Oregon drops essentials skills until 2029

Oregon dropped essential skills for graduation until at least 2029. In place during Quarantine the Oregon of Education Department decided to extend it for five more years. 

  As of 2023-2029 Oregon students are not required to have proficient skill in math, reading, and other skills on top of their courses. Standardized testing still has to be taken but not required to pass.

Among many, it has been heavily criticized for not properly preparing students for the future and was passed despite the heavy disagreements with lawmakers, representatives and parents. 

Christine Drazan stated that the requirements for graduation are in place because they ensure students have necessary skills. 

State Representative Tracy Carmer, R-Woodburn and a member of the Oregon House Education reacted more strongly to this decision with Cramer quoting.

“I think that’s why parents and Oregonians are kind of frustrated. Just because graduation rates are improving, it doesn’t mean proficiency is.” 

Cramer approached to reinstate requirements by encouraging constituents to submit public comments in advance to oppose the suspension. 

“It’s disappointing that these unelected bureaucrats decided to ignore public comment and continue down a path that neglects their responsibility to help students meet high standards,”  stated former Republican legislator Christine Darzan.

All according to Oregon students won’t have to show added proficiency in basic skills through 2028 to graduate by. Reporter Alex Baumhardt Oregon Capital Chronicles.

Counterpoints to the opponents are that SBAC isn’t necessary and possibly damaging to minority students. According to OED dropping SBAC scores is done because it does not translate to meaningful improvements in students post High School successes. 

Moreover it’s to improve quality of life among minority students as they have to take more extensive math and english courses in order to pass SBAC. Losing out on elective classes possibly affecting their college career as the extra academic work very much benefits in college.

Students still have to amount enough credits to graduate in Oregon. 

According to The Oregonian, reporter Sami Edge claims “Oregon again says students don’t need to prove mastery of reading, writing or math to graduate, citing harm to students of color."

The opinions of David Douglas English teachers viewed it mainly as positive. With the exception of English teacher Michelle Woods SBAC as necessary viewing the pause as a positive in order to reevaluate SBAC.

“Taking a standardized test is a good practice to show readiness. Think of taking a driver test, food handler permit, these are mandatory.” 

English teacher Oliver McCurnin views the SBAC test as an unnecessary added cost and now students are taking this paid test that is no longer required. 

“The whole thing is just a massive expenditure of state funding” said McCurnin “Now we’re still taking it but it’s no longer graded so it’s even more stupid.” 

To add on, English department Chair Chris Mathews views the dropping the test grades as positive mainly because it’s a lack of trust in teachers.

“That test measures how we read and write.”  said Mathews “That’s what we’re already giving to our students. Why have a test to tell us where our students are at?” 

English Tracy Apples views essential skills being dropped as dangerous but does support in dropping SBAC.

“Essential skills does give us information on where our students stand.” said Apple.

Her opinions for dropping essential skills are mainly to increase Oregon graduation rate and with that comes the negative putting unprepared poor minority students out into the world. 

“Poor students of color enter kindergarten with a skills deficit compared to their wealthier white counterparts. As students progress through school, this skills gap tends to increase. By waiving essential skills, the Oregon Department of education hopes to lessen this inequity. In reality, though, ODE is only ignoring the problem. Oregon is ignoring the needs of students in order to maintain its graduation rates. In other words, by ignoring essential skills, we are allowing our most vulnerable students to enter college wholly unprepared.”