ODE News Executive Numbered Memoranda

Executive Numbered Memo: 010-2012-13 – OAR 581-022-2130 - Kindergarten Assessment

Tue, 2 Apr 2013 14:33:00 GMT

To: District and ESD Superintendents
From: Rob Saxton, Deputy Superintendent
RE: Oregon Kindergarten Assessment: OAR 581-022-2130

On March 8, 2013 the State Board of Education adopted OAR 581-022-2130 which directs all school districts to administer the Oregon Kindergarten Assessment to students enrolled in kindergarten beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.

The state of Oregon has set an ambitious goal – 100% high school completion by 2025, with the vast majority of students going on to college or workforce training. To make progress toward this goal, and prepare all students for college, career, and citizenship, we must support students and their families from early childhood through higher education. This begins with ensuring students ...MORE

Executive Numbered Memo: 009-2012-13 - Charter School Accountability, Achievement Compacts, Licensure/Registration, and Highly Qualified Requirements

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:26:00 GMT

To: All School District Superintendents, Charter School Directors

From: Heidi Sipe, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Educational Improvement and Innovation
Victoria Chamberlain, Executive Director, Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
Doris McEwen, Deputy Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Oregon Education Investment Board

Re: Joint Memorandum – Charter School Accountability, Achievement Compacts, Licensure/Registration, and Highly Qualified Requirements

This memo is intended to clarify requirements relating to charter school accountability, inclusion in achievement compacts, licensure/registration for teachers and administrators, and compliance with federal highly qualified teacher (HQT) requirements applicable in Oregon charter schools.

Charter School Accountability
Charter Schools are authorized to operate as public schools in Oregon if they meet the requirement ...MORE

Executive Numbered Memo: 008-2012-13 - House Bill 2220

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:42:00 GMT

To: All School District Superintendents
From: Heidi Sipe, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Educational Improvement and Innovation
Re: House Bill 2220 and OAR 581-022-1670

House Bill 2220 was enacted in 2011 by the Oregon Legislature and changes district responsibilities for reporting student achievement. On December 6, 2012, the Oregon State Board of Education adopted revisions to Oregon Administrative Rule 581-022-1670. The intent of HB 2220 and of revised OAR 581-022-1670 is to inform students and parents of students’ progress toward acquiring the knowledge and skills included in the Oregon academic content standards.

Currently, schools and districts are not required to report student progress in terms of the academic content standards. In addition, a student’s academic grades ...MORE

Executive Numbered Memo: 007-2012-13 - Essential Skills graduation requirements during transition to Smarter Balanced

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 16:14:00 GMT

TO: School District and ESD Superintendents
FROM: Doug Kosty, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Assessment and Information Services
RE: Essential Skills graduation requirements during transition to Smarter Balanced

The Department has received many questions regarding the upcoming transition to the Smarter Balanced assessment and the impact on Essential Skills graduation requirements. We would like to provide clarification to the field regarding these requirements and what will be expected of students during the transition to this new assessment.

As stated in Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 581-22-0615 (Assessment of Essential Skills), students must be allowed to meet the Essential Skills graduation requirement using any of the approved assess-ment options that are in place during their 9th grade through 12th grade year. Students must not be required to use achievement standards that are higher than those approved as of March 1 ...MORE

MEMORANDUM NO: 006-2012-13 - Clarification Regarding Teacher and Administrator Evaluations

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:09:00 GMT

To: District and ESD Superintendents
From: Rob Saxton, Deputy Superintendent
Re: Clarification Regarding Teacher and Administrator Evaluations: Timelines, Assurances, and Implementation Plans

Clarification on the Implementation Timeline
To comply with Senate Bill 290, all districts must implement their plans for teacher and administrator evaluation and support systems in 2013-14. The new evaluation requirements apply to all evaluations occurring after July 1st, 2013. Please note this is a change from previous ODE guidance regarding “piloting” in 2013-14. We received additional clarification that Senate Bill 290 must apply to all teacher and administrator evaluations starting this summer. We sincerely apologize for the confusion and inconvenience this change in guidance causes.

During the 2013-2014 school year:

By July 1, 2013, all districts must submit to ODE their teacher and a ...MORE

MEMORANDUM NO: 005-2012-13 - Suspension of Division 22 Assurances for 2012-2013

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:47:00 GMT

To: School District and ESD Superintendents
From: Heidi Sipe, Assistant Superintendent
Re: Suspension of Division 22 Assurances for 2012-2013

Oregon law requires that all public schools and districts meet standards set by the State Board of Education (ORS 327.103). The Division 22 Standards for K-12 Education within the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) includes the rules that describe a “standard school district.” An Oregon school district, to be standard, must provide acceptable educational opportunities for all Oregon students who reside in the district. To verify compliance with the Division 22 Standards, each year, school districts submit an Assurance form to the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction signed by the District Superintendent.

Section 15 (1)(a) of SB 1581, passed by the 2012 State Legislature, required the Oregon Education ...MORE

MEMORANDUM NO: 004-2012-13 - House Bill 2283

Fri, 9 Nov 2012 15:27:00 GMT

To: Superintendents, Principals, and Special Education Directors

From: Rob S. Saxton, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction;
Petrea Hagen- Gilden, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Student Learning & Partnerships;
Heidi Sipe, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Improvement & Innovation

Re: House Bill 2283

In 2011 the legislature passed HB 2283, which altered the definition of a school day for specific students. This law, which was an amendment to ORS 329.451, applies to students with disabilities who have received a modified diploma, an extended diploma or an alternative certificate. It allows those students to continue in school through age 21 and obligates school districts to provide a school day for them that is the same length as is provided to students in public high school.

Decisions about these students’ instructional days are put in the hands of the Individualized Education Progr ...MORE