Full Breakdown
Oregon’s Statewide Assessment Shows Modest Gains Amid Ongoing Participation Gaps
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
Oregon’s education system continues to grapple with the academic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2015 law lets students opt out of the Oregon Statewide Assessment System (OSAS), keeping participation below the federal 95 % requirement. Senate Bill 141, the Education Accountability Act backed by Governor Tina Kotek, sets new proficiency targets for 2029-2030 and underpins recent literacy funding, including a $140 million bill passed in 2023.
Core Event
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) released OSAS results for 2025-26. Statewide proficiency rose slightly: English Language Arts (ELA) to 43.8 % (up 0.8 pp), mathematics to 32.9 % (up 1.4 pp), and science to 30.6 % (up 0.6 pp). The figures remain below pre-pandemic levels and the 2029-30 targets of 52.6 % for third-grade reading and 52 % for eighth-grade math.
Data & Statistics
- Statewide proficiency (2025-26): ELA 43.8 %, math 32.9 %, science 30.6 %.
- Year-over-year change: +0.8 pp (ELA), +1.4 pp (math), +0.6 pp (science).
- District highlights:
- Salem-Keizer: third-grade reading 29.7 % (up from 25.3 %).
- Grants Pass: ELA 50.9 %, math 36.1 %, science 36.5 %.
- Portland Public Schools: ELA 57.8 %, math 50.5 %, science 45.1 %.
- Participation: Overall OSAS participation hovered near 90 % in all subjects, below the 95 % benchmark. In Crook County, 11th-grade ELA participation was 5 %, the lowest in the state.
Official Statements & Responses
ODE Director Charlene Williams called the incremental improvements “encouraging” and linked them to the Education Accountability Act’s clearer goals. Salem-Keizer Superintendent Andrea Castañeda cited district investments in training, coaching, and data systems as drivers of growth, noting the numbers remain “still too low.” Grants Pass director of elementary education Susan Zottola said recent literacy curriculum changes are beginning to bear fruit. Crook County Superintendent Joel Hoff framed the gains as evidence of daily classroom work.
Why It Matters
The modest upward trend suggests Oregon’s literacy and data-driven strategies may be taking effect, yet the persistent participation shortfall hampers accurate statewide assessment. Meeting the 2029-30 proficiency targets will require higher student engagement in testing and continued investment in early-literacy programs, especially for low-income students and students of color who continue to lag behind peers.
Verbatim Quotes
- “While this year’s results may not feel transformational on their own, sustained improvement year after year can fundamentally change outcomes and the trajectory for our scholars,” — Charlene Williams, ODE director
- “These results represent encouraging early signs that the state’s literacy initiatives are moving achievement in the right direction,” — Angelica Cruz, ODE’s director of literacy
- “Do I want us to do great on a state test? All the time, I still do,” — George Mendoza
What’s Next
Under Senate Bill 141, Oregon aims for 52.6 % third-grade reading proficiency and 52 % eighth-grade math proficiency by 2029-2030. ODE officials plan to intensify outreach to improve test participation and expand high-dosage tutoring. Districts will continue setting local targets in partnership with the state, aligning resources to close the gap between current performance and the 2029-30 goals.