91% Percent of Classes in Oregon Are Taught by Highly Qualified Teachers

94% of classes in the Salem-Keizer School District were taught by teachers who met the federal designation, up from 90% in 2004-05.

(SALEM) - State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced Wednesday that 91% of all classes taught in Oregon’s public schools during 2005-06 have a highly qualified teacher, according to the federally required definition under the No Child Left Behind Act.

There are 38 Oregon school districts that have reached 100% of their classes taught by highly qualified teachers, and more than half of school districts made gains in the percentage of core classes taught by highly qualified teachers.

“The good news in this report is that we continue to see improvement, and I am especially pleased with the increase in classes taught by highly qualified teachers in our highest-need schools,” Castillo said. “Back in 2003 when we did this report for the first time, the statewide average was 71%. Today we are at 90%. We know that the quality of the teacher in the classroom is one of the most important factors in how well a student learns. Oregon schools are ensuring that the students who need the most help are getting the teachers who are best prepared to help them.”

Oregon’s percentage of classes taught by highly qualified teachers in all classes and in classes in high poverty schools, 2004-05 and 2005-06:

In order to be highly qualified, teachers must be fully licensed by the state, hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and meet state requirements to demonstrate mastery of subject knowledge, either by exam or a major in the core academic area. In addition, teachers may be designated “highly qualified” by meeting a rigorous review of their work history and continuing professional development by the Teachers Standards and Practices Commission known as the High, Objective, Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE). It is possible for a teacher to meet all these qualifications and still not meet the highly qualified definition if the class assignment is outside the teacher’s academic certification

Teachers of core academic subjects must meet the definition of highly qualified teacher by the end of the 2006-07 school year. Districts that qualify for the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) have been granted additional flexibility for all of their teachers to become “highly qualified”. Teachers new to REAP districts have an additional 3 years to become highly qualified in all of the core academic subjects they teach, if they are highly qualified in one of the core academic subjects they teach.

Schools that receive Title I-A funds from the federal government because of their high poverty levels must send letters to parents if a teacher who is not highly qualified is teaching students in one of the core academic areas.

“We are requiring districts to submit a plan by November 15th that outlines how they will increase the number of highly qualified teachers,” Castillo said. “We will continue to work to ensure that every teacher’s assignment matches his or her area of expertise and preparation.”

The information, based on classroom assignments in 2005-06, was collected by the Oregon Department of Education in order to meet U.S. Department of Education requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act.

School-by-school information on highly qualified teachers is on each school’s report card at http://www.ode.state.or.us/data/reportcard/reports.aspx.

Overall, Academic Achievement/Student Performance, Attendance/Dropout School Student Behavior, Improvement, School Characteristics

Auburn Elementary School: Strong, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Improved, Exceptional.

Barbara Roberts High School: Not Rated, Not Rated, Unacceptable, Not Rated, Unacceptable.

Bethel Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Brush College Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Declined, Exceptional.

Bush Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Declined, Exceptional.

Candalaria Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Chapman Hill Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Claggett Creek Middle School: Strong, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Improved, Exceptional.

Clear Lake Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Crossler Middle School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Cummings Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Englewood Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Eyre Elementary School: Strong, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Improved, Exceptional.

Forest Ridge Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Four Corners Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Declined, Exceptional.

Fruitland Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Grant Community School: Strong, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Improved, Exceptional.

Gubser Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Hallman Elementary School: Strong, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Improved, Exceptional.

Harritt Elementary School: Not Rated, Not Rated, Not Rated, Not Rated, Exceptional.

Hayesville Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Hazel Green Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Highland Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Hoover Elementary School: Strong ,Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Improved, Exceptional.

Houck Middle School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Low Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Howard Street Charter School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Declined, Exceptional.

Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School: Not Rated, Strong, Exceptional, Not Rated, Exceptional.

Judson Middle School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Keizer Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Kennedy Elementary School: Strong, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Improved, Exceptional.

Lake Labish Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Declined, Exceptional.

Lamb Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Lee Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Leslie Middle School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Liberty Elementary School: Satisfactory, Strong, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

McKinley Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

McNary High School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Middle Grove Elementary School: Not Rated, Not Rated, Satisfactory, Not Rated, Exceptional.

Miller Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Morningside Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

North Salem High School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Low, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Optimum Learning Environments: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Parrish Middle School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Low, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Pringle Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Richmond Elementary School: Strong, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Improved, Exceptional.

Rosedale Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Salem Heights Elementary School: Satisfactory, Strong, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Schirle Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Scott Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

South Salem High School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Sprague High School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Stephens Middle School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Sumpter Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Swegle Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Waldo Middle School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Walker Middle School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Washington Elementary School: Strong, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Improved, Exceptional.

Weddle Elementary School: Strong, Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Improved, Exceptional.

West Salem High School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Whiteaker Middle School Satisfactory Satisfactory Satisfactory Stayed About The Same Exceptional

Wright Elementary School: Strong, Strong, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

Yoshikai Elementary School: Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Strong, Stayed About The Same, Exceptional.

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Comments Leave a comment on this story.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

Henry Ruark October 22, 2006 2:22 am (Pacific time)

To all: Then there's those proposals for "merit pay" and "mentoring" to assist teacher dilemmas. Turns out Saxton never succeeded with installation in Portland schools, and has no realization of consequences when either or both are installed, in competitive presures, unavoidable costs, further bureaucracy, and similar already-tested/out problems wherever applied.

Henry Ruark October 19, 2006 2:20 pm (Pacific time)

Al: Between us, we may end up making some pretty good lemonaid...which, for others, will never top off their Daiquiris too well. But that's the purpose of dialog, so squeeze the hell out of it while you (we ?) can...

Albert Marnell October 19, 2006 1:21 pm (Pacific time)

Hank, I am filled with lemon juice, with reason. I do not see these standards in black and white. I have had enough of the Federal and State governments because they has stollen millions from me and what used to be my family. The school district that I lived under in New York has arrested the main administrators for stealing millions for personal use. Other districts on Long Island are being investigated. The result is more and more arrests. I went to private schools as you know and the teachers were paid peanuts but did a damn good job, especially in the grammar school. I know that teaching is not easy. I do it here every day. Most people can not be taught. They believe what they believe and act as they please. I apologize to the teachers who do their job. I just wish they would out the administrators and dead wood leaches that do not. There are a hell of alot of them, maybe more in some states then others but I have learned that there is a national problem. No one ever said or thought that you were stupid. Do not personalize my comments. I can not write always excluding certain groups and individuals, it is too time consuming and takes too much energy. I want to see less and less government including the F.D.A.. Federal employees are the worst parasites in general and never fight to better the system for fear of losing their jobs. Washinton D.C. if full of people that see the pot of gold of Federal dollars and just want to get their hands on it because it is relatively easy to do compared to the private sector. Those deductions out of peoples pay checks are mostly wasted or stolen.

Henry Ruark October 19, 2006 11:39 am (Pacific time)

Al: You show yourself full of...lemon juice...when you so generalize about ALL fed-standards. May be true elsewhere, but "been there, done that" in some aspects for education and I do NOT consider myself subliterate albeith cannot deny was once a bureaucrat...happens I am proud of it, too, since it resulted in NDEA, wih $9 million directly benefitting Oregon from cooperative efforts that followed, led by Sen. Wayne Morse. For those recent Comment-eers likewise denigrating teacher abilities, this is solid answer. Again, you never know until you spend time in classroom, right out front, with kids crowding you with normal, natural curiousities and seeking solid rewards that come only from learning.

Albert Marnell October 19, 2006 10:33 am (Pacific time)

Federal Standards are written by subliterates who are bureaucrats. Meaningless garbage. Maibee, Eye schoud miss spell a werd sew sum 1 Ken thrOO a whyse crac at mee.

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