Listening sessions for graduation requirements begin soon

GRANT COUNTY – Graduation requirements for high school seniors have changed a bit, and the Oregon Department of Education wants to know what you think about it. Grant County Education Service District Superintendent Robert Waltenburg explains:

“Many people have heard that they have eliminated the Essential Skills component of graduation. What they did—what ODE did, was—they actually contracted with Portland State, who does the Census, to reach out to each county in Oregon and do a listening session.”

The Grant County listening session will be on March 2, from 6-8 p.m. Watch our website for a link to the meeting. Under SB 744 ODE will generate a report to the legislature and State Board of Education by September 1, 2022. Below is an email from ODE Director Colt Gill to Oregon House District 60 Representative Mark Owens, with links to each listening session within District 60:

(Excerpt from an email sent from ODE Director Colt Gill to Oregon House District 60 Representative Mark Owens)

“Your legislative district resides within multiple Education Service Districts. The relevant Senate Bill 744 Community Conversations will be held on:

Harney ESD / February 23, 2022, from 5-7 p.m. Please use the following link to register: https://pdx.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMofuqopjspE91ZY0EqmxKvpQtp_dRvBrg7

Intermountain ESD / March 1, 2022, from 3-5 p.m. Please use the following link to register: https://pdx.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvf-uprj4vGtH5xc8zXjppIqUx0E1QaZV5

Grant ESD / March 2, 2022, from 6-8 p.m. Please use the following link to register: https://pdx.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kd-yrrjguHdVXUIJHknG8u9bXU94WOZjK

Malheur ESD / March 7, 2022, from 5-7 p.m. Please use the following link to register: https://pdx.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvcu6upzgqE9fgaRB8RvYfSzqGIZX2YG6l

Lake ESD / March 16, 2022, from 1-3 p.m. Please use the following link to register: https://pdx.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctfuuprT4jGtxRqxzrwJfpH8Lir7gyarkM

If you are not available to participate during one of those dates and times, you may share your thoughts by responding to the Senate Bill 744 State Survey, which will be made available on Oregon’s Kitchen Table’s High School Graduation Requirements webpage by February 15, 2022. You may also choose to participate in any other Community Conversation.

If there are any questions regarding Senate Bill 744 and the engagement process, please contact Dan Farley, Director of Assessment, who is coordinating Senate Bill 744 implementation. 

Thank you for your consideration and your time. We are looking forward to hearing from Oregon’s citizens to hear their lived experiences and work to address their thoughts about Oregon’s graduation requirements.”

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