During a unique Clackamas County education summit that leaders say will be replicated around the state, Oregon Chief Education Officer Rudy Crew on Tuesday pushed for more connectivity and collaboration between Oregon schools and districts to achieve one statewide goal.
Crew spoke about literacy, achievement gaps and financial challenges through the lens of the state's 40-40-20 goal, which calls for 40 percent of adult Oregonians to have at least a bachelor's degree, another 40 percent to have at least an associate's degree or post-secondary credential and the remaining 20 percent to have at least a high school diploma, by 2025. The vision, Crew said, presents a good opportunity for key players in education to work together, sharing ideas and best practices.
"We have spent so much time in isolation in this industry that we haven't been able to get the benefit of the best minds and the best practitioners to the table where we ultimately need them," Crew said.
A crowd of about 275, made up of school superintendents, teachers, legislators, school board members and other community members from Clackamas County and around the region, attended the summit in Happy Valley.
Clackamas County superintendents coordinated the event and plan to follow up with a meeting where they will identify takeaways for each of their own districts. Maryalice Russell, the superintendent for McMinnville schools, said she hopes to conduct a similar summit in her county.
The theme of connectivity resounded throughout the night. When speaking about the need to improve reading comprehension levels, Crew urged leaders to look beyond their own schools or districts. "We have easily several thousand children in the state of Oregon who are not literate by our standards," Crew said. "This can't be about, 'it's not in our backyard.' If it's in Oregon, it's in your backyard. The literacy of one community affects all communities."
Crew also called for new ways of thinking about money for schools, suggesting that the conversation should shift from a "formulaic" method tied to numbers of classroom seats, students, or dollars to a focus on outcomes. The leaders, he said, need to show evidence for the need for the money.
Lake Oswego Superintendent Bill Korach said that when facing funding issues, districts need to be "what we want to see in our children" -- resourceful, resilient, adaptable, with the understanding that the state is in a "transformational period."
"This new vision for Oregon can only work if we're all in," Korach said. "We all have to be in."
Following Crew's and Korach's talks, the attendees discussed amongst their tables their ideas and concerns for state education, then shared them with the group in a debriefing.
Gladstone Superintendent Bob Stewart said the feedback shared at the summit will be useful as school districts figure out their next steps.
"I'm personally excited about our opportunity," Stewart said. "I think this is the one time in my 37 years that I can look at a coherent goal the governor has and say we have a chance. It will take an effort by all of us, working together."