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 -- The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) distributed $24,273,300 in earnings from the Common School Fund to Oregon’s 198 K-12 public school districts.  Regionally, Bend-La Pine Schools received $635,723, Redmond $282,827, and $175,404 went to Crook County School District.   “Common School Funds make a difference for Oregon’s school districts.  Every dollar helps in the effort to ensure that all students in Oregon are successful,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo.  Twice ... [full story]

In an email sent to media Tuesday, Rob Corrigan commented on his recent resignation from the Sisters School Board, citing personal reasons and his inability to effectively help improve the schools due to “the current atmosphere and level of distraction.” Following are his comments: ”This note is to let you know that last Friday afternoon (Jan 19), I advised the superintendent and members of the board of my resignation from my position (Seat #2) as ... [full story]

Play it Again Prom supports senior night parties for Bend Senior High and Mountain View High School It’s time to dust off your blue suede shoes and get ready to dance at the “Play it Again Prom”, an adult event that supports the drug and alcohol-free graduation parties for Mountain View High School and Bend Senior High. The Prom will be held on Saturday, February 10 from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. at Bend Senior High School. ... [full story]

  Senator Smith wants to make permanent a tax benefit for teachers to deduct classroom expenses. U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-Oregon) ran into a roadblock Thursday on his way to making permanent a critical education tax provision utilized by 65,000 Oregonians in 2004.   “We need to make it easier for parents to send their kids to college,” Smith said.  “Educating our citizens is critical if we want to remain competitive in the global economy.  Rising tuition ... [full story]

SALEM, OREGON – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo is urging legislators to give the schools the tools they need to get the job done. “The Governor’s proposed budget of $6.06 billion is a great reinvestment in our classrooms and includes a fund to help our schools fill specific gaps after years of cuts. I’m asking legislators to approve a budget of $6.3 billion, enabling our schools to make targeted improvements that will lead to greater ... [full story]

Susan Bodilly has been appointed director of RAND Education, RAND Corporation President and CEO James A. Thomson announced today. Bodilly joined RAND 27 years ago and has served as acting director of RAND Education since June 2005. Her primary research interests and expertise lie in K-12 school reform; resource allocation and its impact on reforms; formative evaluation; and implementation analysis. RAND Education conducts objective research and analysis on a variety of topics, including academic testing, ... [full story]

Over the past 20 years education funding in America has increased by almost 80 percent so that today school systems spend an average of more than $9,000 per student. Despite this record of growth, student achievement has remained stagnant. However, pockets of success do exist and can help guide policy makers and educators in the right direction towards better schools.  In 2005 Oregon expended less per pupil than the national average but managed to keep ... [full story]

More than 1000 registrations received already SALEM, OREGON -- State Treasurer Randall Edwards recently announced that 146 students have already completed the new Reading is an Investment program that Edwards introduced last October. More than 1,350 children from across the state have signed up for the program that helps young Oregonians discover the value of financial education.  "The students I have talked with are really excited about it," said Treasurer Edwards. "Some of them have ... [full story]

Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent will sub at Lava Ridge Elementary School Tuesday to promote continuing education Students in one elementary classroom will be in for a surprise when they arrive at school tomorrow.  Two familiar faces will be at the head of their classroom, but not the faces of their usual teachers.  Superintendent Doug Nelson and Deputy Superintendent Ron Wilkinson will be reading, writing and practicing arithmetic with 44 first- and second-graders at Lava Ridge Elementary ... [full story]

Salem, Oregon – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that the total number of Oregon elementary and secondary students enrolled in public schools continues to increase steadily. According to counts reported by school districts, Oregon has 562,828 public school students – an increase of 3,613 since last year ( 0.6%). Oregon’s public school enrollment has increased nine times during the last ten years. Growth was again uneven across the state, with the largest enrollment ... [full story]

(Salem, Oregon) The Oregon Department of Education today released a process and timeline for recruitment of the director of the Oregon School for the Deaf. The goal is to have a new OSD Director in place for the 2007-08 school year.  Step #1. Identify a Steering Committee – to be complete by February 7, 2007      A. Form a Steering Committee of 14 representative stakeholders.  The Committee would be charged with assisting the department in ... [full story]