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NEWS RELEASE
Date: September 23, 2026
Media Contact: Liz Merah
ODE Highlights High School Success Progress, Outlines Accountability Improvements
(Salem, Ore.) — The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) today released its response to a Secretary of State Audits Division review of the High School Success program, outlining steps the agency is taking to strengthen oversight, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
Since voters approved Measure 98 in 2016, Oregon has made measurable progress in high school outcomes. The statewide on-time graduation rate is now 83.0% (a record high), the five-year completion rate is 87.4%, and 86.6% of ninth grade students are on track to graduate (also a record high). These gains reflect sustained High School Success investments and the work of educators and education partners across the state.
ODE agrees with the audit's finding that stronger oversight, documentation, and evaluation practices are needed to ensure this progress continues and that program outcomes can be measured reliably. The department has fully implemented one of eight prior recommendations and has made meaningful progress on five others ahead of their 2027 due date. ODE is committed to fully addressing all recommendations and has established timelines for completing implementation activities.
“Accountability means being willing to look closely at our work, learn from what we find, and take action to strengthen our systems,” said ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams. “We can recognize the progress Oregon students and educators have made while being clear-eyed about the work that remains. We appreciate the Secretary of State’s review and are committed to using these recommendations to strengthen how we plan, monitor, and evaluate High School Success investments.”
As part of its ongoing response, ODE is:
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Strengthening connections between investments and outcomes by improving planning, reporting, and continuous improvement processes, including connecting funded strategies to local Performance Growth Targets and other student outcome measures.
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Improving evaluation and use of data by incorporating student outcome data, Performance Growth Targets, and other indicators into district performance review processes and strengthening support for districts through Regional Support Teams.
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Establishing consistent agency-wide corrective action processes through a formal internal audit policy that will clarify roles, responsibilities, documentation, monitoring, and reporting for audit findings.
ODE's response identifies target completion dates ranging from February 2027 through December 2027. The agency will continue to monitor implementation and strengthen its accountability practices as this work moves forward.
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