Newberg-Dundee staff report compliance on most Division 22 standards, outline corrective steps for three areas

Jillian (staff member) told the Newberg‑Dundee Public Schools Board of Directors that the district has filed its Division 22 standards assurances and is in compliance with most state rules, but is implementing corrective action on three standards.

The Division 22 assurances document reports compliance with 54 of 59 standards for the 2023–24 school year, with zero standards listed as permanently out of compliance and corrective action under way for three areas: elementary human sexuality education, elementary physical education minutes, and instructional-materials adoption for science. Two requirements — described as the essential skills diploma requirement and the essential-skills assessments for English-language learners — remain waived statewide through the 2027–28 school year, the presenters said.

Division 22 standards are rules in the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARS) tied to the public elementary and secondary schools act; districts must report compliance to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). Jillian said districts must present their assurances to the local board by Nov. 1 and submit them to ODE by Nov. 15 for ODE review and approval.

On the human sexuality standard, Holly Mealey said the district had been out of compliance at the elementary level the prior year because it lacked an adopted curriculum in grades K–5 even though lessons had been provided. Mealey said the district piloted a curriculum with an adoption committee and elementary teachers and has purchased and implemented that curriculum; the district expects to report the standard as in compliance for the 2024–25 reporting year.

Mealey described the district’s corrective action on elementary physical education (PE) minutes. According to the presentation, the state requirement discussed in the meeting was 115 minutes for elementary PE; historically the district had counted recess as part of a larger total (the presentation also referenced a previous 150‑minute calculation), but auditors found only about 80 minutes of structured PE were being provided. The district created a committee, worked with the union and negotiated an MOU to reallocate time and add FTE; as a result the district increased elementary PE minutes from roughly 80 minutes last year to about 160 minutes this school year and reported the change effective Sept. 1. District staff said that some contractual adjustments and added staffing were needed to make that change.

On instructional materials, staff said the district was compliant in most subject areas but had paused a science adoption last year because of financial constraints; the science adoption team has reconvened and staff expects to bring a recommendation before the board later this year with the aim of having materials in place by next Sept. 1.

Board members asked how ODE approves corrective-action plans. Jillian explained the process: the district submits a corrective-action form to ODE describing planned steps, ODE may ask follow-up questions, and then ODE approves the plan if its requirements are met. Board members also asked about the timeline for the essential‑skills waiver; staff said the waiver has been extended repeatedly and is currently scheduled to be in effect through the 2027–28 school year, noting that when the waiver ends the district will need assessments and scoring protocols for multilingual students.

The presentation concluded with staff thanking teachers, reading specialists and union partners for the work required to bring multiple standards back into compliance. Holly Mealey told the board she will seek a motion at a future meeting to approve the assurances so staff can submit them to ODE.

Two brief clarifications from the record: the presentation repeatedly referenced prior noncompliance resolved for several standards reported in 2022–23 (including administrator evaluation, comprehensive counseling program and local performance assessments), and staff emphasized ODE’s formal review step following the district’s submission.

The board did not take a formal vote on the assurances at this meeting; staff said they will return with the motion to approve so the district can submit filings to ODE.