Should Oregon actively oppose Trump Administation policies?
Yes, at every opportunity
Yes, but only as appropriate
No, elections have consequences
Northwest Observer
Subscribe for Free Email Updates
Name:
Email:
Search Articles
       






On this day, February 11, 1999 the New Carissa cargo ship which ran aground a week earlier on the Oregon Coast near Coos Bay was set on fire with explosives to burn off some 400,000 gallons of fuel oil to prevent its spillage.




Post an Event


Celebrate Presidents Day
Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Come celebrate Presidents day!



Sunday February 16th (day prior to Presidents day)

2562 S Santiam Hwy, Lebanon OR

(Between Grocery Outlet and Schmizza)

1:30 PM starts flag wave, movie starts approx. 2:30 PM

Flag wave weather permitting. dress warm.

Watch the Reagan movie and enjoy some snacks.

$5 donation recommended.

Linn County Conservative Alliance 2562 S Santiam Hwy, Lebanon, OR 97355. between Grocery Outlet and Schmizza.



Let Kids Be Kids
Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 6:00 pm
Empower parents, protect kids, and reclaim our schools. Parents have a responsibility to stand up for their children and their futures. Keynote speaker, Fox News Host Rachel Campos-Duffy. music by Kurt Van Meter. Tickets director@parentsrightsineducation.org
NW Event Center, Hillsboro, OR



Friends of Gap Road Town Hall
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 6:00 pm
Guest Speakers: Jim Johnson a career in land use and water management, and David Neal a Linn County farm owner exporter and owner of a land water management business.
Harrisburg High School Multi Purpose Room 400 S 9th St


View All Calendar Events


ODE Puts Positive Spin on Stagnant Graduation Rates
Graduation rates don’t reflect a difference between proficiency testing and class achievements.

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) put out a press release touting the class of 2023 as achieving the second highest graduation rate ever in Oregon. The statewide graduation rate for the class of 2023 is 81.3 percent, tying the 2022 class as the second highest graduation rate ever recorded in Oregon. While the overall rate held steady, some student groups reached all-time highs for graduation including former English Learners (87.6%) and Migrant students (81.6%). The biggest negative impact were students in Foster Care dropping 1.5% to 46.9% graduation rate.

While 81.3%, 37,700 students earned a diploma, 8,672 students did not graduate, a long hill for Governor Kotek to meet her campaign goal of 90%. Tina Kotek campaigned that it was important to her for “setting high standards and high expectations for all Oregon students.” Her website listed education priorities, lowering the 2011 statutory bar to 90% graduating by 2027.

Does a diploma demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, and math? In August 2021, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed Senate Bill 744 eliminating the requirement for high school graduation requirements for 2022, 2023, and 2024. Prior to the pandemic it had reached 82%, then dropped to 80.6% in 2021. So the elimination of testing hasn’t made a significant difference. Oregon was one of 15 states that ended graduation test requirements. Eight other states have replaced graduation test requirements with a variety of end-of-course tests that factor into student course grades and the right for students to use an alternatives if they fail.

Besides the standard diploma, students with a documented history of not maintaining grade level achievement due to a learning, instructional, or medical barrier can earn a modified diploma or an extended diploma. They must have “demonstrated the inability to meet the full set of academic content standards for a high school diploma with reasonable modifications and accommodations.” It qualifies them for federal financial aid in college but probably will not be accepted into the military.

Oregon students still have to pass their high school classes and earn 24 credits to graduate, which is one of the highest in the nation. Still, every legislative session discusses increasing the mandatory credit requirements. Every credit required reduces the flexibility for students to pursue their interests in the direction of a possible career. ODE has recommended changes to the state's graduation requirements, including permanently ending the requirement to show testing proficiency in reading, writing, and other skills on top of credit-bearing coursework in those subjects.

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

Another educational goal was passed into law in 2011 was the “40-40-20? (Bachelor’s/Associate’s/high school) goal for 100% of adult Oregonians to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent by 2025. By 2019, 7% of Oregonians had less than high school education, but the pandemic seems to have swept that goal under the carpet too. The current graduation rates would indicate that goal is a dream that will never happen.

Dr. Charlene Williams, ODE Director, states, “Each diploma represents an inspiring step forward for a student, their loved ones, and their community. With impressive grit and resourcefulness, they worked their way through the jarring and isolating impacts of the pandemic to earn their education. We need to maintain high expectations and provide high levels of support that will lead to academic excellence for all of our students. Each and every child from birth through 5th grade must be set up for success in learning to read and reading to learn and be provided opportunities to find their path to graduation success and their dream career.”

Governor Kotek would like to see more targeting of resources, “such as career and technical education and supporting English Language Learners. This targeted approach to success is working for our students, so let’s do more of that, and I hope lawmakers support summer learning investment in the 2024 session.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-01-25 11:57:07Last Update: 2024-01-25 16:43:10



Read More Articles