Content Standards & High-Quality Instructional Materials Adoption Schedule

Every student, every day, is engaged in meaningful, affirming, grade-level instruction.

Content standards and high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) are closely connected and work together to support strong teaching and learning. Standards define what students should know and be able to do, and HQIM are designed to align with those standards and provide educators with the tools and resources to bring them to life in the classroom. When paired with curriculum-based professional learning (CBPL) and system-level supports, standards and HQIM strengthen instructional coherence by aligning expectations, materials, and classroom practice. These aligned supports help teachers deliver meaningful, affirming, grade-level learning for every student.

Content Standards & High-Quality Instructional Materials Adoption Process

Oregon develops content standards and state-adopted HQIM lists through a collaborative statewide process that brings together educators, content experts, and partners. ODE convenes standards and instructional materials panels to examine research, national trends, and instructional practice. These groups draft standards and HQIM criteria, then refine them through multiple rounds of public review and feedback. The Oregon State Board of Education (SBE) adopts the final standards and criteria, helping ensure they remain rigorous, relevant, and responsive to Oregon’s diverse communities.

For content areas on the standard curriculum adoption schedule, trained educator evaluator committees review instructional materials against the criteria to determine alignment and quality. Finally, the SBE adopts the list of approved instructional materials for each content area. This process ensures that Oregon districts are using HQIM that reflect both the latest research and the expertise of Oregon educators.

Content Standards & High-Quality Instructional Materials Adoption Schedule

The State Board of Education (SBE) maintains a statewide schedule for adopting HQIM. Following standards revisions, ODE supports districts in evaluating, adopting, and implementing standards-aligned HQIM, while districts make final adoption decisions based on local needs. The schedule may be adjusted based on research, national trends, and state priorities.

On October 15, 2026, the State Board of Education adopted the revised 2027-2035 Oregon High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) Adoption Schedule and corresponding Division 22 rule changes. These changes are designed to provide clearer, more flexible timelines and allow additional time for effective teacher implementation. The corresponding changes to Division 22 OARs clarify that districts must continue to adopt instructional materials for the subjects they offer, but only subjects on the statewide schedule must follow the State Board’s timeline.

Standard Curriculum and District Instructional Program Adoptions

Oregon law requires districts to adopt instructional materials for all subjects they teach. Updated administrative rules distinguish between content areas included on the State Board of Education’s statewide adoption schedule and those determined locally by districts. The District Instructional Program covers every required area of instruction for K-12 public school districts, while the Standard Curriculum is the subset of those subjects that are included in the State Board’s adoption schedule. These revisions align administrative rules with existing statutory requirements while providing greater clarity regarding adoption timelines, processes, and reporting.

HQIM Adoption: State and Local Roles

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) coordinates HQIM adoption for content areas that fall under Standard Curriculum, which include English Language Arts (ELA), English Language Proficiency (ELP), Mathematics, Health, Science, and Social Sciences.

ODE supports the additional District Instructional Program content areas, which include The Arts, World Languages, Physical Education (PE), Personal Financial Education (PFE), and Higher Education & Career Path Skills (HECPS), through standards review, HQIM criteria development, and guidance. Districts follow an independent adoption process following a locally determined timeline to adopt instructional materials in these content areas.

For more information, see the table summarizing the distinctions between state-supported and independent local adoptions, including timelines, requirements, reporting, and ODE support.

Key Resources

Contact Us

For more information, email ODE.Standards@ode.oregon.gov