The Oregon Department of Education released the state’s report cards for
rating schools last month. Welches Elementary School, Welches Middle School
and Sandy High School all received “satisfactory” scores.

“Even if a school receives a satisfactory rating, we’re not going to be satisfied
with that,” said Debbie Johnson, Oregon Trail School District’s Director of
Teaching and Learning. “We’re continuing to develop our practice for what
students are able to do. There really isn’t ever a place where you can say,
‘we’ve arrived, we’re done.’”

The report cards are based on the same test results that the preliminary
Adequate Yearly Progress results are also based on.

Welches Elementary School met the AYP requirements in the report released
in August, while Welches Middle and Sandy High School did not.

Johnson noted that the AYP determines only if a school has met the
requirements, while reports cards provide a little more information on how a
school is performing, including data broken down by grade levels.

Schools can receive overall ratings of “outstanding,” “satisfactory” or “in need
of improvement” on the report cards.

“Even with ‘outstanding’ there’s work to do,” Johnson said. “One hundred
percent of kids every year in every grade – that’s always where we’re going.”

New state standards coming soon
Student assessment will change in the state, as the ODE has adopted the
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English language arts and math.

The new standards are the result of an effort by the National Governor’s
Association and Council of Chief State School Officers, including state
superintendents, along with strategic contributors from all levels of education,
from early childhood to college.

The new standards are expected to be implemented in mathematics and
English starting in the 2014-15 school year. As part of the CCSS, the Smarter
Balanced Assessment (SBA) will replace the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge
and Skills, which is currently being used.

Johnson noted that the CCSS have a goal of “college and career readiness,”
and were developed with a focus on where students need to be when they
graduate. 48 states have signed a memorandum of understanding to
participate in the CCSS, according to ODE.

“It’s great consistency, and especially in these challenging financial times
where (graduates) are looking for positions and they may have to leave and
go to another state,” said Johnson, who noted approximately 30 states will be
involved with the SBA.

Johnson added that while the testing will change within the state, reporting to
the US Department of Education under No Child Left Behind will continue
(which will include continuation of AYP reports, barring a change in
legislation).

Johnson noted CCSS will increase the level of expectation for students,
including developing critical thinkers and problem solvers in math and a shift
in English to a diminished level of fiction and a higher level of non-fiction and
informational text as students move up in grade levels.

“There are expectations related to English language arts that are part of
science, social studies (and) technical classes, which really haven’t been
incorporated before,” Johnson said.

Johnson added that the district plans on offering updated information,
including what the new standards mean for each grade level, on the district’s
web site at oregontrailschools.com.

For more information on CCSS, AYP and the district’s report cards and report
card detail sheets, visit ode.state.or.us.