Essential Skills Graduation Requirement

Assessment of Essential Skills Waiver

During the 2021 legislative session, the Oregon Legislative Assembly passed Senate Bill 744 which directed the Oregon Department of Education to engage with community members and review state requirements for high school diploma options, as well as to review state requirements related to demonstrations of proficiency in Essential Skills. ODE has completed the SB 744 Report, Community-Informed Recommendations for Equitable Graduation Outcomes. The report provides recommendations for consideration by the Legislature and State Board of Education; it does not change any current policy. The Assessment of Essential Skills policy remains suspended by SB 744 through 2023-24.

ODE plans to present to the Senate Education Subcommittee and State Board of Education in September 2022. ODE will communicate with districts and the public regarding any policy actions related to high school diplomas in Oregon as they are made by the Legislature or State Board in the coming session or meeting, respectively.

Note: SB 744 applies to the assessment of Essential Skills requirements for receiving a Regular or Modified Diploma and does not suspend the local performance assessment requirements for students in grades 3 through 8 and at least once in high school. Though not related directly to assessment, it is important to note that the education plan, education profile, and extended application graduation requirements remain in place, as well.

For additional information or questions regarding SB 744, please contact ODE.SenateBill744@ode.state.or.us.

Overview of Essential Skills

Resources

To support students, teachers, administrators, and parents learn what the expectations are for the Essential Skills requirement across K-12 curricula, ODE has provided additional links to administration resources, instructional planning resources, and data resources.

• Essential Skills and Local Performance Assessment Manual  (Updated 08/17/22)                                                          Describes the requirements for Essential Skills assessment options, including requirements regarding development, administration, and scoring of assessments.

• Reading
• Writing

• Mathematics
• Oregon Diploma

Assessment of Essential Skills Review Panel

The Assessment of Essential Skills Review Panel is charged with making recommendations on:

• The phasing in of Essential Skills
• The adoption of assessment options to measure students' proficiency in the approved Essential Skills
• The achievement standards used to determine student eligibility for the high school diploma or the modified diploma.

The State Board of Education considers recommendations from AESRP, but is not obligated to adopt AESRP's recommendations. The State Board of Education may ask for additional information from AESRP, beyond the recommendation, or may ask AESRP for a general position.

AESRP Meeting Information

All meetings of the Assessment of Essential Skills Review Panel are open to the public and will conform to Oregon public meetings laws. The upcoming meeting schedule and materials from past meetings are posted online. Meeting notifications are emailed through the Assessment and Accountability Update Newsletter.

A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for accommodations for people with disabilities should be made by email to Carla Martinez. Requests for accommodation should be made at least 48 hours in advance.

Meeting Date and Time

AESRP Meetings