Passed by Oregon's legislature in 1991, the Educational Act for the 21st Century set into motion an extensive restructuring of the state's kindergarten through 12th grade public school system. Key components of the Act include raising academic standards for all students, increasing student skills and abilities needed in the workplace, involving parents in decision-making, assessing student performance, requiring accountability for results, emphasizing early childhood education, providing learning opportunities in partnership with communities, and giving local schools more freedom and autonomy.
In 2000, 85.1% of Oregon residents age 25 and older were high school graduates. Some 25.1% had obtained a bachelor's degree or higher. The total enrollment for fall 1999 in Oregon's public schools stood at 545,033. Of these, 378,474 attended schools from kindergarten through grade eight, and 166,559 attended high school. Minority students made up approximately 21% of the total enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools in 2001. Total enrollment was estimated at 547,200 in fall 2000 and is expected to reach 564,000 by fall 2005. Expenditures for public education in 2000/01 were estimated at $4,026,000. Enrollment in nonpublic schools in fall 2001 was 45,352.
As of fall 2000, there were 204,811 students enrolled in college or graduate school. In the same year Oregon had 56 degree-granting institutions. Higher education in Oregon comprises 21 community colleges, 19 independent institutions, and a state higher education system of 8 institutions. The University of Oregon in Eugene has the highest regular enrollment, followed by Portland State University in Portland, and Oregon State University in Corvallis. The Oregon State Scholarship Commission administers an extensive financial aid program for state college students. In 1997, minority students comprised 13.2% of total postsecondary enrollment. Major private higher education institutions include Willamette University, Salem; George Fox College, Newberg; Linfield College, McMinnville; and University of Portland, Reed College, Lewis and Clark College, and Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology, all in Portland.