schools
https://youtu.be/EVgilm-26PY?si=O3NoYRsMBU19Jy_N Students and teachers already use a variety of AI tools on a regular basis. It can quicken tasks and serve as a helpful study tool, but it can also be used to bully and harass peers. Explore our full coverage here.
Oregon education accountability bill passes Senate. What’s next?
(From the archives: June 2025) Proponents of Senate Bill 141 say it isn’t just about putting more money into the state's education system but also about being more intentional with how that money is spent. Read the full story here. (Spoiler: The bill later passed. Now, we are watching to see if it's effective.)
Families, staff return to school across Oregon, some under fear of ICE arrests
Concerns about possible deportation are top of mind as the state’s roughly half a million students return to classrooms. Read the full story here.
Colin Kaepernick makes surprise visit to Portland Public Schools, a new partner with his AI company
Aug. 2025: The civil rights activist and former NFL quarterback’s company, Lumi Story AI, is part of a new artificial intelligence partnership with Oregon’s largest school district. Read the full story here.
What to know about Salem’s water emergency and what’s being done to prevent it
Aug. 2025: Take a look inside the Salem water treatment facility at the heart of a major regional conversation. Listen, view photos and read the full story here.
Oregon lawmakers didn’t approve school meals bills. Now federal nutrition cuts loom
Advocates worry about the effect on people who are hungry. Lawmakers say they didn’t have the money to do more. Read the full story here.
‘OPB Politics Now’: What Oregon lawmakers have, have not done on education issues this session
Oregon lawmakers have less than two weeks left in this year’s legislative session. What have they done to tackle the state’s lagging education system? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we dive into the major education topics in Salem this session. Listen here or anywhere you get your podcasts.
Natalie Pate 