The State Board of Education voted today to increase Oregon’s graduation requirements in order to better prepare students for college and the workforce. Students will be required to take more rigorous coursework and higher levels of math and science in order to receive a diploma. The change was approved in a unanimous vote of the State Board in Salem on Thursday morning. The State Board took the action in order to better prepare Oregon students ... [full story]

In order to prepare students for the evolving economy, Central Oregon Community College (COCC) and the state of Oregon are working to increase completion of college credentials for today's workers through the development of short-term certificates of completion.  Short-term certificates offer a convenient, accelerated format that helps unemployed or working adults upgrade their skills, complete a credential, or gain an associate's degree.  In these programs, curriculum is packaged into smaller sets of courses ― typically ... [full story]

The Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) Foundation ― in collaboration with Central Oregon Community College (COCC) ― is hosting a ribbon cutting event and open house at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1st to celebrate the opening of ECMC's first wst coast TheCollegePlace student access center. The event will be held in suite 200 of the Grandview Building on the COCC Bend campus. The public is invited to attend. The event will showcase TheCollegePlace resources, student ... [full story]

Leaders of Oregon’s law enforcement community met with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith last week and urged them to aggressively work for more federal funding for Head Start to prevent crime. The president of the Oregon State Sheriffs Association, Marion County Sheriff Raul Ramirez; the president of the Oregon District Attorney’s Association, Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote, and Gresham Police Chief Carla Piluso met with the senators. They were accompanied by Martha ... [full story]

The Oregon Department of Education presented the findings of an unprecedented public engagement process at the State Board meeting Thursday, January 18. The results cover more than 5,000 responses from 300 school and community meetings across the state on the details of the Board’s proposal to increase Oregon’s high school graduation requirements. The report also includes comments from more than 1,000 surveys filled out on the ODE website.   In addition, the Department received over 500 letters, emails, ... [full story]

SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today released a web-based video program giving educators and members of the public an overview of the recent review of the state’s Educational Achievement Standards. This review, conducted in a three-day, mid-December meeting, recommended adjustments to the standards that will be considered, and possibly adopted, by the State Board of Education at their March meeting. Over 300 participants from around the state—teachers, administrators, parents and members of the ... [full story]

In a world where going to college is getting harder and more expensive every year, College Goal Oregon is here to help.  An event designed to connect today's students and their families with the financial aid dollars currently available to them is scheduled for Saturday, January 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 15 different locations throughout Oregon.  Anyone interested in dropping in during a College Goal Oregon workshop should begin gathering the paperwork ... [full story]

The 2007 season for the Central District of the Oregon High School Equestrian Teams (OHSET) has begun!  There are approximately 160 riders braving the cold weather to practice their patterns and get their horses back into shape to compete in three district meets this coming spring!  The first meet will be February 16-18 held at the Redmond Fair & Expo Center free of charge to the public.  The Central District is comprised of 18 ... [full story]

Kit Stafford, daughter of Oregon poet William Stafford, will present the keynote address at a birthday celebration honoring the late national poet laureate with a reception at 7 p.m. and a program at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, in the rotunda of Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Library. Judith Montgomery, COCC’s poet-in-residence last year, is hosting the event. Readings will be presented by Neil Browne, assistant professor of English Oregon State University-Cascades; Ellen Santasiero, writer and ... [full story]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Angler and Aquatic Education Program is encouraging Oregon schools to apply to the Future Fisherman Foundation for Physical Education Grants for the 2007/2008 school year. The deadline is March 2, 2007. These grants provide opportunities for schools to create or enhance a fishing and/or boating program within their physical education programs. Students not only develop skills but also develop a better awareness and concern for the resource. Schools interested ... [full story]

The Bend-La Pine School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to allow staff to finalize design specifications and develop bid documents for the permanent repair of the Summit High School playing fields. The School Board will identify a funding source at a future meeting.School Board Chair Scott Reynolds says, “This decision will allow our community to move forward and put the storm and the damage it caused at the fields behind us.” Reynolds says that he ... [full story]

DeFazio, Walden's bipartisan effort introduced bill to reauthorize successful "county payments" program U.S. Congressmen Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.) yesterday announced the introduction of H.R. 17, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2007, legislation that would reauthorize the successful "county payments" law for seven more years.Of Oregon’s 36 counties, 32 received payments through the program totaling over $273 million last year.  Because of the large amount of timber historically harvested ... [full story]

University of Oregon students have qualified for more than $600,000 this fall under two new federal student aid programs. With thoughtful planning, even more students may be able to benefit, according to Jim Gilmour, associate director of the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. So far this year, 548 students have received more than $615,000 in Academic Competitiveness (ACG) and Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) grants. The programs are distinctive because ... [full story]