Title: Grades are out, Standards are in, and the Math looks tough: Implementing Standards-based Education and University Admissions in Oregon.
Speaker: Robert Robson and Paul M Latiolais, Oregon State University

In 1991 the Oregon Legislature passed a comprehensive education reform bill which mandates that student progress in K-12 be measured on the basis of State benchmarks independent of grades or "seat time". In 1993 the State System of Higher Education reacted by creating a Proficiency-based Admissions Standards System (PASS), to be phased over the next few years, under which admission to Oregon's public institutions of higher education will be based on demonstrated proficiency in math, science, social sciences, second languages, English, literature, and the visual and performing arts. Of the 44 individual proficiencies in these areas, 10 are in mathematics. In this report we outline the Oregon educational system and discuss what we have learned about formulating mathematic standards, teaching to mathematics standards, and verifying mathematics proficiencies. We will also point out some implications of PASS for the typical public univeristy mathematics program. Finally, we will highlite the important roles that Higher Education and state-of-the-art communications technology are playing in K-12 reform in Oregon.