For immediate releasecontact Susanne Smith, 503-947-5637 May 19, 2011 Oregon State Board of Education Adopts More Rigorous Reading Achievement Standards Salem – Today in a move to prepare students for the increased rigors of the new Common Core State Standards and the Oregon Diploma, the Oregon State Board of Education increased reading achievement standards for grades 3-8, effective for the 2011-12 school year. The current high school achievement standard for "Meets" of 236 will remain the same. “Our students need to be prepared for the challenges of college and careers,” said State Board of Education Chair Brenda Frank. “We are asking elementary and middle school students to demonstrate a higher level of proficiency in reading so that they will be ready for the more rigorous national learning expectations recently adopted by the Oregon State Board of Education.” Oregon reading achievement standards were reviewed by an expert panel in January 2011. Recommendations were made to increase the level of reading students are expected to know in elementary and middle school to create better alignment between the lower grades and high school graduation requirements for reading. “The increased rigor of the new reading achievement standards could initially result in fewer students meeting the achievement standard,” said State Superintendent Susan Castillo. “This does not mean students know less than they did the year before or that they are doing worse in school. These new achievement standards simply require a higher level of mastery of reading information and concepts. I know there are concerns regarding the timing of increased expectations during an economic downturn but we cannot wait for better days to ensure our kids are ready for life after high school. ” 
For more information, including professional development, resources and communication tools on the new reading achievement standards go to: http://www.ode.state.or.us/go/readingachievement Math and Science Achievement Standards The State Board of Education adopted increased math achievement standards last fall that went into effect this school year. This was done in an effort to increase the level of math students are expected to know in elementary and middle school to create better alignment between the lower grades and the new high school graduation requirements for math. For more information, including professional development, resources and communication tools on the math achievement standards go to: http://www.ode.state.or.us/go/mathachievement. The State Board is expected to adopt new achievement standards for science in October, 2011 which will go into effect for the 2011-12 school year.
##### |
|
Oregon Department of Education
255 Capitol Street NE Salem, OR 97310-0203 |
| Copyright © 1998-2013 Oregon Department of Education |
