A widely circulated claim stated that Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed a bill eliminating the math, reading, and writing requirements for high school graduation, purportedly to aid students of color. This assertion began gaining traction on social media platforms, including Facebook and X, on July 9th. Accompanying images featured Governor Kotek with superimposed text alleging the removal of these academic requirements and citing the rationale of helping “Students of Color.” Some posts further elaborated, suggesting the change aimed to “remove barriers that have disproportionately affected students of color and other underserved groups.”
The spread of this claim coincided with political developments in Oregon, where polls indicated a close gubernatorial race. Concerned readers reached out for verification.
However, the origin of this claim has been traced to a social media account that identifies itself as a “comedian.” This account shared the rumor on July 9th. Subsequent investigation by search engines like DuckDuckGo, Google, and Yahoo did not yield any credible news reports from reputable outlets confirming such a bill being signed by Governor Kotek. If such a significant change to graduation requirements had occurred, it would have been extensively covered by major news organizations.
The individual whose account first posted the rumor has a history of sharing fictitious stories that are often based on real events or people. For instance, a previous post from the same account claimed that television journalist Don Lemon stated people were seeking his forgiveness for voting for former U.S. President Donald Trump, a claim for which no evidence was found.
It is important to note that Oregon has faced significant challenges with literacy for years, ranking low nationally in academic achievement according to various studies and assessments, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress and Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research.
In 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic, then-Governor Kate Brown did sign a bill to suspend standardized testing requirements, not general literacy requirements, until 2024, a suspension later extended to the 2027-28 school year. This suspension did not eliminate the need for students to complete coursework or undergo regular subject testing throughout the school year.
Upon taking office in 2023, Governor Kotek established a council focused on improving literacy in Oregon. In early 2026, the state announced plans to implement an “Education Accountability Plan” to introduce new statewide standards for evaluating school performance.
This claim has been categorized as “Originated as Satire” by Snopes. The organization uses this rating when the content’s creator identifies it as satire, acknowledging that the interpretation of satire can be subjective.
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