Oregon Diploma
Implementation Update
September 2010
The Goal
Each student demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to transition successfully to their next
steps: advanced learning, work, and citizenship.
Credit Requirements & Phase-In
Subject Areas*
Graduating Class
of 2010
Graduating Class
of 2012
Graduating Class
of 2014
English/Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
4
3
2
4
3 - Algebra I & above*
3
Social Sciences
Physical Education
Health
Second Language
The Arts
Career &Technical Ed
Electives
Total Credits
3
1
1
4
3
3 - Scientific Inquiry
& Lab Experiences*
3
1
1
3
1
9
24
3
1
1
3
6
24
6
24
*Applied and integrated courses aligned to standards can meet credit requirements.

lab experiences can take place outside of the school in field-based experiences.
Standards
Current Status:
 New K-8 Mathematics Content Standards were adopted December 2007.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/subjects/mathematics/adopted-k-8-standards.pdf
 New high school Mathematics Content Standards were adopted June 2009.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/news/announcements/announcement.aspx?=4992
 New K-12 Science Content Standards were adopted February 2009.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=2560
 Social Science Content Standards revisions are in progress; anticipated adoption in 2011.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=2449
Credit for Proficiency
Students can earn credits by successfully demonstrating knowledge and skills defined by
standards that meet or exceed defined levels of performance.
Current Status:




Revised Credit Options OAR 581-022-1131 was adopted April 2009. Credit for Proficiency
options must meet academic content standards required by OAR 581-022-1210.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/standards/creditforproficiency/581-022-1131.pdf
Guidance is available to assist districts develop local policy for credit options.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1194
The Oregon Student Accounting Manual was revised to offer districts a method to account
for students enrolled in an out-of-class credit for proficiency opportunity.
https://district.ode.state.or.us/apps/info/docs/11-09_Edited_Cumulative_ADM_Manual_20092010.pdf
Guidance is available or offering applied academic credit.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/certificates/diploma/appliedacademiccredit.pdf
2
Essential Skills
Beginning in 2012, students must demonstrate proficiency in identified Essential Skills (ES).
These are 21st century skills needed for success in college, the workplace, and civic life. The
State Board approved three assessment options for students to demonstrate proficiency: (1)
OAKS state test, or (2) local performance assessments consistent with state criteria (e.g. work
samples & state scoring guides), or (3) other approved standardized tests (e.g. SAT, PLAN,
ACT, PSAT, Work Keys, Compass, ASSETT)
http://www.ode.state.or.us/wma/teachlearn/testing/admin/2010-11-appendix_l.pdf
ES Required for the Graduating Class of:
ES to be Phased-In over Subsequent Years
2012: ▪Read and comprehend a variety of text
2013: ▪Read and comprehend a variety of text
▪Write clearly and accurately
2014: ▪Read and comprehend a variety of text
▪Write clearly and accurately
▪Apply mathematics in a variety of settings
▪Speak clearly and coherently
▪Think critically and analytically
▪Use technology to learn, live, and work
▪Demonstrate civic and community engagement
▪Demonstrate global literacy
▪Demonstrate personal management and teamwork
skills
Current Status:





The revised timeline above for the Essential Skills Reading, Writing, and Apply Math were
adopted in Aug 2009.
Districts will continue to administer local performance assessments (e.g. work samples) in
grades 3-8 and high school in Writing, Speaking, Mathematical Problem Solving, and
Scientific Inquiry.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/wma/teachlearn/testing/admin/2010-11-appendix_m.pdf
The new Reading Scoring Guide was adopted in Oct 2009.
The Oregon K-12 Literacy Framework was adopted in Dec. 2009 to support the Essential
Skill of Reading. http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=2568
A policy allowing a small number of Limited English Proficient (LEP) students the option of
demonstrating the Essential Skills in a language other than English was adopted in Dec 2009.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/news/announcements/announcement.aspx?=5339
Personalized learning
These requirements personalize the diploma for each student and help prepare them for their
post-high school goals.
 Education Plan and Profile: Students develop an Education Plan and Profile to guide their
learning and document academic achievement and progress toward their personal, career, and
post-high school goals.
 Career-Related Learning Experiences: Students participate in experiences that connect
classroom learning with real life experiences in the workplace, community, and/or school
relevant to their education plan.
 Extended Application: Students apply and extend their knowledge in new and complex
situations related to the student’s personal and career interests and post-high school goals
through critical thinking, problem solving, or inquiry in real world contexts.
 Career-Related Learning Standards (CRLS): Students demonstrate personal management,
communication, problem solving, teamwork, employment foundations, and career
development. The CRLS will merge with the Essential Skills in 2012.
Current Status:

The personalized learning requirements were adopted in 2002 and first required for graduation in
2007. http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1669
Oregon Department of Education, Sept 2010
3
Implementation
Implementation Timelines

Summaries of the diploma requirements for each graduating class.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1684
Communication


Diploma information is available for parents and the public on the Oregon Get Ready! website
http://www.getreadyoregon.org/
Download the Oregon Diploma brochure in English
, Spanish
, Chinese
, Vietnamese
, or Russian
.
District Guidance

Oregon Diploma website: Guidance documents and other resources for educators.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=368

Implementation Toolkits: ODE and partners have developed toolkits targeted to different audiences
to assist school districts with implementation.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/real/diploma/toolkits.aspx

The Assessment of Essential Skills Toolkit: A process and resource guide to aid districts in
designing, implementing and sustaining an assessment system for the Essential Skills that meets the
requirements for an Oregon diploma. http://assessment.oregonk-12.net/
Video Training Modules are available to help districts use the Assessment of Essential Skills Toolkit
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=2042

Reading Essential Skill: Resources available to assist districts assess Reading
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=2703
 A video explaining the uses of the Reading Scoring Guide for instruction, formative and
summative assessment
 Spanish language versions of the Official Scoring Guide
 Student language versions of the scoring guide in English and Spanish
 An official scoring form for providing feedback on reading work samples
 A template to format Reading work samples along with directions for using it
The list of teacher trainers for Reading work sample scoring and task development has been
updated for the 2010-2011 school year http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=219
More resources and WebEx training opportunities will be coming in the fall 2011.
Contact: Barbara Wolfe

Oregon K-12 Literacy Framework: This state adopted framework provides a strategic blueprint for
improving student reading achievement http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=2568
Reading intervention strategies presented in the Instruction chapter of the Oregon K-12 Literacy
Framework include 4 tiers of instructional support for students based on how far below or above
grade level they are reading
http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/subjects/elarts/reading/literacy/chapter-3-instruction.pdf
Contact: Julie.Anderson@state.or.us

Oregon Response to Intervention (Or-RTI) provides high-quality instruction and intervention
matched to student need. The Oregon K-12 Literacy Framework is aligned to Or-RTI. Several Oregon
school districts are implementing secondary literacy around the RTI service delivery model.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=315
Oregon Department of Education, Sept 2010
4
Professional Development

Moving Science Education Forward: Regional workshops offered in 2010 focused on the new
science standards and strategies for effective standards-based science instruction. Particular attention
was given to the scientific inquiry component of the new standards and the lab experiences Diploma
requirement. Contact: Cheryl.kleckner@state.or.us
http://www.ode.state.or.us/news/announcements/announcement.aspx?=5577

Moving Math Education Forward: Regional workshops offered in 2009 designed to strengthen
teachers’ understanding of the state’s new core math standards and provide effective instructional
strategies for mathematics education. Follow-up regional meetings with trainers and instructional
coaches provided additional PD. Over 300 of the state’s K-12 math educators participated.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=2702 Contact: Mark.Freed@state.or.us

Training on State Scoring Guides: Through a partnership of ODE, the Oregon Association of ESD
(OAESD), and Instructional Leadership Council (ILC), a series of opportunities were offered in 2009
for teachers and administrators on the application of work samples to the Essential Skills graduation
requirement and the local performance assessment requirement. These training materials have been
made available for ongoing professional development at
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=2696.
Contact: barbara.wolfe@state.or.us

The DATA Project is an initiative aimed at providing Oregon educators with the data knowledge and
skills necessary to apply sound assessment practices in the classroom to differentiate instruction in
order to meet students’ specific needs. The current focus is on building sustainability by helping
regional areas develop training plans for participating districts. About 160 educators from around the
state have been certified to teach the training developed by the project. The training is available ondemand through the projects’ website and through instructional DVDs http://data.k12partners.org/

Professional development opportunities to support the Oregon K-12 Literacy Framework
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=2987

ODE is developing professional development materials for the Essential Skill of Writing. These
materials will be added in the fall and winter to this link
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=2704 and regional trainers will be identified.
Oregon Department of Education, Sept 2010