This story was produced by the Oregon Journalism Project, a nonprofit newsroom covering the state.

Oregonians believe in public education.

And we put our money where our values are. K-12 schools claim the largest share of Oregon’s general fund, and our spending per capita ranks 15th in the nation, according to educationdata.org .

But as the latest statewide test scores make clear, that investment is failing to yield the outcomes parents want for their children.

By almost every meaningful measure, we are among the worst states in America when it comes to educating our kids.

The facts are damning.

Oregon comes in last among the 50 states for fourth grade reading scores, adjusted for demographics, according to the Urban Institute , and 49th for eighth grade math.

One in three stude

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