Event Name

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Quality Education Commission Presentation to the
Senate Committee on Education January 17, 2005
Speaking to you today
Ken Thrasher Commission Chair
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Quality Education Commission

• Oregons education goals
• the best educated citizens in the nation and
  the world.
• Access to a Quality Education must be provided
  for all of Oregons youth ORS 329.035
• Quality Education Goals
• ORS 329.015
• Academic excellence
• Rigorous academic standards
• Applied learning
• Lifelong academic skills

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Quality Education Commission
Student Achievement Where Are We Today?

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Quality Education Commission
Student Achievement Where Are We Today?
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Quality Education Commission
Student Achievement Where Do We Need To Be?
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Quality Education Commission
Student Achievement Where Do We Need To Be?
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Quality Education Commission
The Challenge of the Achievement Gap
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Quality Education Commission
The Challenge of the Achievement Gap
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Quality Education Commission

• The Role of the Commission
• Help policymakers understand the relationship
  between funding and student achievement
• Identify key policy issues related to
  accountability, efficiency, and adequacy
• Enhance our understanding of Oregons education
  system as a whole Pre-K to 20
• Estimate the funding requirements of policy
  proposals
• Help determine what it will take to meet the
  requirements of No Child Left Behind

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Quality Education Commission

• The Commissions Focus
• Accountability and Governance
• Efficiency
• Adequacy

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Quality Education Commission

• Accountability and Governance
• Integrate data systems for education Pre-K to 20
• Develop a common Governance system using the
  concept of Reciprocal Accountability
• Develop a Personal Education Plan for each
  student to determine where services are required
• Close the achievement gap, lower the dropout rate
• Develop a state economic model measuring the cost
  of students not meeting standard over the
  long-term (i.e. social services, corrections,
  etc.)

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Quality Education Commission

• Efficiency
• Consolidate ESDs into 10 from 20 units, combine
  data systems into the common data system
• Restructure healthcare, focus on systems that
  engage the participant in its management
• Review the delivery systems around special needs
  and ESL students, and services that support them
• Review the transportation system for schools
• Review the number of districts (199)
• Improve the delivery of teacher training

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Quality Education Commission

• Adequacy
• Need to fund education adequately (Pre-K to 20)
• Develop a clear strategy around Pre-K programs to
  engage 100 in quality age 3-4 programs
• Use research-based best practices in the
  classroom
• Support reading initiatives in grades Pre-K to 5
• Measure effectiveness of small learning
  communities
• Review Middle and High school structures
• Support families and students with the services
  they need (after-school, etc.)

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Quality Education Commission
The Challenge of Adequate Funding
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Quality Education Commission
Funding Trends
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Quality Education Commission
Demographic Trends
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Quality Education Commission
Implications of More Funding Cuts

• Larger class sizes
• Shortened school year in some districts
• Cuts in staff teachers, library/media staff,
  counselors
• Cuts in extra-curricular activities and sports
• Reduced programs for students needing extra help
• Cuts in teacher professional development
• Substitution of educational assistants for
  licensed teachers
• All contribute to diminished student performance

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Quality Education Commission
Examples of How Additional Dollars Can be
Effectively Spent

• Provide full-day Kindergarten in all elementary
  schools 93m
• Reduce class size to 20 for K-3 219m
• Add 4 days of teacher professional
  development 52m
• Add staff to reduce middle and high school
  class sizes 231m
• Provide added instructional time for struggling
  students 142m
• Add ESL teachers to help close the achievement
  gap 66m
• Increase the number of counselors to assist
  students 47m
• Add staff to help teachers improve
  instruction 122m
• Dollars are on a biennial basis

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Quality Education Commission
Commission Recommendations

• Establish a Pre-K to 20 integrated educational
  data system
• Create a Governance and Accountability Task Force
  to provide recommendations for an effective
  accountability structure
• Provide additional funding targeted at the
  elementary grades, with emphasis on early reading
  programs
• Focus on Pre-K issues to better understand
  resource needs
• Continue the expansion of high school
  restructuring programs
• Provide targeted staff development to improve the
  effectiveness of Oregons teachers

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Quality Education Commission

• Questions and Discussion
• Visit our website at www.ode.state.or.us/sfda/qual
  ityed