Next Generation of Accountability - Requirements - Oregon Department of Education

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Next Generation of Accountability - Requirements

To receive an ESEA Flexibility Waiver, Oregon will be required to determine its 5 percent lowest-performing, Title I-eligible schools (“priority schools”) and its 10 percent Title I-eligible schools with the largest achievement gaps (“focus schools”). A school may be in both categories. To identify priority and focus schools, the state must propose a formula that uses summative assessment data and graduation rates only, not other data. In order to qualify for a waiver, Oregon will develop a formula for identifying low-performing schools that is consistent with these requirements. The 5 and 10 percent determination will serve as the basis for state support/intervention directly in schools.

However, we believe that USDE’s criteria for identifying “priority” and “focus” schools are too narrow to serve as a sufficiently meaningful basis for the public and for school districts to know how their schools are performing. Therefore, we propose to maintain a school-by-school rating system based on a more robust set of measurements more closely aligned with the “ideal” criteria above and based on a longitudinal growth model. The purpose of the rating system will be to provide the public with meaningful, easy-to-understand information about their schools.

To be eligible for an ESEA Waiver, the State will be required to have a plan for supporting its “priority” and “focus” schools. We propose a turnaround model that is evidence-based and relies on external supports, including diagnostic assistance from ODE, peer-to-peer coaching from schools/districts with similar profiles but better performance, and providing additional capacity to the district. More broadly, our state accountability system will be established between the state and school districts. Click here to learn more about the federal requirements of this waiver process.

ESEA Flexibility 10/24/2011 (1.88 MB)
A description from the US Department of Education of the ESEA waivers that may be requested and the requirements that states must meet to receive them.
ESEA Flexibility Request 10/24/2011 (1.96 MB)
ESEA Flexibility Request Forms for states from the US Department of Education.
ESEA Flexibility Review Guidance 10/24/2011 (1.75 MB)
Guidance for reviewers of ESEA Waiver requests.
ESEA Flexibility FAQ 10/24/2011 (1.85 MB)
FAQs from the US Department of Education on ESEA waivers.