The 2022-23 edition of the Oregon Statewide Report Card is now available on the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) website. This annual look at Oregon’s kindergarten through grade 12 education system includes key data on students, teachers and schools.

“Academic excellence for students in Oregon remains the top priority for our agency. I took this role to make a difference, and we need to see what the data are telling us and be responsive to that,” Oregon Department of Education Director Dr. Charlene Williams said. “Clearly the results show we have more work to do to set Oregon’s students up for success. I care deeply about helping each and every scholar, and know that through centering their needs, aspirations and talents, we can prepare every student for their future.”

“Learning from this report helps us build a stronger education system that serves every student. Moving forward I’m focused on three areas that are central to student success:

• Early literacy
• Sense of Belonging
• Accountability.”

The Oregon Statewide Report Card includes new and returning data, most of which has already been released in the last year. Take aways from the report:

• There are 333 unique languages spoken by Oregon students, which includes about 11.3% classified as English Learners. However, a previous survey showed that there were no students that didn’t speak English.
• In the October 1st, 2022 student enrollment included 2,777 non-binary students. This is an increase from the 1,772 non-binary students reported in the October 1st, 2021 student enrollment.
• In three years, the overall enrollment has dropped 30,281, while teachers increased by 1,328.
• The majority of students in Oregon attend large school districts, comprised of 7,000 or more students.
• Homeless students total 21,478, but only 2,769 are actually unsheltered. The total includes those in shelters, unsheltered, motels and the majority (15,212) are in sharing housing. This group has a 58.6% graduation rate.
• All students four-year graduation rate is 81.3%.
• English Language Arts Academic Achievement’s long-term goal is 80% of which the achieved average is 43.6%. Out of 11 categories, 7 increased slightly after the COVID shutdown for grade schools and 6 for 11th grade, but all categories declined in middle school. The highest achievement categories are Asians at 62.0-64.4% compared to Whites at 50-52.3% and Multi-racial at 47.6-51.3%. At the bottom are English Learners at 11.3-20% and the disabled at 15.8-20%. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanic made the biggest progress as they advance from 20.4 to 30.3 and 34% in high school. Black and Underserved came in at 25.4 to 34%
• Mathematics Academic Achievement also has a long term goal of 80%. Overall the score decline from 36.6% in grade school to 28.5% in middle school and 20.9% in 11th grade. The categories ranked the same with the best performing being Asian (42.6%) and White (25.2%) as 11th grade scores. All categories declined as students advance, and most declined after the COVID lockdown.
• Charter schools made up 7.5% of enrollments or 41,577 students. They out performed public school by 6.3% for English Language Arts and 3.1% in math.
• Ninth Grade On-Track data increased in 2022-23, compared to 2021-22. The total statewide rate increased by 0.8 percentage points to 83.6 percent and is approaching pre-pandemic levels. What it means is they completed the course work.
• Attendance averages increased to about 66% and 61.2% for 11th grade.
• Discipline incidents have increased from 6.5% pre-pandemic to 6.8% in 2022-23. Incidents are below 3% until 4th grade when it gradually rises and going into middle school it jumps to 11.2% and peaks in 8th grade at 14.4% then gradually declines to 3.6% in 12th grade.
• The report doesn’t include 2023 graduation rates. Despite the suspension of the Assessment of Essential Skills, Oregon’s dropout rate more than double in 2021-22.

Probably the most disturbing numbers are for high school. These students have less time to make up where Oregon has previously failed them, and they will soon be competing in the world market for higher education or employment.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Oregon has some of the most demanding graduation requirements in the country, as measured by course credit requirements. The subject-area credit requirements are listed on the Oregon Diploma webpage. The passage of Senate Bill 744 (2021) suspended the Assessment of Essential Skills policy through the 2023-24 school year. Oregon continues to administer statewide summative tests; however, these tests are not designed to determine if a student should graduate from high school.

ODE has not eliminated state tests of proficiency for Oregon students. Oregon’s state summative tests in language arts, mathematics, and science are required by both state and federal law. Students are expected to take Oregon’s state summative tests. The only change made thus far is to eliminate a duplicative testing requirement, which evidence has shown was not working. The Assessment of Essential Skills policy suspension was recently extended through the 2027-28 school year by the Oregon State Board of Education; however, the nine essential skills have not been eliminated. Students continue to receive instruction and are assessed on these essential skills in classrooms, including those who graduated in 2023.

The report clearly points towards the need for middle school reforms. ODE changes over the past few years have impacted middle schoolers the most, and perhaps the failure of those changes should be analyzed for a more successful high school experience.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-12-01 10:38:43

Last Update: 2023-12-01 17:18:17