Oregon's Reading Crisis: Green's Call for Science-Based Teacher Training

Oregons Reading Crisis: A Call for Science-Based Teacher Training

Oregons third graders rank last in the nation with only 40.3% proficient in reading. Retired education leader Jim Green blames weak teacher training and urges Governor Tina Kotek to address the issue with an executive order. Green proposes a standalone exam on the science of reading for new elementary teachers, similar to nearly twenty other states with better scores.

Green, with twenty-five years of experience in Oregons education system, regrets past decisions that blocked phonics mandates and allowed easy test opt-outs. The current teacher license test in Oregon mixes reading and social studies, allowing candidates to pass without strong reading knowledge.

Experts and advocates agree that poor preparation is the root cause of Oregons reading struggles, not the teachers themselves. Most Oregon programs receive failing grades for skipping key skills like phonics and phonemic awareness. Nearly half of new teachers last year came from out-of-state online schools with low ratings or unwilling to share materials.

Governor Kotek recently banned cell phones in class, demonstrating her ability to act quickly. She is open to new standards but has not committed to an executive order yet. Some universities are shifting to science-based methods by fall 2026, but critics argue this is too slow amid the crisis.

Resistance from teachers unions may block change, but Green believes it would significantly improve outcomes for students in the long run. With three out of five third graders struggling, advocates push for immediate action to ensure solid training for teachers.

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