Prospects excellent that governor's plan for 'achievement compacts' will become law | OregonLive.com

Prospects excellent that governor's plan for 'achievement compacts' will become law | OregonLive.com:

Prospects excellent that governor's plan for 'achievement compacts' will become law

Published: Sunday, February 12, 2012, 11:57 PM Updated: Monday, February 13, 2012, 6:59 AM

By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian

Gov. John Kitzhaber's main 2012 education package appears highly likely to pass the Legislature this month, given the spectrum of education advocacy groups and three big business alliances lined up behind it.

His plan, which easily passed its first vote hurdle last week, would require every school district, community college and public university to sign a yearly "achievement compact" with the state, pledging key results, including a specific graduation rate, that it aims to deliver.

The plan, set out in Senate Bill 1581,also would create a powerful "chief education officer" with authority over education leaders and boards from preschool through grad school.The state already is recruiting nationwide to find an education superstar to take that role.

Tim Nesbitt, the governor's point man on the bill, admits he and his team hadn't lined up much