Category: State Plans & Assessments Engagement

Oregon Kindergarten Assessment Results for 2018-19
The first few years of a child’s life are a critical time to invest in high quality learning

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(Salem, Ore) – The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Early Learning Division (ELD) today jointly released results from the 2018-19 Oregon Kindergarten Assessment. The assessment is given each fall to entering kindergartners and provides a snapshot of students’ foundational skills in three core areas of learning and development: early literacy, early math and interpersonal/self-regulation skills.

“This assessment helps us measure the strength and capacity of our early learning system and the readiness of our K-12 system to serve each and every child in Oregon,” said Colt Gill, director of Oregon Department of Education. “It is not about the readiness of our children. All of our children are ready to learn every day.”

2018-19 Oregon Kindergarten Assessment results:

• Early Math scores: students correctly answered 11.1 out of 16 simple math questions.
• Scores for Approaches to Learning remained the same at 3.6 out of 5. This key assessment includes examining a student’s social-emotional well-being via teachers observing and leading the student through daily activities such as following directions or cooperatively playing in groups.
• Early Literacy scores: Oregon kindergartners recognized 7.7 letter sounds, 14.3 uppercase letters, and 11.7 lowercase letters.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s budget calls for an additional $270.8 million to expand access to high-quality preschool through Preschool Promise and Oregon prekindergarten, and $15 million through culturally responsive school readiness strategies through the Equity Fund to benefit 10,000 additional Oregon children.

“The first few years of a child’s life are a critical time to invest in high quality learning experiences that will continue to pay off throughout their school career,” said Miriam Calderon, Oregon’s Early Learning System director. “We know supporting children and families from the start helps them be ready for success when they enter kindergarten, and be on track by third grade.”

More analyses will be released in the spring that provide disaggregated data by sociodemographic characteristics. In addition, ODE and ELD will continue to track students’ progression from kindergarten to third grade.

Oregon’s 16 regional Early Learning Hubs, which work across education, health, human services, and businesses to support families with young children, use the assessment data to prioritize investments, such as Kindergarten Readiness Partnership and Innovation Funds.

Kindergarten assessment results, including a breakdown by school district, are available online. Private schools are not reflected in the results.
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See official release from the Oregon Department of Education and Early Learning Division

Salem, OR—Governor Kate Brown today joined state agencies, Early Learning Council members, and legislators in unveiling Raise Up Oregon: A Statewide Early Learning System Plan, which provides a roadmap for how state and local communities can work together to ensure Oregon’s youngest children can enter school ready to learn. Research shows the first few years of a child’s life have the biggest impact on their future success.

The Early Learning Council and Early Learning Division partnered on the plan, which focuses on supporting children from birth to age five and their families. Governor Brown calls for investments in her proposed budget to address the needs of young children and families in housing, health care, child welfare reform, and early learning.

“Too many young children and their families in Oregon struggle to access and afford housing, child care, and preschool,” said Governor Brown. “This plan contains bold, actionable strategies that will help us better support them so that all Oregon children can reach their full potential.”

Brain science supports the fact that the first 2,000 days of a child’s life, between birth and kindergarten, are the most critical period for human development. However, in Oregon there are 30,000 children from low-income families who don’t have access to preschool, and many working families are struggling to afford quality child care.

“We have an opportunity to assist young learners and prepare them to succeed as they enter kindergarten,” Miriam Calderon Early Learning System Director. “The first few years for a child are an incredible time to positively impact their future or can be a time of vulnerability if families do not have access to the right resources.”

Five state agencies have ownership of different pieces of the plan, including Oregon Health Authority, Department of Human Services, Oregon Housing and Community Services, Oregon Department of Education and the Early Learning Division. In October 2017, the Governor directed the Early Learning Council to develop a prenatal to age five comprehensive state plan.