THE OREGON PROGRAM--A DESIGN FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION, 1964-65 ANNUAL REPORT.

Overview & Synopsis

THE OREGON PROGRAM IS A 4-YEAR STATEWIDE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM. IT IS A THREE-WAY COOPERATIVE ALIGNMENT AMONG OREGON'S LOCAL SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS BY IMPROVING CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE STUDY AND REFINEMENT OF MATERIALS, STAFF UTILIZATION, AND INSERVICE TRAINING, THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR TEACHER EDUCATION BY LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND THE PLACEMENT OF INTERNS IN IMPROVED CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF BOTH LOCAL AND COLLEGE PERSONNEL. NINE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WHICH PREPARE OVER 75 PERCENT OF ALL NEW OREGON-EDUCATED TEACHERS AND 18 SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH ENROLL OVER 50 PERCENT OF THE PUPILS IN OREGON ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM. TO IMPROVE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT, THE PROGRAM HAS EMPHASIZED COOPERATIVE EFFORT AMONG EDUCATION AGENCIES, TEAM TEACHING AND FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING, TEACHER AIDES, AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, IMPROVED TEACHER EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGICAL AIDS, AND MODERN FACILITIES FOR MODERN TECHNIQUES. ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH LARGE ENOUGH STUDENT ENROLLMENTS ARE BEING DEVELOPED INTO LABORATORIES FOR TEACHER PREPARATION. THE MAJOR PROBLEM AREAS IDENTIFIED BY THE OREGON PROGRAM ARE--CLARIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL GOALS, VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, PROVIDING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, TEACHER EDUCATION, CONDUCTING EFFECTIVE INSERVICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS, CHURCH-STATE RELATIONSHIPS, DELINEATION OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S PLACE IN OREGON EDUCATION, CLARIFICATION OF THE ROLES OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES INVOLVED IN SCHOOL GOVERNMENT, OBTAINING AND ADMINISTERING FUNDS TO FINANCE PUBLIC EDUCATION, PROVIDING A PROGRAM OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND ANALYZING PUBLIC REACTION TO THE EDUCATION ENTERPRISE.