Governor Tina Kotek established the Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council through Executive Order 23-12 in May 2023 to strengthen the preparation of teachers and school administrators to instruct elementary students on reading and writing.

The council voted to approve recommendations in its final meeting, and released Strengthening Literacy Preparation and Support for Oregon’s Educators. These recommendations revise educator and school administrator preparation program standards for literacy instruction.

“These recommendations are a significant step forward,” Governor Kotek said. “I appreciate that the council has not just layered on new requirements. They have also tried to streamline existing standards and build on the things we’ve had and continue to be important, like dyslexia standards.”

“We must always do what’s in the best interest of our children,” said Rep. Boomer Wright (R-Coos Bay), who served on the council. “These recommendations represent a way to support teachers and principals to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to do what we’re asking them to do for students. And to make sure that happens well, we also need to set up the right level of resources and support for our educator preparation programs to meet the new expectations the Council has recommended.”

The recommendations were broken into three sections: educator preparation program (EPP) approval standards, implementation recommendations, and educator licensing standards recommendations. The final council recommendations on educator preparation program approval standards include:

• Combining Reading Instruction Standards with Dyslexia Standards into one cohesive standard. This will streamline standards that are focused on teaching reading and writing.
• Creating new Literacy Standards that combine targeted existing standards providing additional detail that aligns with Oregon’s Early Literacy Framework and the models of reading designed to guide the preparation of Kindergarten through 5th Grade teachers and administrators on evidence-based practices for teaching literacy.
• Leverage existing standards as essential and underlying expectations for literacy instruction: Culturally Sustaining Practices to Promote Equity, Social and Emotional Development to Promote Equity, and Standards for Competent and Ethical Performance of Oregon Educator.

It may be disappointed to some to know that CRT and “identity” instruction remains in the curriculum regardless of the science on brain development and best practices claims. Research proves that cursive writing is an essential component for cognitive development, including improved brain function, memory, and problem-solving skills. Oregon math levels dramatically dropped after removing cursive from the curriculum. Cursive writing strengthens cross-hemisphere connections in the brain, which are essential for language development, reading, and writing, and activates areas not involved in keyboarding. Still, the council ignores viable studies.

Key takeaways from the implementation recommendations include:

• Phase in the proposed recommendations so that all Oregon EPPs are implementing new standards by the fall of the 2026-27 academic year.
• State support for Oregon EPPs to adapt to the new standards.
• Ensuring that all educators, including experienced teachers and graduates of out-of-state EPPs, are supported and held accountable for meeting high standards for literacy instruction.
• Investing in the implementation infrastructure needed to enable consistent, research-aligned implementation of new standards in educator preparation and in schools.

Key takeaways from the recommendations on educator licensing standards include:

• Preliminary licensure requirements for all newly licensed educators should take effect in 2027.
• Consider funding and capacity needs, develop processes for how all educators can demonstrate competency of standards, and minimize economic barriers to certification.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The council was directed to create recommendations to the Governor and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC). TSPC has already begun considering the Council’s recommendations. Was the purpose of the council to improve literacy in K-5, or train teachers to comply?

"I have been honored to serve on this council alongside an outstanding group of individuals with one goal in mind: improving literacy outcomes for all of Oregon's children,” said Ronda Fritz, council co-chair and Associate Professor at Eastern Oregon University. “We were able to move the standards for Oregon's teacher preparation programs to reflect what science tells us about how children learn to read as well as the content and methods that are critical for ensuring proficient readers. I believe these standards will give educator preparation programs a clear roadmap for designing courses and programs that will produce teachers with the essential knowledge and skills to create proficient readers and writers."


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-06-18 12:56:56

Last Update: 2024-06-18 19:20:46