by Gene Evans, Oregon Department of Education

In order to have time to receive and evaluate all the feedback from the hundreds of school/community meetings across the state, the State Board of Education today agreed to delay action on high school graduation requirements until their January meeting.  That Board meeting will be held in Salem on January 18-19, 2007.

We've been receiving 100+ surveys and comments per day, and we have heard concerns from educators about the short timeline for getting feedback from these most recent meetings to the State Board. 

The State Board wants to ensure that everyone who wants to weigh in has ample opportunity to be heard.  There is much to be decided, and we need your advice on this very important work.  Of course, we'll take comments right up until the State Board meeting on January 18.  However, in order to be included in the written report for the State Board meeting, we need your feedback in early January.  The sooner your staff can meet, hold a discussion and complete the questionnaires, the better.

You can also submit your feedback online at http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=368.  At our website you can view the 12 minute video, fill out the survey, and send the Board your thoughts.

Even after the Board meeting in January, we will continue to gather public input on the following questions:

• What level of funding is needed to implement these changes? Do we have an adequate number of teachers?
  
• What kind and how much additional professional development will be needed?
  
• Do we have an adequate number of classrooms and labs?
  
• What will be the impact on students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency?
  
• When will the changes be implemented -- all at once or phased in over time?
  
• What support services are needed for elementary and middle school students to prepare them for the increased high school requirements?
• How will students demonstrate their proficiency in the new system?

And the list goes on. . .

Thank you for all your feedback on this project.  During the past two years, the State Board and the Oregon Department of Education have conducted an extensive communication effort to gather ideas from stakeholders and the public on the direction of this work. We have received a great deal of information from across the state, and here are just a few of the ways we've tried to keep you in the loop and gather information to help us make a good decision:

• Advisory team meetings
• COSA regional meetings
  
• COSA website
  
• Direct mail to school boards and education advocates
  
• News releases and news stories
  
• Numerous Pipeline columns and stories
  
• Numerous presentations and speeches
  
• OEA Website
  
• Off the Record meeting presentations
  
• OSBA state conference
  
• Presentations to business organizations, community organizations, service clubs
  
• Regular state board meeting agendas
  
• State Board retreats in 2005 and 2006 that involved hundreds of educators
  
• State board's white paper Super list emails
• Superintendent's Weekly Update
• Web-based surveys that had broad participation