Oregon Reiterates Decision to Drop Essential Skills Requirements for High School Graduates

Oregon high school students don’t need standardized tests to prove they can read, write, and do math.
Oregon Reiterates Decision to Drop Essential Skills Requirements for High School Graduates
A student taking her high school exam. The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) results were released on Tuesday, revealing an increase in performance in middle school and high school students. Fethi Belaid/Getty Images
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Oregon high school students are exempt from showcasing fundamental competence in reading, writing, or math until 2029, as per the state Board of Education’s unanimous vote on Thursday, per Oregon Live. This decision aims to support students from marginalized communities and those with a history of poor academic performance.

The vote, originally scheduled for September, was delayed due to opposition from Oregon community members concerned about lowered learning and graduation standards.