Oregon’s Department of Education has recently eliminated the requirement for students to prove proficiency in basic academic skills to earn a high school diploma.
Initial Academic Requirements
Before Senate Bill 744, proficiency in reading, writing, and math was a prerequisite for Oregon high school graduation.
Statewide Assessment Standards
Students had to demonstrate this proficiency by achieving the required scores on the Oregon Statewide Summative Assessment.
Pandemic Response and Legislative Changes
Senate Bill 744 emerged in response to the educational interruptions caused by the pandemic, prompting a state review and subsequent suspension of the proficiency requirement for graduating students until the 2023-24 school year.
Response to Educational Disruptions
Senate Bill 744 was introduced as a legislative reaction to the educational disruptions stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Temporary Suspension of Requirements
The academic disruptions prompted a review by the state, resulting in the suspension of proficiency requirements for graduation through the 2023-24 school year.
Extension of Suspension
Last month, Oregon’s State Board of Education extended the pause on essential academic skill assessments for high school graduation to the 2027-28 academic year.
Concern for Marginalized Students
Board members and leaders of the Oregon Department of Education contend that standardized testing can be a detrimental barrier for students from historically marginalized communities.
Standardized Tests Under Scrutiny
The members assert that the current use of state tests is inappropriate, potentially misrepresenting their intended purpose.
Union Opposition to Standardized Testing
The Oregon Education Association (OEA) union, representing thousands of teachers, stands firmly against standardized testing, condemning such assessments as discriminatory and unreflective of true student learning.
OEA’s Critique of Testing Methods
“Standardized tests are inaccurate, inequitable, and don’t accurately measure student learning and growth,” stated OEA.
Record-Setting Graduation Statistics
Post-elimination of essential skill requirements, Oregon saw its graduation rates soar to 81.3% for the class of 2022, marking a near-record high,
Proficiency Does Not Match Graduation Rates
Despite these high graduation numbers, only 43% of these graduates met proficiency standards in English and fewer than 31% in math.
OEA’s Mission Statement
The OEA claims its dedication to high-quality public education for Oregon’s students.
Questioning Educational Standards
However, the OEA’s support for removing basic skill requirements for graduation is seen as a move that potentially undermines the education quality for state students.
Declining Membership in OEA
The 4.4% drop in the Oregon Education Association’s membership from 2020 to 2022 suggests a growing concern among teachers about the union’s focus on ideology at the expense of educational success.
Critique of Removed Skill Standards
MacKensey Pulliam, President of the Oregon Moms Union, criticizes the State Board of Education for dropping skill standards tests, implying that it falsely inflates student achievement while degrading educational quality.
Participation Trophy Diplomas
Pulliam remarked, “They’ve kind of essentially made an Oregon high school diploma a participation trophy because they’re not requiring students to be able to prove that they can read and do math at an 11th-grade level to graduate.”
Frustrated Parents
A TikTok user shared a disturbing story about a mom who brought a dead child into daycare: Mother Brought Her Dead Toddler To Daycare, Acting Like He Was Sleeping
According to Pulliam, parents are “frustrated” by the Board of Education’s decision.
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