Oregon Students Show Little Improvement On State Tests Over Last 4 Years

Oregon Students Show Little Improvement on State Tests Over Last 4 Years

Receive stories like these delivered directly to your email inbox. Subscribe to Newsletter.

The majority of students in Oregon have not made significant progress in essential subjects following the COVID pandemic. However, the decline in proficiency levels in English language arts, math, and science that occurred during the pandemic is starting to stabilize, according to the latest results from statewide assessment tests.

Governor Tina Kotek stated in a press release that these results emphasize the need for increased state investment in afterschool and summer learning programs to support students in recovering before they exit the public school system. She expressed that while progress is being made, additional investments in out-of-school time can accelerate learning.

State education officials have not disclosed their specific plans for improving the results.

During the spring of 2023, an average of 87% of students participated in the annual Smarter Balanced tests, which are mandated by state and federal law. However, Oregon allows parents to opt their children out of testing, resulting in a lower participation rate compared to the pre-pandemic level of around 95%. In 2020, students were not required to take the tests, and in 2021, testing was reduced by the state education department.

Across the seven grades assessed in the spring of 2023, student proficiency in English language arts declined by less than 1 percentage point, while math and science proficiency increased by less than 1. However, both subjects still remain approximately 10% below the 2019 results.

Overall proficiency in English language arts, which includes reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing, decreased from about 53% in 2019 to around 43% in the spring of 2023. In math, proficiency dropped from approximately 40% to 30%. These assessments are administered to students in grades three through eight and 11th grade.

Out of Oregon’s 197 school districts, 107 performed below the state average in English proficiency, and 121 performed below the state average in math proficiency. This decline reflects a national trend that shows the negative impact of the pandemic on student learning, particularly during the period of online classes.

An Exceptional Case

Portland Public Schools, the largest school district in the state, witnessed an improvement of 1% to 4% in math proficiency compared to the previous year. Both math and English language proficiency among students in the district were approximately 10 percentage points higher than the state averages. The English language proficiency of third and fourth graders in the district returned to, or surpassed, pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, students in grades three through five achieved or exceeded pre-pandemic proficiency levels of around 55% to 60%.

Valerie Feder, a spokesperson for the district, attributed these gains to the implementation of new curricula, professional development and training for teachers, increased availability of full-time instructional coaches, tutors, reading specialists, and expanded mental and behavioral health services in schools.

Further Assessment Required

During a news conference prior to the embargoed release of the results, representatives from the Oregon Department of Education did not provide explanations for the limited progress in student learning since the pandemic or specific targets for improvement in the coming years. The agency’s director of assessment and student reporting, Andrea Lockard, stated that these results provide insights into the ongoing journey of responding to the complexities and long-term effects of a global pandemic.

Peter Rudy, a spokesperson for the department, shared that investments in early learning, summer programs, and after-school tutoring would be prioritized in the future. Rudy highlighted the agency’s commitment to changing learning for students in Oregon.

Charlene Williams, the interim director of the education department, acknowledged that there is still more work to be done. She emphasized that a single test does not provide a comprehensive picture of education in Oregon, but it serves as an important indicator that demands attention and further efforts.

On average, students in all grades experienced proficiency declines of approximately 1% or less in English language arts. However, the data suggests that economically disadvantaged students have faced the greatest declines in proficiency across subjects since the pandemic. It is important to note that year-over-year comparisons cannot be made due to the increased number of students defined as economically disadvantaged during and after the pandemic.

Receive stories like these conveniently in your email inbox. Subscribe to Newsletter for regular updates.