In recent years, Oregon students have made significant improvements at the lower grades, but improving high school achievement has proven to be particularly challenging. Across the state, nearly one-third of Oregon students drop out before graduation. More troubling, nearly one out of every two of Oregon's African-American and Latino students do not graduate from high school.

The Oregon Small Schools Initiative was created to help address these issues.

Many experts say large, impersonal high schools, with their anonymity and lack of rigor, are the biggest obstacle to personalizing education so all students can succeed. This Initiative will transform some of Oregon's large high schools into smaller results-oriented learning communities and support the creation of new, small schools.

Dozens of studies have shown that students in smaller high schools graduate and go on to college at a higher rate than their counterparts in large high schools. In small schools, they get rigorous, engaging courses and the opportunity to develop close relationships with their teachers and other adults.

This initiative builds on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's nationwide effort to improve the graduation and college-going rates, particularly among African Americans and Latinos, by strengthening high schools. The foundation has partnered with outstanding community based organizations and school districts throughout the country.

Many Oregon education leaders and organizations have endorsed the Oregon Small Schools Initiative, including the Oregon Department of Education, Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo, the Confederation of Oregon Schools Administrators, the Oregon School Board Association and the Oregon Education Association (OEA).

Oregon's Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo is enthusiastic about the program's potential to lower the dropout rate among African-American and Latino students. "I have created an advisory group to help me focus on improving achievement for underrepresented and minority students," said Castillo. "This Gates and Meyer Memorial Trust program will help Oregon reach the goals we will set for our schools and our students."

"Educators in the classroom understand, all too well, that underserved students can benefit from smaller and innovative learning and teaching," said OEA President Kris Kain. "We know much about learning is about building relationships with our students and this program supports that."