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 11:57:07

Last Update: 2024-01-25 16:43:10