Interim Executive Director's Message

To our education partners and friends,

2010 was a year of culmination for several core programs. We helped move a new statewide certificate program beyond the pilot phase into implementation, we made surprising discoveries
in our on-the-ground proficiency project, and we successfully concluded the largest high school reform initiative in Oregon’s history.

Here are just a few highlights of our recent accomplishments:

The Oregon Proficiency Project is dedicated to supporting schools to pursue the promise of proficiency-based education’s innovative collection of best practices. In 2010 the project piloted transformative teaching and learning practices through instructional and leadership coaching at two Oregon high schools – Beaverton’s Health and Science School and Woodburn’s Academy of International Studies. The project generated a model for accelerating the sustainable improvement of teaching and learning, with new open source tools available online for educators. The project also researched several proficiency-based education early adopter sites around the state in classroom-based site visits, and convened those practitioners in coached networks as well as with a policy panel assembled to use practice to inform policy, framing findings and shaping recommendations for policymakers. Going forward, work will continue to integrate theory, practice, tools, policies and scalability.

Oregon’s National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) is a public-private partnership led by the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development. René Léger, our Executive Director on loan to the program, provided dedicated leadership to support program development, implementation strategy and rollout. As a result, Oregon job seekers will have a new tool to demonstrate their work-ready skills, and employers will have new means for assessing the qualifications of both job seekers and incumbents. The NCRC will launch statewide on January 25.

The Oregon Education Budget Model, originally created decades ago, has long been in need of an overhaul to shift focus from institutionally-based funding toward student-centric funding. In 2010, E3 garnered legislative and gubernatorial support to revamp the outdated budget model in favor of a unified budgeting system that is transparent and performance-driven.

The Oregon Small Schools Initiative, the largest high school reform demonstration project in Oregon’s history, concluded in 2010. Our research, including several reports by ECONorthwest, reflects a substantive body of research. Through partner schools, the Initiative achieved dramatic improvements in student achievement, especially for students of historically disadvantaged populations.

I invite you to learn more about E3’s program advances by following the links above to features on our website.

We could not have accomplished nearly so much – especially in this economic climate – without the continued generosity of our education partners, business supporters and foundation donors.

On behalf of the board of E3, I thank you for your continued support and extend our best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.

Regards,

Duncan Wyse
Interim Executive Director, E3: Employers for Education Excellence
President, Oregon Business Council

back to newsletter