'20-21 education impacts are now centralized

SALEM: "The 2020-21 school year was like no other school year in history.," according to Colt Gill, Director of the Department of Education. "The vast majority of Oregon's schools started the 2020-21 school year in distance learning due to the global COVID-19 pandemic," he adds.

For students and families, those outside forces created a blended world of school, home life, and work responsibilities. "The disruption to regular school-based learning posed complex challenges," Gill said. "Some of our children experienced the loss or suffering of a family member or friend due to COVID-19. All of our kids experienced some isolation from a personal connection with their peers and trusted adults as they transitioned to school in a fully-online space."

Due to disruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic, some data was missing. Now that the Oregon Statewide Report Card is back to its pre-pandemic format, it includes data never before presented in the annual report.

Some of those details include:

• Students demonstrated significant progress toward being on track by ninth grade. Ninth Grade On-Track data rebounded 9.2 percent from 73.5 percent in the 2020-21 school year to 82.8 percent in the 2021-22 school year.

• For the third year in a row, reporting of non-binary students increased as represented in the fall membership enrollment.

• The number of women serving as superintendents increased from 30 percent in 2017-18 to 36 percent in 2021-22.

• Foster care information is included in the Statewide Report Card for the first time. Data included are for the ELA and Math performance, regular attendance, and 9th Grade On-Track to graduate.

• Updated NAEP data resumes after a national pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• This report includes Measures of Interim Progress (MIP) data for all of the indicators included in the ESSA accountability system.

"Together, we lifted up lessons learned," Gill said. "We prioritized mental health and well-being as well as learning and academic growth for all of Oregon's children and youth. The last two years have shown us what we're capable of. It is a strong reminder of the spirit of engagement and partnership, and working toward a shared goal."

To view the report, go to: tinyurl.com/ytcbb2en.