Oregon: College and Career Policies

Oregon adopted new Arts standards in September 2015. Based on the National Core Arts Standards, they contain standards for five discrete disciplines, a glossary for each discipline and supporting materials for the standards: dance, theatre, music, media, and visual arts.

Oregon has standards in 8 different content areas including arts, health, world languages, English language arts, math, physical education, science, and social sciences.

The Department of Education and Board of Education share authority over the adoption of assessments.

During 2011-12, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Educator Effectiveness Workgroup, established through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Waiver process, developed state guidelines for local evaluation and support systems in Oregon, referred to as the Oregon Framework for Teacher and Administrator Evaluation and Support Systems (Oregon Framework). The Oregon Framework outlines requirements for local evaluation and support systems aligned to state legislation (Senate Bill290) and the ESEA Waiver criteria. Oregon’s ESEA Waiver was conditionally approved by the US Department of Education (USED) and endorsed by the Oregon State Board of Education in July 2012.

The Oregon Legislature, as a part of its ESEA waiver, adopted a model educator evaluation system. The Oregon Framework for Teacher and Administrator Evaluation and Support Systems required evaluations to be annual, and to base some portion to be decided on the local level of the evaluation on student performance measures.

The Teacher Standards & Practices Commission oversees the certification process in Oregon.

In order to become a certified teacher in Oregon, an applicant must have completed an approved teacher preparation program from an accredited institution and pass required certification examinations.

The Teacher Standards and Practices Commission has the authority to establish standards for approval of teacher preparation programs.

Teacher preparation programs must prove candidate demonstration of advance knowledge, skills, professional dispositions and cultural competencies necessary to promote the academic, career, personal and social development of pre-kindergarten to grade 12 students.

Oregon last updated the English language arts standards in 2010. These standards are aligned to the Common Core State Standards.

Oregon standardized tests measure the progress of students from 3rd grade to 8th grade, and 10th grade. In fifth, eighth, and tenth grades, schools may also give an optional OAKS social studies assessment. The Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills measures how well students have mastered Oregon Content Standards, and reports student performance in each subject. The OAKS Assessment system is aligned to the 2009 Oregon Science content standards, and the 2001 Oregon Social Sciences content standards.

Oregon last updated the math standards in 2010. These standards are aligned to the Common Core State Standards.