WF1: Increase Percentage of High School Completion or Equivalent.
1991 Report: While this benchmark was included among the "Benchmarks for Exceptional People" in the 1991 report, it was not identified among the "key" or "lead" benchmarks. In 1990, 73% of Oregonians had completed high school or the equivalent. The Progress Board set a target for increasing that level to 83% in 1995, 93% in 2000, and 95% in 2010. It also set the goal of increasing the percentage of all adults who had completed high school or the equivalent from 75% in 1980 and 87% in 1990 to 90% in 1995, 94% in 2000, and 97% in 2010.(1)
1993 Report: The goals for 1995, 2000, and 2010 were unchanged in the 1993 Report. It did, however, elevate it to the status of one of 33 core benchmarks.(2) An update of progress reported the percentage of people who had completed high school or the equivalent had reached 87% for 1992 -- unchanged from 1990 and slightly below the goal for 1995.
1995 Report: The high school completion benchmark was maintained as one of sixteen core benchmarks in the 1995 report. Future goals were revised, however, to 83% in 1995, 93% in 2000, and 95% in 2010.(3) Historical and target levels for minority and ethnic subpopulations were also listed.
Documentation/Data Sources:(4) The percentage of Oregonians who have completed high school or the equivalent is derived from Oregon Population Survey, a random sample telephone survey of Oregon Households conducted in even number years. Racial and ethnic data is based on supplemental samples of households in the 1992 and 1994 surveys.
WF2: Attainment of High School level skills in reading, writing, etc.
1991 Report: The 1991 report includes the percentage of eleventh grade students who achieve basic skills mastery as one of thirteen "key benchmarks". Neither historic nor target levels are reported, however. Other related benchmarks in the 1991 Report include the ranking of twelfth grade students on international math assessments and the percentage of adults proficient at prose, document, and quantitative literacy skills. While rankings for the U.S. as a whole are cited, historic or target levels are not provided for Oregon.(5) Another educational attainment benchmark tracks the percentage of students achieving basic established skill levels in the third, fifth, eighth, and eleventh grades. Oregon's ranking compared to both national and international experiences are to be tracked.(6)
1993 Report: The percentage of students who achieve established skill levels at fifth and eleventh grade levels was included as one of twenty-six "urgent benchmarks" in the 1993 report. The Progress Board reported that 75% of fifth grades and 66% of eleventh graders attained composite reading and math skills for their grade levels in 1992. And a 2010 target level of 99% for both groups was also set.(7)
1995 Report: The 1995 Report identified increasing the number of high school students who meet the standards for a certificate of initial mastery as one of sixteen "urgent benchmarks." While historical data were not available, goals were set of 98% by 2000 and 98% by 2010. The report also targets increasing the percentage of eleventh graders who achieve established skill levels, reports historical levels for 1991-1993, and sets a target of 99% by 2010.
Documentation/Data Sources (1995): Monitoring and reporting on this benchmark is based on assessment standards and definitions under the 1991 state school reform law. Annual student testing is conducted as part of the Oregon Statewide Assessment by the Oregon Department of Education.
WF3: Participation by High School students in structured work experiences.
Oregon Shines (1989): The strategic vision emphasized the need to increase functional work place skills in listening, communicating, solving problems, and working cooperatively with others.(8)
1991 Report: Increasing functional work place skills was included as one of twenty-six "lead benchmarks" in 1991. Related benchmarks included increasing the percentage of high school students enrolled in vocational/technical education programs. The percentage of students enrolled in these programs is reported as 7.3% in 1980 and 9% in 1990. Future goals included 18% in 1995, 35% in 2000, and 55% in 2010.(9) The Progress Board also set a benchmark for increasing the percentage of high school students enrolled in structured work experience programs from 3% in 1990, to 18% in 1995, 35% in 2000, and 55% in 2010.(10)
1993 Report: Increasing the percentage of high school students with significant involvement in professional-technical education and entrepreneurial programs was included among twenty-six "urgent benchmarks" in the 1993 report. Historical rates were also updated and reported as 7% in 1980 and 9% in both 1990 and 1992. Target levels included increasing the percentage to 18% in 1995, 35% in 2000, and 55% in 2010.(11) Increasing the percentage of high school students enrolled in structured work experience is a related benchmark in the 1993 report. Historic levels of 3% in 1990 and 1992 are reported. And 18% in 1995, 35% in 2000, and 55% in 2010 are set as targets.(12)
1995 Report: Increasing the percentage of high school students enrolled in structured work experiences is maintained as a benchmarks in 1995 -- albeit dropping out from the list of "urgent benchmarks." Historic levels of 11% in 1993 are reported and target are revised sharply upward to 83% in 1995, 93% in 2000, and 95% in 2010.(13)
Data Source: Data to measure the percentage of eleventh and twelfth grade students enrolled in structured work experience programs are provided by the Office of Professional Technical Education, Oregon Department of Education. The 1995 Report notes, however, that this measure will be updated to reflect implementation of the School to Work Opportunities Act.(14)
WF4: Increase percentage of workers employed on full time basis.
Oregon Shines 1989: This benchmark is directly related to a number of goals in the Oregon Shines report -- including targets for raising state per capita income to equal or exceed the national average, decreasing the number of Oregonians in poverty, and increasing labor force participation.(15)
1991 Report: No comparable benchmark was specified among either the benchmarks for people or among the thirty-nine benchmarks for a diverse, robust economy.(16)
1993 Report: No comparable benchmark was listed among seventy-six benchmarks for the economy(17) or among either "urgent" or "core" benchmarks.(18)
1995 Report: No comparable benchmark was included among either the urgent benchmarks(19) or among the benchmarks for the economy.(20)
Data Source (1995): Not applicable.
WF5: Increase percentage of population earning above poverty level household incomes.
Oregon Shines (1989): Decreasing the number of Oregonians living in poverty and raising state per captia income to equal or exceed the national average were both included as goals in Oregon Shines.(21)
1991 Report: While the 1991 report provides a benchmark -- including both data on historic and target levels for the future -- for improving state per capita incomes, this benchmark was not included among the Report's thirty lead or key benchmarks.(22)
1993 Report: In 1993, the Progress Board included an expanded array of poverty-related benchmarks. These included benchmarks for improving the percentage of Oregonians with incomes above 100% of the Federal poverty level. The rate was 91% in 1992 and the target level was 100% of the state's households living above the poverty rate by 2010.(23) And another benchmark was adopted to track the percentage of Oregonians with incomes above 125% of the
Federal poverty level.(24) A new focus on children living in poverty was also adopted as a core benchmark in the 1993 report. This benchmark entails tracking the percentage of children living above 100% of the poverty level. Eighty-four percent of Oregon's children were living in households that had incomes exceeding this level in both 1990 and 1992. And the Progress Board set targets for increasing this percentage to 88% in 1995, 92% in 2000, and 100% in 2010.(25)
1995 Report: Reducing the percentage of state residents living in poverty was included among sixteen urgent benchmarks in the 1995 Report.(26) The percentage of Oregonians with incomes above 100% of the Federal poverty level was reported as 89% in 1980, 88% in 1990, 87% in 1992, and 88% in 1994. The goals for increasing this percentage were set at 90% in 1995, 95% in 2000, and 100% in 2010.(27)
Data Sources: Poverty rates and household income is tracked through the decennial census in 1980 and 1990. Updates for 1992 and 1994 were derived from The Oregon Population Survey. Data for racial and ethnic subgroups reported for 1992 were based on supplemental samples for each community. (28)
WF6: Displaced workers reemployed.
1991 Report: Increasing the rate at which displaced workers are reemployed was one of seventeen "lead" benchmarks in the 1991 Report. The benchmark tracked the percentage of displaced workers reemployed within twenty-four months of losing their jobs and who are earning at least 90% of their previous income levels.(29) However, neither historic or target levels are listed for this benchmark.
1993 Report: Reemployment rates for displaced workers was continued as one of twenty-six urgent benchmarks in the 1993 Report.(30) Neither historic nor target levels are specified for all displaced workers. However, the reemployment rate for one subgroup, workers who had lost jobs in the lumber and wood products industries, was reported as 36%. And target levels of 60% in 1995, 70% in 2000, and 75% in 2010 were set.(31)
1995 Report: A benchmark tracking rates of reemployment of displaced workers was included among the benchmarks in the 1995 Report. It was not included, however, in the sixteen urgent benchmarks.(32) As of 1994, the rate had increased to 43% of all displaced workers. The target levels remain unchanged from the 1993 Report.(33) Reflecting continued concern over the impact of job cuts in the lumber and wood products sectors, a separate benchmark for reemployment rates for these workers was also provided.
Data Sources (1995): Reemployment rates for displaced workers are tracked through data from the Unemployment Insurance records maintained by the Oregon Department of Employment Department. Workers at risk of dislocation are identified based on industry classifications and definitions established under the Job Training Partnership Act programs.(34)
(1) Oregon Benchmarks, 1991 Report, Page 14 and 15.
(2) 1993 Report, Page 19.
(3) 1995 Report, page 32 and 33, items 41, 44, and 47.
(4) 1995 Report.
(5) 1991 Report, page 7.
(6) 1991 Report, page 13.
(7) 1993 Report, page 12-13.
(8) Oregon Shines, page 20.
(9) 1991 Report, page 5.
(10) 1991 Report, page 14.
(11) 1993 Report, page 13.
(12) 1993 Report, page 31.
(13) 1995 Report, page 32.
(14) 1995 Report, pg 77-78.
(15) Oregon Shines, page 20.
(16) 1991 Report, page 31-36.
(17) 1993 Report, Pages 53 - 62.
(18) 1993 Report, pg 11-23.
(19) 1995 Report, page 19.
(20) 1995 Report, page 59+.
(21) Oregon Shines, page 20.
(22) 1991 Report, pages 5-8.
(23) 1993 Report, page 22.
(24) 1993 Report, page 54.
(25) 1993 Report, page 54.
(26) 1995 Report, page 19.
(27) 1995 Report, page 60.
(28) 1995 Report, page 89.
(29) 1991 Report, page 5.
(30) 1991 Report, page 5.
(31) 1993 Report, page 13.
(32) 1993 Report, page 13.
(33) 1995 Report, page 34.
(34) 1995 Report, page 78.