10 State

Policy Actions

10 State

Policy Actions

State Report

Oregon

Across the country, states are reimagining what high school can be—and Oregon is among those building the foundation. In this state profile, we both celebrate the work done so far and offer a vision for continued progress.

State Report

Oregon

Across the country, states are reimagining what high school can be—and Oregon is among those building the foundation. In this state profile, we both celebrate the work done so far and offer a vision for continued progress.

Overview
Overview

Oregon policymakers have laid a strong foundation for high school transformation by advancing proficiency-based learning and high-quality work-based learning (WBL) opportunities. State policy allows students to earn graduation credit by demonstrating mastery of academic or industry-recognized standards, regardless of seat time. This approach, known as Credit for Proficiency, was approved by the State Board of Education in 2002 and piloted in seven districts starting in 2004. It empowers districts to tailor learning to individual student needs, encourages innovation, and upholds rigorous standards of learning.

The Oregon Department of Education supports local implementation of work-based learning experiences in high school through tools like its Work-Based Learning rubric, which evaluates programs using six indicators aligned with student outcomes. Students may demonstrate proficiency through classroom work, independent study, career-related experiences, or project-based learning. This flexibility enables personalization while maintaining rigor and relevance. Oregon’s model highlights the value of local decision-making and the importance of aligning educational practice with durable skills that support student success.

As Oregon continues to advance this work, state leaders could work with communities to develop a Portrait of a Graduate that reflects the broad set of competencies all high school graduates should have by the time they leave high school, and explore opportunities to launch a statewide initiative with dedicated resources to incentivize community-led high school redesign.

Highlights from Oregon

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Highlights from Oregon

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Highlights from Oregon

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Progress
Progress
Progress
High school is where America’s future takes shape. Today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators, problem solvers, and leaders—but our schools are still rooted in a century-old model built for the industrial age. As automation and AI transform the job market, too many students leave high school unprepared for what comes next.
Mastery-Based Credits
Core Competencies
K-16 Alignment
Community-Led Redesign
Postsecondary Credits
Internships and Apprenticeships
Professional Development
Next-Generation Assessments
Next-Generation Assessments
Success Data
Mastery-Based Credits
Core Competencies
K-16 Alignment
Community-Led Redesign
Postsecondary Credits
Internships and Apprenticeships
Professional Development
Next-Generation Assessments
Next-Generation Assessments
Success Data
Mastery-Based Credits
Core Competencies
K-16 Alignment
Community-Led Redesign
Postsecondary Credits
Internships and Apprenticeships
Professional Development
Next-Generation Assessments
Next-Generation Assessments
Success Data

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December 18, 2025

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