SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Candidates for Oregon’s top education job have a lot of different ideas about how to run the state education department.
State Rep. Ron Maurer is challenging two-term incumbent Susan Castillo for the job of state superintendent of public instruction.
Castillo wants to focus the next four years on implementing the state’s new, more rigorous high school graduation requirements. She wants to continue working on closing the achievement gap and increasing access to early-childhood education.
Maurer says there has not been enough improvement in student performance in the past eight years. He notes that a recently study ranked Oregon 43rd in the nation on education outcomes. He wants the education department to focus on being a service organization.
