As school districts across Oregon start announcing budget gaps for the upcoming 2026–27 school year, a more immediate cut looms.

Oregon’s 197 school districts are largely funded by the state Legislature, which faces federal funding cuts and a slowing economy. Notably, congressional passage of H.R. 1 directly affects large chunks of funding for the Oregon Health Plan and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Legislative Fiscal Office asked state agencies to conduct a budgeting exercise that would simulate 5% reductions, so district leaders suspect they also may be asked to cut back. “We’re not at a place to say that we are confident that there won’t be some ask this year,” Portland Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong told Portland School Board members on Oct

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