Press release from Di Saunders, OUS; Cell: 503-807-5539; Office: 503-725-5714
SALEM, June 3 - The Joint Boards of Education and Higher Education (the "Board'') met today at the Chemeketa Eola Northwest Viticulture Center in Salem, to begin the process of responding to Governor Ted Kulongoski's charge to "build Oregon's educational system into an enterprise that will enable all Oregonians to succeed in the future.''
Governor's Charge Theresa McHugh, the Governor's chief of staff, spoke on behalf of the Governor regarding his letter of May 19, 2005 to the Joint Boards. The Governor said that Oregon needs to change how we fund, budget and use resources for education, and examine how we use technology and data to assist learning. The letter said that Oregon "must deliver a first rate education to students of every age and knock down any barriers to education for all of us.'' Only in this way will the state be able to ensure that it provides "education that is personal and local and that is competitive on an international scale,'' the Governor said.
Ms. McHugh said that an important part of the Governor's agenda is getting Oregon reconnected to its education system. She said that it is time for Oregon to really look at the wonderful investments we've already made as we build a new, aligned model of public education in the state. McHugh added that the Governor is anxious for the work of the Joint Boards to move to the action stage and determine what we need to build a new model for all public education. She said that the Governor wanted to convey to the Board his sentiments that the staff within all the education sectors is doing a tremendous job, giving their heart and soul, to working on behalf of students and the education systems in Oregon.
Education Plan Board of Higher Education member Duncan Wyse commented that what the Governor has asked of the Joint Boards is revolutionary as it truly reinvents the public education system in Oregon. The Joint Boards has begun its response to the Governor through the development of an action/work plan, which the Board approved at today's meeting. The Board discussed development of four Task Forces, to be led by members of each board, that would achieve the goal of a more unified sequence of educational services and opportunities that optimize each student's progression toward his/her educational goals within an aligned Pre-K to 20 system. The Task Forces would include:
1. Vision and Design: which would articulate a vision for Oregon education in 2025 and design specifications for implementation that makes the Oregon educational delivery relevant, dynamic, and effective for all learners of all ages. The final product would be reviewed in November 2005 by the Joint Boards.
2. Unified Educational System: which would create a unified educational enterprise with curriculum alignment and performance expectations measured at every stage so that exit standards from one sector equal entrance standards to the next. A timeline for each component will be identified by October 2005. Intermediate goals would be reached by 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, with the final goal to be reached by 2025.
3. Linked Data Transfer Process: which would track student success and institutional success across the educational enterprise. An initial reporting timeline for the data process would be provided in November 2005, with a completed system to be complete by 2012.
4. Budget Transparency: which would produce an understandable budget that reflects the entire educational enterprise. A timeline for the next step toward a unified budget would be identified by January 2006, with a unified budget in place by 2012.
Student Loan Issues After discussing increasing federal student loan interest rates and the information gaps for students, the Board approved a motion to have staff find ways to share information on the increase in federal loan rates and loan consolidation options to Oregon college and university students and the general public.
Acknowledgement After hearing an update on the progress and activities of the Excellence in Delivery and Productivity Working Group of the State Board of Higher Education, the Joint Boards recognized the accomplishments already made through this group. Gretchen Schuette, chair of the Working Group, thanked members and acknowledged the efforts of the cross sector K-20 group that has enabled them to achieve so much in less than a year and a half. Thus far, the Group has developed and implemented the following initiatives: Oregon Transfer Module, the Integrated Data Transfer Process, inventory of effective statewide retention practices, design of a web-based articulation system for effective transfer of college credits, and increased dual enrollment agreements.
Comprised of members of the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Oregon State Board of Higher Education (OSBHE), the Joint Boards address statewide Pre-K to 20 public education issues that affect students and communities