COSA and OASE today released a report that details recommendations for redefining and restructuring Oregon's education system for high school and the first two years of college. The report, "Re-imagining Grades 9-14," was developed by a work group of about 30 superintendents and partners over the past eight months.  The work group was led by superintendents Shelley Berman of Eugene and Candy Armstrong of North Wasco.

Among its recommendations are for:

• A blended and academically rigorous grades 11-14 system in which students move seamlessly through multiple pathways into post-secondary education,
• Fully-scheduled programs for all students in grades 11-12,
• Significantly expanded and aligned Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, and
• Improvements in teacher certification processes, developmental education, assessment and more.

For a complete set of recommendations and findings, see the "Re-imagining Grades 9-14" report.

"This report shares our best thinking on how Oregon might put into place an aligned, articulated, learner-centered system that provides a smooth and effective transition through high school and into post-secondary programs," Berman said. "Implementing these recommendations will move Oregon toward attainment of its 40-40-20 goal."

As the report was being developed earlier this spring, Berman and Armstrong shared the work group's recommendations with the Oregon Education Investment Board and the legislatively-established Accelerated Learning Committee.  "We have also been engaged in constructive conversations with a number of partners, most significantly with community college presidents," Armstrong said.  "We expect to continue to work with the presidents and other partners to identify and achieve shared objectives."

In addition to the recommendations in this report, work group members also lauded Eastern Promise, the innovative Eastern Oregon program that is now being piloted around the state, as a model for overcoming high-school-to-college transitional barriers and providing an early start on college for many students.