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.

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,