ODE News Releases

Oregon State Board of Education Adopts Common Core Standards and Higher Interim Math Achievement Standards

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 22:15:00 GMT

Salem – The Oregon State Board of Education today adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) which represent K-12 learning expectations for students in English-language arts and mathematics.

“Today marks an important step forward in raising expectations for our students,” said State Board of Education Chair Brenda Frank. “We know that our students will compete for jobs with students from all over the world. By adopting the Common Core we are taking an important step forward to ensure that we are providing Oregon students with the tools they need to be globally competitive."

The Common Core Standards is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governor’s Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Oregon became involved in the project last year when State Superintendent of Schools Susan Castillo and Governor Theodore Kulongoski signed on to the initiative along with representatives from 48 other states and two territories. T ...MORE

PSU Professor Samuel Henry Joins State Board of Education

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:01:00 GMT

SALEM—State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that Professor Samuel Henry of Troutdale has joined the State Board of Education. Henry was confirmed by the Oregon Senate last month to complete the term vacated by Lew Frederick of Portland. Dr. Henry’s term runs from October 1, 2010 through June 30, 2012.

“I entered the education professions believing that our educational institutions needed reform, a higher quality of leadership, and they needed to be dedicated to serving the needs of all citizens. Given my own experiences, I hope I can constructively add to this action,” said Dr. Henry.

Dr. Henry has been a faculty member at Portland State University since 1992. He is an associate professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the Graduate School of Education at PSU and recently served as the Graduate School of Education doctoral program coordinator.

“I look forward to working with Samuel Henry during this pivotal time for educati ...MORE

Five Schools Removed from Oregon’s Safety “Watch List”

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Continued Focus on Building Statewide Support for Safe Schools

SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that five Oregon public schools have been removed from this year’s federal No Child Left Behind safety watch list. No Oregon schools were identified this year for placement on the “watch list” under the federal reporting requirements.

“Students can’t learn in unsafe or disruptive classrooms,” said Superintendent Susan Castillo. “As we lose federal funding for Safe and Drug Free Schools, I am proud of the work we are doing here in Oregon to create and maintain safe learning environments for kids through a statewide initiative called Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.”

Schools removed from the “watch list”:
Klamath Falls City Schools District – Ponderosa Junior High School
Medford School District – Hedrick Middle School, McLoughlin Middle School
Rey ...MORE

Gresham Educator Receives Milken National Educator Award – and $25,000

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:30:00 GMT

SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that Martin Martinez, a 3rd grade teacher at Gresham-Barlow’s Hogan Cedars Elementary, has been selected as a recipient of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. Martin will receive a $25,000 cash award as part of his recognition.

Superintendent Castillo and Dr. Jane Foley, Senior Vice President of the Milken Family Foundation, made the surprise award announcement at an all-school assembly this morning.

“We have all known that special teacher whose power to inspire and share a love of learning changed us and helped us grow into the people we are today,” said Superintendent Susan Castillo. “But far too often these inspiring and life changing teachers don’t receive the recognition and thanks they deserve. Martin Martinez is just such a life changing teacher and today he received recognition of that in a very big way. Thanks to the generosity of the Milken National Educator Award pr ...MORE

Colleen Works Named 2010-11 Oregon Teacher of the Year

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Corvallis – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that Colleen Works, a social sciences teacher at Corvallis High School, has been selected as the 2010-2011 Oregon Teacher of the Year. As Oregon’s Teacher of the Year, Works will attend the National Teacher of the Year forum in Washington, D.C. where she will meet President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Works succeeds 2009-10 Teacher of the Year Donna Dubois, a fourth grade teacher at Camas Ridge Community School in Eugene.

“The Oregon Teacher of the Year program highlights outstanding educators who exemplify the best the profession has to offer,” said Superintendent Susan Castillo. “Colleen Works is just such an educator - a dedicated, visionary leader who will serve as an excellent role model and spokesperson for Oregon teachers. Colleen passionately believes in what she does and in the vital role teachers have in preparing students for an ever-changing world.”

The Oreg ...MORE

Oregon Department of Education Releases Highly Qualified Teachers Results

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 07:00:00 GMT
Statewide Coalition Focused on Integrated Educator System

SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that 96% of all core academic classes taught in Oregon’s public schools during the 2009-2010 school year had a highly qualified teacher, according to the federally required definition under the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA), formerly known as the No Child Left Behind Act. The total is an increase over last year’s 94% and the previous year’s 92%. For Oregon’s 2009-10 Highly Qualified Teacher results go to: http://www.ode.state.or.us/superintendent/priorities/highly-qualified-teachers-insert.doc

“Effective teachers are vital to student success,” said Susan Castillo. “Adequately credentialed teachers are but one important contributor toward quality class ...MORE

School & District Report Card Results Announced

Thu, 7 Oct 2010 07:00:00 GMT
Superintendent Susan Castillo Delivers State of Education Speech at Intel

SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today released the report cards for Oregon public elementary, middle, and high schools during a State of Education speech delivered to education business partners at the Hillsboro Intel campus.

Oregon’s 2009-2010 School Report Card Ratings

• 37% of schools (426 out of 1155) were rated Outstanding (last year 34%)
• 59% of schools (684 out of 1155) were rated Satisfactory (last year 61%)
• 4% of schools (45 out of 1155) were rated In Need of Improvement (last year 5%)
• 132 schools were not rated due to their small size or being open for less than two years.

For a list of statewide ratings by elementary, middle, and high school go to: www.ode.state.or.us/superintendent/priorities/r ...MORE

Susan Castillo Statement on Legislative action to maintain services for Oregon’s youngest learners

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:19:00 GMT
SALEM – “Today the Legislative Emergency Board ensured that our youngest citizens will continue to receive critical educational and developmental services by securing $2.6M in funding for Oregon Pre-kindergarten and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education. I am grateful that our leaders recognize the vital importance of early education for all of Oregon’s children.

“The Legislature indicated they will appropriate $1.3M to Oregon Pre-kindergarten. This means that 531 children living in poverty will be able to remain in their classrooms and continue with the early education we know is so vital for their future academic success.

“The Legislature indicated they will appropriate $1.3M to Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education. This means our state can continue to deliver vital services like physical therapy, early literacy, and social development services to help our special education preschoolers get ready for school.”

Susan Castillo Statement on Chalkboard and McMinnville School District’s Successful National Bid for Combined $20M in Federal Funding

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:15:00 GMT
SALEM – “This is a proud day for Oregon and terrific news for our students. Congratulations to both Chalkboard and McMinnville School District for winning a combined $20M in Teacher Incentive Grants from the federal government. Both are reforming the way our state works with teachers and administrators in order to increase student achievement. Both have shown tremendous commitment to doing what is best for our students by providing leadership that empowers and supports educators with the end goal of raising student achievement.”

For copies of Chalkboard and McMinnville’s winning applications go to: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherincentive/awards.html

The Teacher Incentive Fund program supports efforts to develop and implement performance-based teacher and principal compensation systems in high-need schools.

Goals include:

Improving student achievement ...MORE

Oregon Department of Education Releases Homeless Student Count: Highest Numbers on Record

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 07:02:00 GMT

SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that Oregon’s homeless student count is the highest ever recorded. During the 2009-10 school year, 19,040 homeless students attended Oregon public schools. This is a 5.5 percent increase from last year. The percentage of homeless students in Oregon has increased 134 percent since the state began counting seven years ago.

“Our homeless students face enormous challenges,” said State Superintendent Susan Castillo. “It is imperative our schools help address their basic needs so they may attend school consistently. Since education is the key to a better life, our schools and communities must work together to help ensure academic success for our homeless students.”

DISTRICTS WITH HIGHEST COUNTS OF HOMELESS STUDENTS 2009-10

SCHOOL DISTRICT HOMELESS STUDENTS TOTAL ENROLLM ...MORE

Oregon SAT Scores Show Solid Gains in Reading and Writing

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:00:00 GMT

SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today released Oregon’s scores on the SAT college entrance exam. Oregon students’ reading and writing scores rose by two points each and math scores held steady; Oregon scores in all three areas continue to exceed the national average:
Oregon’s critical reading score of 521 was two points higher than last year (national average was 498)
Oregon’s math score of 523 was the same as last year (national average was 511)
Oregon’s writing score of 496 was two points higher than last year (national average was 488)

“I am excited to see the increase in our student’s reading and writing scores this year,” Superintendent Susan Castillo said. “Not only are our students doing better on the SAT, but more students than ever before are participating and this includes record numbers of minority students taking the test.”

In Oregon, 14,097 public school students took the SAT in 2009, up 1% from ...MORE

Final 2009-10 Adequate Yearly Progress Ratings Released for Oregon Schools

Thu, 9 Sep 2010 16:50:00 GMT

SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today released the final 2009-10 ratings for Oregon public schools under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) standards (formerly known as No Child Left Behind). Seventy-one percent of Oregon schools met the federal standard for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) this year.

A closer look at AYP—Oregon’s 2009-10 AYP reports show:
71.4% (892 of 1249 Oregon schools) met AYP standards, compared to 70.1% in 2008-09.
28.6% (357 of 1249 Oregon schools) did not meet, compared to 29.9% in 2008-09.
89.6% (654 of 730) of elementary schools met AYP, compared to 88.7% in 2008-09.
44.8% (86 of 192) of middle schools met AYP, compared to 40.5% in 2008-09.
46.5% (152 of 327) of high schools met AYP, compared to 44.8% in 2008-09.
“As our nation moves forward with reauthorization of this federal standard, I will fight to ensure our focus is on recognizing indiv ...MORE

State Superintendent of Schools Congratulates Oregon Principal Catherine Carnahan on Winning National Principal of the Year Title

Thu, 9 Sep 2010 15:25:00 GMT
SALEM – “Today Oregon principal Cathy Carnahan won the top distinction of National Principal of the Year from the National Association of Secondary School Principals. I am so pleased and honored to share one of Oregon’s finest with the rest of the nation. She is an excellent role model for our state and for our nation as we focus on the educational reforms necessary to boost student success.”

“As principal of Duniway Middle School in McMinnville School District, Cathy has built an environment where communication and collaboration are the foundation for meeting the needs of each and every student. She provides ample learning opportunities for teachers through a variety of trainings and workshops. This strong system of professional development is enhanced by a collaborative environment where teachers can learn together and from each other to address the unique learning challenges ...MORE

Oregon Part of Consortium Awarded RTTT Assessment Grant

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 15:20:00 GMT

The SMARTER Balanced Consortium is awarded $160 million to develop a student assessment system aligned with the common core academic standards

SALEM —State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), of which Oregon is a governing member, was one of two consortia awarded a four year Race to the Top Assessment Grant from the US Department of Education. The grant awards SBAC $160 million to develop a student assessment system aligned with the common core state standards.

“I am excited to be partnering with states from around the country on this historic effort,” said Susan Castillo, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. “While Oregon has long been considered a national leader in the area of assessment, we know that a true 21st century assessment system can do more to support and inform instruction, engage students in learning, and provide me ...MORE

2009-10 Test Results for Reading, Math, Science, and Writing Class of 2012 Makes Unprecedented Five Point Gain in Reading Scores

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:00:00 GMT

SALEM – Oregon Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today announced the results of student performance on the 2009-10 annual state assessments in reading, mathematics, writing, and science.
In reading, there was a five point gain in students meeting or exceeding the state standards in grade 10. The gains in reading were minimal for grades 3-8. The statewide average in students meeting or exceeding the state standard rose by one percentage point.
In math, the percent of students who met or exceeded the state standards increased in all grades by an average of two percentage points.
In science, there was minimal change in the statewide average of students meeting or exceeding the state standard. Grades 5 and 8 decreased slightly and grade 10 gained two percentage points in the number of students meeting or exceeding the state standard.
In writing, the percent of students who met or exceeded the standard rose by two percentage points for grade 7 but he ...MORE

Susan Castillo Statement regarding August Revenue Forecast

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:12:00 GMT
SALEM – “Today our state received more bad budget news. Oregon’s most recent budget forecast shows a $377.5 million budget shortfall for our state. The Governor, Senate President and Speaker have announced that additional cuts to K-12 will not be necessary and have pledged to maintain funding at the June level of $5.756 billion for K-12 education. To maintain this level, they propose using the $118 million federal Education Jobs assistance and approximately $34 million of the state reserve funds. As soon as we are able, my staff will provide school districts and education service districts with updated estimates.

“While this is welcome news, it is a short-term fix for a long-term funding problem for K-12. I look forward to working with state leadership to address this persistent K-12 funding challenge.

“I want to commend our school districts for all the hard choices they are making for their students this biennium. They have had to leave staff positions unfilled, ask ...MORE

Oregon Students Make Slight Gains on ACT College Entrance Exam

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:13:00 GMT
SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that performance was up slightly for Oregon high school students who took the college entrance test administered by the American College Testing Program (ACT).

The state’s average ACT score increased slightly from 21.4 in 2009 to 21.5 for the class of 2010. The national average ACT composite score this year was 21.0, down from 21.1 in 2009. The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with 36 being the highest possible score. 11,579 students in the Oregon graduating class of 2010 took the ACT, a 1% increase from last year and the highest total ever. This represents 34% of the state’s 2010 graduating class compared to 33% in 2009.

“Oregon’s ACT scores again demonstrate the importance of taking challenging courses in preparing for success after high school,” Superintendent Susan Castillo said. “Students who took four years of English and three years each of math, science, and social studies out ...MORE

State Superintendent Susan Castillo Statement on Federal Funding to Save Teacher Jobs

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:44:00 GMT
SALEM – “Today the House passed the $10 billion Edujobs bill guaranteeing Oregon $117M to forestall teacher layoffs. The number of Oregon teachers saved by this federal funding is estimated at approximately 1,600. The Governor will be invited to apply for these funds from the U.S. Department of Education, and they will be distributed through the State School Funding formula. These funds can be used for compensation and benefits to retain existing educators, hire new educators, or recall educators that have been recently laid off.

“I commend our Oregon congressional delegation for their diligence and determination in working with their colleagues to get this bill passed. Our educators are vital to the revitalization of Oregon’s economy. These jobs are at the core of our communities—teaching our kids, keeping class sizes manageable, providing summer school, preparing students to enter the workforce, and providing the foundation of our economic future. Ensuring quality education for ch ...MORE

Susan Castillo Statement on Beaverton School District’s Successful National Bid for $4M in Federal Funding

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 17:04:00 GMT
SALEM – “Congratulations to Beaverton School District for winning $4M in Investing in Innovation (i3) program funding from the federal government for their Arts for Learning Lessons (A4L) project. Beaverton School District was one of only 49 groups in the U.S. selected from among nearly 1,700 applicants for this funding. Beaverton School district is the only Oregon recipient of these competitive funds.

“This award is well deserved and I commend Superintendent Jerry Colona and his team for their hard work in winning this federal funding for A4L. This academic program integrates standards-focused, text-based content and arts strategies to improve students' achievement in literacy, learning, and life skills.

“This project funding will help Beaverton as they continue to implement Oregon’s increased Diploma requirements. It is targeted to raising student achievement around reading and writing particularly with high needs-students. I applaud their unwavering focus on meeting t ...MORE

Preliminary Adequate Yearly Progress Results Show Seven Out of Ten Oregon Schools Meeting Federal Standards

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 17:00:00 GMT

SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today released the preliminary 2009-10 ratings for Oregon public schools under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) standards (formerly known as No Child Left Behind). Seventy-two percent of Oregon schools met the federal standard for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) this year – these preliminary results reveal modest improvements for middle and high schools from last year’s final 2008-09 AYP results.

“While these preliminary AYP results show slight gains for our middle and high schools, they also reveal that far too many Oregon students are still not receiving the supports they need to succeed in school,” Superintendent Susan Castillo said. “We must always remember that behind the data are students who need our help in preparing for their next steps in life. Our focus must always be on these students and their academic growth over time. As our nation moves forward with reauthorization of this federal standard, ...MORE

Superintendent Susan Castillo Announces $34.4 Million in Federal Funding to Turn Around Twelve Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 22:19:00 GMT
SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that Oregon was awarded $34.4 million through the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program from the U.S. Department of Education. This federal funding is an allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Twelve Oregon schools have been selected to receive the grants over a three year period.

“Today marks an important milestone in our work to close the persistent achievement gap that exists in our lowest-achieving schools,” said Castillo. “Our students deserve dramatic improvements that will lead to better education outcomes. Each of these schools have committed to making serious changes in their education programs. Their courage to make the hard choices necessary for their students will serve as a model of reform for our state in years to come.”

The Oregon Department of Education selected the following schools based on a variety of factors, such as reading and math scores from 2007-09; their ...MORE

Oregon Students Awarded $480,000 in scholarships through the ECMC Scholars Program

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:51:00 GMT
SALEM- State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today announced that 72 graduating ECMC Oregon Scholars will receive $480,000 in scholarships for college thanks to the generosity of the ECMC Foundation.

The ECMC Scholars Program, sponsored by ECMC Foundation, was established to help students with potential but not necessarily the best grades prepare to graduate from high school and go on to some form of higher education.

To date, ECMC Foundation has pledged more than $7 million to the ECMC Scholars Program, which operates independently in both Virginia and Oregon.

Students who successfully complete the program earn $4,000 to pay for their first year of college and are eligible to receive $2,000 for their second year. This year’s ECMC Oregon Scholars include 72 graduating seniors.

In partnership with the Oregon Department of Education, ECMC Foundation works with eight public high schools throughout the state to execute the ECMC Scholars Pro ...MORE

Oregon Joins 31-State Consortium in Submitting RTTT Assessment Application

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:45:00 GMT

SMARTER Balanced is competing for a grant of up to $160 million to develop a student assessment system aligned with the common core academic standards

SALEM —State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that Oregon and 30 partner states have submitted a federal grant application that would develop a student assessment system aligned to a common core of academic standards.

The SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium, or SBAC, formed in December 2009, hopes to receive a Race to the Top assessment grant from the US Department of Education. The grant, which lasts four years, is worth as much as $160 million. No more than two grants will be awarded.

The assessment system to be developed by SBAC is tied to the Common Core Standards, an initiative led by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association to create a con ...MORE

2010-11 Oregon Department of Education News Release Calendar

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:38:00 GMT
This is the first half of the 2010-11 ODE news release calendar to assist you in your planning. The second half will be released in December 2010.

August 2010
Free & Reduced Lunch Income Guidelines
Electronic Version of Oregon Standards Newspaper
AUGUST 2: Preliminary AYP Report
AUGUST 18: ACT College Placement Test Scores
August 17-19: Annual State Board Retreat
AUGUST 30: Statewide Assessment Results

September 2010
SEPTEMBER 2: Final AYP Report
SEPTEMBER 17: Constitution Day
SEPTEMBER 13: SAT Results
SEPTEMBER 22: Homeless Student Report

October 2010
OCTOBER 7: School/District Report Cards
OCTOBER 8: Statewide In-service Day
OCTOBER 20: Highly Qualified Teacher Report
OCTOBER 25: Oregon Teacher of the Year
OCTOBER 27: School Safety “Watch List”
OCTOBER 27: Milken Educator Award
OCTOBER 28-29: Sta ...MORE

Final Draft of National K-12 Standards Released

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 16:54:00 GMT
Salem, OR – State Schools Superintendent announced today the release of the final draft of the national Common Core State Standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) is a state-led effort to establish college and career ready standards for English-language arts and mathematics that states can share and voluntarily adopt. CCSSI is a joint effort by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in partnership with Achieve, ACT and the College Board. Governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, including Oregon, have committed to this state-led process to develop a common core of state standards in English language arts and mathematics.

“Today marks a national milestone in our work to provide rigorous educational standards that prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities of an increasing ...MORE

Statement by State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo Urging Support for Keep Our Educators Working Act of 2010

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 22:05:00 GMT
“I stand today in strong support of the Keep Our Educators Working Act of 2010 and I urge the Oregon congressional delegation to support its passage. This bill would provide an estimated $230 million for Oregon K-12 education and prevent thousands of layoffs or a reduction in school days for the 2010-11 academic school year.

“The recent state quarterly revenue forecast reported a $577 million shortfall for the current budget which translates into a $243 million cut to K-12 school budgets. Oregon needs this additional federal funding to protect key education jobs in our schools.

“Too many of our school districts have had to make significant budget reductions in the past year and a half. This has meant furloughs, staffing cuts, larger class sizes, shorter school years and cuts to vital programs and services for our students. Our schools have little or nothing left to cut.

“Preventing teacher layoffs makes good financial sense. These layoffs would have a ripple effec ...MORE

New Cohort Graduation Rate Raises Bar and Provides Clarity on Student Outcomes; Oregon Dropout Rate Decreases

Tue, 25 May 2010 17:00:00 GMT
SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today announced the release of Oregon’s first official cohort graduation rate one year ahead of federal requirements. This is a fundamentally different method of calculating graduation rates. Students who receive a modified diploma, GED, adult high school diploma, alternative certificate or take longer than four years to graduate are now considered non-graduates. The cohort rate, which tracks students starting in 9th grade, provides additional clarity on where each student ends up after four years in high school and sets higher expectations for Oregon’s schools and students.

Oregon’s four-year cohort graduation rate for 2008-09 is 66%. This is the number of students who graduated with a regular diploma within four years of entering high school. The remaining 34% is made up of those students who took longer than four years to graduate with a regular high school diploma, or received a modified diploma, GED, adult high school dipl ...MORE

Oregon Awarded Grant for $10.5 Million for Data Systems

Sun, 23 May 2010 22:48:00 GMT
Program Expanded To Address Early Ed, Postsecondary and Workforce Data Needs

Salem – Oregon State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced that Oregon was awarded $10.5 million for the design and implementation of a statewide longitudinal data system. Oregon ranked second among the 20 states that were awarded the competitive federal grant to enhance education data systems.

“This is great news for Oregon students,” said Superintendent Castillo. This grant allows us to continue our momentum towards building a system to track student progress and help our teachers improve instruction. This is critical to our work in closing the achievement gap.”

The $10.5 million grant will aid the work already underway in the state to create better connections between teachers and student data and develop more partnerships to integrate and expand data collected on early childhood and college success. The funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ...MORE

Oregon Military Family Appreciation Day

Fri, 7 May 2010 07:00:00 GMT
Statement by State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo regarding Oregon Military Family Appreciation Day

“Today is Military Family Appreciation Day, and I want to take the opportunity to honor and thank the parents of our school children for their courage and dedication in serving our country.

“I especially want to recognize the families across Oregon with one, and sometimes both, parents deployed. What a tremendous sacrifice these parents are making on behalf of our country. I also thank the many wonderful school educators and staff members that offer support to students faced with the challenging reality of having their moms and dads overseas, defending our nation.

“We all need to do our part in supporting these remarkable families. Please consider participating in one of the many events being held around our state in observation of Military Family Appreciation Day. This occasion is much more than a symbolic gesture. This day is an opportunit ...MORE

Statement from Susan Castillo on Round II Race to the Top Grant

Wed, 5 May 2010 00:43:00 GMT
“Today Governor Kulongski announced that Oregon will not apply for the second round of Race to the Top funding. I am very disappointed that Oregon will not consider this opportunity. However, it is clear that there is no consensus of support from Oregon’s education stakeholders and partners to move forward on Race to the Top.

“I remain committed to the education reform initiatives our state is currently implementing and I will continue to move forward on many of the major elements of our Race to the Top application.

“Despite the Governor’s decision not to move forward with Race to the Top, the focus on educational reform and innovation must continue. I remain committed to implementing the higher standards we have set for students through Oregon’s increased graduation requirements. It is imperative we continue to move forward in preparing our students for college or a career.

“I will continue to enhance and develop systems that help support teachers and give ...MORE

Thank You to Those Who Inspire, Teach, and Lead – National Teacher Appreciation Week

Tue, 4 May 2010 04:21:00 GMT
Statement by Susan Castillo:

"The first week in May marks National Teacher Appreciation Week, making now the ideal time to deepen our support and appreciation for the work that our teachers do every day. Thanks to our teachers here in Oregon, we are seeing rising student achievement and improving graduation rates as students exit high school prepared for college and careers, ready to tackle the challenges of citizenship in the 21st century.

"Even during these trying economic times, with public education facing so much uncertainty, teachers arrive in their classrooms every morning committed to doing their best for their students. That, to me, is the definition of a hero.

"On behalf of all Oregonians, I want to thank our teachers for their passion, their creativity, their resilience, and most of all, their dedication to ALL our children."

Oregon First to Sign Up Statewide for Google Apps for Education

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 07:00:00 GMT
SALEM, Ore. – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that Oregon is the first state in the nation to sign up for Google Apps for Education in K-12 classrooms. Google Apps are available for free to Oregon public schools on a voluntary basis and are designed to help schools improve digital literacy and reduce IT costs while maintaining the security of school and student data.

“Educators and students now have access to the same cutting-edge technology used in the business world with added federal student privacy and confidentiality protections,” said Susan Castillo. “In a time of dwindling resources, I am grateful for Google’s partnership. Our students have a wonderful opportunity to prepare for the workplace by using workplace technology in the classroom,” said Castillo.

Google Apps for Education s ...MORE

Superintendent Castillo Announces Oregon K-12 Literacy Framework

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:00:00 GMT
SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today announced the launch of Oregon’s K-12 Literacy Framework which provides research-based tools at the state, district, and school levels to support effective reading instruction. Designed by the Literacy Leadership State Steering Committee (LLSSC) and adopted by the Oregon State Board of Education in December 2009, Oregon’s K-12 Literacy Framework aims to provide the supports needed at all levels to ensure that all students read at grade level or above. Participation in the Literacy Framework is not mandatory.

“This is really the first time our state has had a systemic approach to reading instruction designed to address the needs of all students, at all grades, and across all subject areas” said Superintendent Susan Castillo. “Reading is not just an elementary issue, nor is it simply a language arts issue. T ...MORE

April Earthquake Awareness Month -- Schools Focus on Natural Disaster Preparations

Thu, 1 Apr 2010 07:00:00 GMT
Statement by State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo regarding earthquake awareness:

SALEM - "Given the recent catastrophes in Haiti and Chile, it is well worth noting that April is Earthquake and Tsunami Awareness Month. The safety of our students and staff is paramount and public schools in Oregon are doing everything they can to prepare our people and buildings in the event of a natural disaster.

"We all know that the Northwest is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. So all our public schools are required, at least twice a year, to instruct and drill students on emergency procedures such as "Drop, Cover, Hold." The key to preparedness is practice, so that kids can respond quickly and without panicking when it really counts. In some of our coastal communities, schools also practice tsunami evacuation drills.

"If you're at a school that has yet to conduct one of their earthquake drills, April is a great time to get it ...MORE

State Releases 2008-09 Special Education Report Cards for School Districts, Early Intervention/Early Childhood Programs

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:46:00 GMT
SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo released the fourth annual report cards for Oregon Special Education and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education. The report cards are required under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).

“The Special Education Report Cards show us how well we are meeting the educational needs of our special education students,” said Susan Castillo. “They shine a spotlight on our successes and areas where we need improvement to ensure we are providing the highest quality education for all Oregon students,” Castillo said.

There are 73,509 Oregon school-age students in special education programs, about 13% of the school-age population in the state. Special education students are supported by federal, state and local resources, and funding for the 2009-10 school year is over $500 million.

Since 1975, the federal government has required that all children with disabilities receive a fre ...MORE

Susan Castillo Names Top School Wellness Programs in State

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:44:00 GMT
SALEM- State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced that Fairview Elementary (Klamath Falls City School District), Hoover Elementary (Corvallis School District), and Sacramento Elementary (Parkrose School District) have been named as recipients of the 2010 Oregon School Wellness Award. This is the third year that the Oregon Department of Education has formally recognized outstanding school wellness programs. These award recipients have effectively implemented their district’s wellness policies, are creatively promoting healthy student behavior, and are monitoring and evaluating their programs to meet all student needs. Child nutrition programs provide healthy meals to promote learning readiness and healthy eating behaviors.

As award recipients, each school will receive a $2,500 cash prize, a certificate of recognition, and a banner at a locally organized event that will include all students, faculty and representatives from the Oregon Department of Education and the Nutriti ...MORE

Superintendent Castillo Announces Oregon’s Performance on National Reading Assessment Holds Steady for 4th and 8th Graders

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:17:00 GMT
Oregon 8th Graders above and 4th Graders at U.S. Average

SALEM - State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today the release of Oregon's results for the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading assessment. Also known as The Nation's Report Card, the test was administered to a representative sample of Oregon 4th and 8th graders in late January to early March last year.

"Reading is fundamental to academic success. A student who can read well has an increased learning potential in all subjects. While Oregon isn’t losing ground during these challenging economic times, the results point to the need for continued focus on reading acquisition for our students,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo. “Toward this end, we have developed a K-12 Literacy Framework to support effective reading instruction with the aim of boosting student achievement.”

The results of NAEP indicate no statistical chan ...MORE

State Releases 2009-10 Special Education Child Count

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:59:00 GMT
SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo has released the numbers for Oregon’s Special Education Child Count for the 2009-10 school year. The report shows that the total number of Oregon children, aged 0-21, in special education programs has increased to 82,824 – an increase from last year’s 81,988.

The number of school-age students in special education (aged K-21) is 73,509 – an increase from last year’s 72,846. This represents 13% of the school-age population in the state. Special education students are supported by federal, state and local resources, and funding for the 2009-10 school year is over $500 million.

Every child in Oregon identified as special education has at least one of the disabilities defined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), shown below for the 2009-10 school year:

Autism--7,934
Deaf/Blindness--9
Developmental Delay (0-4 years)--4,628
Emotional Disturbance--4,708

Castillo Names Oregon Schools Making Strong Gains in Closing the Achievement Gap

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 17:26:00 GMT
SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today named fifteen Oregon public schools that have made significant progress in closing the achievement gap. The announcement was made today at a press conference at River Road/El Camino del Rio Elementary School in Eugene.

Each school named for the award has demonstrated significant improvement in student achievement for minority and/or low income students. This is the sixth year that Castillo has recognized schools for the Celebrating Student Success Awards. This year there are ten Champion Schools and five Continuing Success Schools. The Champion Schools will each receive a $3,000 award and the Continuing Success Schools will each receive a $1,000 award. School awards are sponsored by Oregon businesses. All fifteen schools will receive trophies and recognition in the Oregonian on Sunday, March 14th.

“These schools all demonstrate the incredible power of strong leadership, quality instruction, and high expec ...MORE

Castillo Recognizes National School Breakfast Week

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMT
Salem – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that March 8–12 is National School Breakfast Week. The purpose of the week is to raise awareness of breakfast programs and the positive impact basic nutrition can have on student health and student success. In Oregon, 96% of the schools participate in the School Breakfast Program.

“Research has shown what we all know to be true: if students eat a nutritious breakfast every day, it will increase their success in school,” Castillo said. “By starting the day with breakfast, Oregon students are healthier and ready to learn.”

National School Breakfast Week began in 1989 to promote the School Breakfast Program. This year the theme is "Ready Set Go." Starting as a pilot project in 1966, the School Breakfast Program became a permanent Federal program in 1975. Oregon schools serve 132,000 breakfasts to students every day.

The School Breakfast Program provides reimbursement to public or non-prof ...MORE

U.S. Dept. of Education Grants Oregon’s Request to Move High School Testing Accountability to 11th Grade

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMT
SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today announced that the Oregon Department of Education has received approval from the US Department of Education to move the grade of accountability from 10th grade to 11th grade.

Starting with the 2010-11 school year, high school testing accountability will be based on the number of students who pass state assessments by the end of their 11th grade year. High school students may still take the state Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS) in 10th grade and if they pass, they do not have to re-test in their junior year. No Child Left Behind requires that states assess all students in math, reading, science and writing at least once during high school.

“This change will be a tremendous help for Oregon’s schools and Oregon’s students,” said State Superintendent Susan Castillo. “It supports Oregon’s increased graduation requirements and allows more time for students to focus on learning the higher standards w ...MORE

Oregon Schools Report Fewer Students for 2009-10 School Year

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMT
SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that Oregon schools reported fewer students in the 2009-10 school year. According to counts reported by school districts, Educational Service Districts (ESDs), and State Educational Agencies, Oregon has 561,466 public school students – a decrease of 2,578 students (-0.5%) compared to last year’s total of 564,044.

Here are the 2009-10 enrollment figures for the state’s largest districts and the percentage change from last year:

Portland 45,681 (1.5%)

Salem-Keizer 39,971 (-0.6%)

Beaverton 37,950 (0.8%)

Hillsboro 20,714 (0.8%)

North Clackamas 17,530 (-1.4%)

Eugene 17,497 (-1.6%)

Bend-LaPine 15,819 (-0.9%)

Tigard-Tualatin 12,686 (-0.9%)

Gresham-B ...MORE

Oregon receives recognition for progress on preparing students for college and careers

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 19:44:00 GMT
SALEM – Today, Achieve released "Closing the Expectations Gap 2010,” its fifth annual report on the progress of the college- and career-ready agenda in all 50 states. Oregon has met the mark for college- and career-ready academic standards and P-20 data systems. It continues to make progress in other areas including increasing high school graduation requirements and developing assessment and accountability systems that support college- and career-ready goals. Click here to access the report.

“I am proud of Oregon’s work to ensure our students graduate from high school ready for their next steps in life,” said State Superintendent Susan Castillo. “Our primary focus at the Oregon Department of Education is on the systems needed to prepare students for success in life after high school. This report is an affirmation of those goals.”

Oregon Department of Education’s main areas of focus:

Oregon Students Receive Federal Funding for AP Tests

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:38:00 GMT
SALEM – Superintendent of Public Schools Susan Castillo announced today that the Test Fee Program grant for 2009-2010 Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations for low-income students has been funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Students that meet the eligibility criteria are qualified to have their exam fee paid in full. The program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who take advanced placement tests and receive scores for which college academic credit is awarded.

“Our goal is to give all students the opportunity to complete coursework that prepares them to be college and career ready when they graduate from high school,” said Superintendent Susan Castillo. “Receiving this funding is great news for Oregon. It is important that we continue to make gains in preparing our students for success in college and beyond.”

The AP test fee program supports Superintendent Susan Castillo’s priority for closing the achiev ...MORE

Who will be the 2010-11 Oregon Teacher of the Year?

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:58:00 GMT
SALEM – The Oregon Department of Education is now accepting nominations for the 2010-2011 Oregon Teacher of the Year. Anyone may nominate a candidate for the Oregon Teacher of the Year. However, a candidate cannot nominate him/herself. To nominate a teacher, go to the ODE website and fill out the “Talent Pool Recommendation” form at www.ode.state.or.us/go/TOY. At the end of the talent pool recommendation, click the box to nominate the individual for the Oregon Teacher of the Year.

“The Oregon Teacher of the Year award honors a representative of all the great teachers in Oregon,” Castillo said. “Candidates for Oregon Teacher of the Year should be exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled educators. They should inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn. They should have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues. Candidates should play an active role in the community as well as i ...MORE

Oregon Continues to Expand Access & Performance in AP Programs

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:26:00 GMT
SALEM – Oregon students continue to make gains in securing Advanced Placement credit State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo noted today with the release of College Board’s sixth annual Advanced Placement Report to the Nation report. The percentage of the last year’s graduating class that achieved an AP Exam grade of 3 or better rose a tenth of percent to 13.2% ¬¬¬ up from 8.3% in Oregon’s 2004 graduating class. The increase ranks Oregon as 11th in the nation for increased AP participation and performance over the past five years. An AP exam score of 3 or higher is considered predictive of college success and recognized by most colleges for credit.

“It's important that Oregon continue to make gains in preparing our students for success in college and beyond,” said Superintendent Castillo. “With greater participation in AP and other accelerated coursework, we must now build on that success to identify the gaps where particular groups of students continue to lag behind their peer ...MORE

Oregon schools receive $25.2 million from state’s Common School Fund

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 17:43:00 GMT
Semi-annual payments provide local funds for districts

Salem – Oregon’s 197 K-12 public school districts received the first of two 2010 Common School Fund payments of $25,225,016.50 in January. The funding included in the 2009-2011 budget approved by the Oregon Legislature last year. Click here for the January 2010 distribution from the Common School Fund.

The State Land Board, composed of the Governor, Secretary of State and State Treasurer, oversees the fund, which was established at statehood to provide funding from state lands for Oregon’s “common” – or public – schools.

Due to declines in the value of investments held by the Fund, the value of the Common School Fund decreased in 2009 from over $1 billion to its current value of $990 million. As a result, 2009-11 distributio ...MORE

Oregon school leader receives national award for data work

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:17:00 GMT
Mickey Garrison, Director of School Improvement for the Oregon Education Enterprise Steering Committee, has been named the 2009 State Data Director of the Year. Garrison received the award from the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) during its annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29.

The DQC, a national partnership to improve the quality, accessibility and use of data in education, recognized Garrison and winners in two other categories for their critical leadership role in changing the culture around data use for continuous improvement. The DQC also released the results of its first survey of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico on progress toward implementing the DQC 10 Actions to Ensure Effective Use of Data.

The DQC accepted nominations from across the country for leaders in the field of longitudinal data systems at the local and state levels. As the EESC School Improvement Director, Garrison guides the multitude of stakeholder groups in the Oregon edu ...MORE

Governor Kulongoski and Superintendent Castillo Release Blueprint for K-12 Education Reform

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:38:00 GMT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2010

Contact: Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169 Courtney Warner Crowell, 503-378-3554 Jake Weigler, (ODE), 503-947-5650

Governor Kulongoski and Superintendent Castillo Release Blueprint for K-12 Education Reform Oregon is applying for $200 million through the federal Race to the Top competition

Gladstone– Today Governor Ted Kulongoski and Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo were joined by education leaders from communities across the state to release Oregon’s application for $200 million of the competitive federal Race to the Top grant. Race to the Top is a $4 billion program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act targeted to support education reform and innovation in the states.

“Today’s application is an opportunity for Oregon to build on our successes as well as take the next steps forward toward meaningful and lasting education reform,” said Governor Ku ...MORE

Boards of Ed and Higher Ed meet with business leaders on aligning student learning and meeting Oregon’s work force needs

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT
Joint Boards approve new policies to ease student transfer between K-12, community colleges and universities

PORTLAND, January 7, 2010 – For the first time ever, the Joint Boards of Education – made up of the Boards of Education and Higher Education – and the Oregon Business Council met as the “Tri-Board” to discuss improving student learning outcomes, and alignment with the needs of business and industry in Oregon. The Joint Boards furthered the alignment agenda by approving new policies that make it easier for students to move between education institutions and not lose credits and better prepare them for postsecondary education.

Chancellor of the Oregon University System, George Pernsteiner, said, “A frequent question we hear in higher education is, how do we know what students have learned during college, and are the skills they gain in higher education meeting the needs of business? Today’s meeting focused on the components of student learning and success, ...MORE