We, the parents, guardians, educators, and others who care deeply about public education in Springfield, are genuinely concerned that students in Springfield elementary schools are not receiving the balanced education they deserve -- which the Oregon Department of Education orders.  

Students are not receiving adequate instruction in science, social sciences (history, geography, and civics), art, health, technology, or social-emotional skills as mandated by the State of Oregon.

This must be rectified immediately. Our kids are being deprived of the skills and experiences they deserve and need!

What are students being taught?

District leadership has made scores on high-stakes reading and math tests a priority over creating curious minds and fostering a love of learning. They have chosen fidelity to instructional materials for reading and math over fidelity to Oregon’s educational standards for all required subject areas.

This has led to rigidly prescribed instruction in which all schools must teach reading and math the same way and at the same pace, making it nearly impossible to meet the diverse needs and interests of students, despite teachers’ and educational assistants’ mammoth efforts to do so. 

Instead, teachers’ experience and professional judgment about how best to engage children and help them discover a love of learning must take a back seat under pressure from district leadership to stick to the reading and math curriculum in lock-step.

Science, history, geography, art and all of the other subjects that contribute to well-rounded citizens and spark joy and passion in the hearts of young learners must all be squeezed into a very short, occasional slice at the end of a school day. For example, this means that students may only get 20-30 minutes of science one week and zero minutes the next week.

As a result, students are leaving elementary schools poorly prepared for middle school academics. No one doubts the importance of reading and math, but students must also learn fundamentals in science, social sciences, art, health, technology, and social-emotional skills.

IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE! 

We call for: 

1) District leadership to publicly prioritize elementary school instruction aligned with Oregon’s educational requirements and standards in all essential subjects as defined by the Oregon Department of Education, including science, social sciences, art, health, technology, and social-emotional skills, changing their current model that values only reading, math, and fidelity to a particular curriculum. 

2) The immediate creation of a task force of all stakeholders (parents, caregivers, students, teachers, school staff, administrators, community members) to develop a long-term plan that ensures that students are receiving a well-rounded education at every grade level. 

3) Redesign of elementary schools’ schedules  to allow for well-rounded instruction.  Increase the time devoted to standards-aligned instruction in science, social sciences, art, health, technology, and social-emotional skills.

4) Reworking elementary school report cards to adequately align with and track student performance in the subjects listed above.

5) District leadership to guarantee that the district is current with Oregon’s instructional materials adoption schedule by completing the adoption process for elementary science and beginning the process for district-wide social sciences adoption before the end of the 2025-26 school year. This adoption must include aligned and appropriate professional development for our educators.

Springfield School District's mission states : "Every Student a Graduate Prepared for a Bright and Successful Future." The brightness of a child’s future rests on many factors, but ensuring that students are academically well-rounded is the factor our schools are charged with providing!

Click this link for additional information in support of the petition.

Anyone can share their concern by signing this petition, regardless of your zip code or voter status. Quality education is a public health issue; it is a strong determinant of health and economic stability across a person's lifespan and deserves everyone's concern and attention!

PS– We LOVE the teachers, educational assistants, custodians, nutrition services workers, health aides, specialists, bus drivers, secretaries, and principals who work hard in our schools every day and give everything they can to our community’s most precious and vulnerable citizens: our children!

Thank you, school staff!

Sponsored by CAPE Community Alliance for Public Education

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