Oregon's Department of Education is committing to strengthen oversight and evaluation practices for its High School Success program following an audit by the Secretary of State, the agency said.
The program, funded through Measure 98 approved by voters in 2016, has contributed to improved graduation rates. The statewide on-time graduation rate reached 83.0%, the five-year completion rate is 87.4%, and 86.6% of ninth-graders are on track to graduate, according to the department.
The Secretary of State audit identified eight recommendations for improvement. The agency has fully implemented one recommendation and made progress on five others ahead of their 2027 deadline.
The Oregon Department of Education said it will strengthen the connection between investments and outcomes by improving planning, reporting and continuous improvement processes. The agency will incorporate student outcome data and Performance Growth Targets into district performance review processes and strengthen support for districts through Regional Support Teams. The department will also establish agency-wide corrective action processes through a formal internal audit policy clarifying roles, responsibilities, documentation, monitoring and reporting for audit findings.
Target completion dates for the improvements range from February 2027 through December 2027, the department said.