Last week Governor Kitzhaber outlined a series of administrative and legislative actions he deems necessary to improve education outcomes from pre-kindergarten to college and career readiness. Speaking before the newly confirmed Oregon Education Investment Board, the Governor called for legislative action to enable a Chief Education Officer to lead the state’s effort to implement the integrated educational system necessary to ensure student success and signaled his interest in working with the legislature to consider independent boards for Oregon universities.
“We have a shared responsibility – as parents, teachers, business leaders and policy makers – to make the changes necessary to pursue excellence in our system of public education,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “That requires pulling together across school districts, universities and agency silos to achieve our goals for high school and college completion and ensure the success of students in today’s economy.”
The Governor called on the Oregon Education Investment Board to undertake several administrative and policy initiatives, including:
- Proposing legislation for the February 2012 session to give the Chief Education Officer direction and control over education-related agency directors for the purpose of designing and organizing the state’s pre-kindergarten through post-secondary education system;
- Proposing legislation for the February 2012 session to implement achievement compacts with education institutions to specify outcomes and measures of progress for all Oregon primary, secondary and post-secondary students;
- Developing legislation for the 2013 legislative session to consolidate boards and commissions and streamline management of the statewide system to free-up resources to support teaching and learning. Principles include arriving at a single entity for the direction and coordination of Oregon’s university system.
- Developing legislation for the 2013 legislative session – in coordination with the Oregon University System and consultation with universities – to allow independent, institutional boards for one or more Oregon universities.
“Earlier this year, with the creation of the Oregon Education Investment Board and a package of significant education legislation, the legislature took the first steps toward a student-centered education system designed to achieve our state’s education, social and economic objectives,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “We must build on that progress to deliver results for students at all levels and in all parts of our state.”
The Oregon Education Investment Board, chaired by the Governor, is overseeing an initiative to create an integrated, coordinated system for investing in and delivering public education from pre-kindergarten through high school and college to ensure all Oregonians are well-prepared for careers in our economy.
