In a move that has ruffled feathers among parents, the Oregon State Board of Education has decided to remove the graduation mandate, which required students to demonstrate mastery in essential skills like reading, writing, and math through standardized testing.
MacKensey Pulliam, President of the Oregon Moms Union, voiced her disappointment at the decision, telling Fox News Digital, "It's not surprising they've chosen to push off the implementation of new graduation requirements." Pulliam's major bone of contention is the Board's rationale, which often cites concerns regarding marginalized students and how the test might do them a disservice.
Concerns Over Student Proficiency
Pulliam argues these standardized tests act as essential checkpoints to ensure students are prepared or to identify those who might need additional assistance. "With proficiency rates in Oregon being far from satisfactory, it makes one question whether these standards are being removed to paint a rosy picture of student performance," Pulliam pointed out.
While standardized tests will continue to be a part of the academic process, their results will no longer factor into graduation decisions. The Board's unanimous vote effectively extends a pause, initially implemented last week, on the requirement for 11th graders to showcase their competency through either a test or a portfolio, a system in place since 2012.
Reacting to the decision, Marc Siegel, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Education, clarified that "the change lies in not insisting on a specific test score for graduation. Students will still need to fulfill essential skill requirements through their coursework and other academic paths."
A point of clarification also came from Vicky Lopez Sanchez, a state board member, who emphasized, "The only aspect being suspended is the misuse of assessment results. This decision truly resonates with the best interests of Oregon students."
In response to the pandemic's educational challenges, former Democratic Governor Kate Brown signed a bill that temporarily froze the policy in 2021. However, instead of reinstating the requirement, the Board has opted for a further suspension until 2027.
Parents Voice Their Concerns
The Oregon Department of Education's (ODE) decision was significantly influenced by a research report presented to the Senate Committee on Education, which highlighted the racial and ableist bias of assessment results. Dan Farley, ODE's assistant superintendent of research, emphasized the findings, stating, "Academic outcomes, diploma types, and more could be predicted by factors like race, ethnicity, and IEP status."
In the interim, as state lawmakers ponder over the ODE's new graduation recommendations, the department has requested a continued freeze on current requirements until the academic year 2027-28. The ODE plans to collaborate with the legislative body to curate graduation requirements tailored to student needs.
"The objective was to enhance post-secondary readiness among students, but data suggests otherwise. It's crucial to reassess and establish new criteria," Siegel elaborated.
But for parents like Pulliam, this decision is a sore point. Pulliam believes that instead of diluting standards, efforts should concentrate on addressing the learning deficits from the pandemic, ensuring students achieve the requisite proficiency to graduate.
Founded against the backdrop of the pandemic and the resultant educational upheavals, the Oregon Moms Union aims to champion a student-first K-12 education system. With more than 90 volunteer school district captains spread across 75 school districts, the union remains a formidable voice in the state's educational landscape.
