Oregon is raising its expectations for students. The current academic standard, which allows students to graduate with only a D-minus average in 22 credit hours of classes, is being replaced by the requirement that students prove that they are proficient in English, mathematics, science, history, and other academic subjects. Students will demonstrate their proficiency through a series of classroom assignments and state tests. This document lists the performance standards that have been established for content areas. Performance standards are the specific number, type, and minimum scores required on classroom assignments and state tests constructed to progress toward the state's Certificates of Initial and Advanced Mastery. State performance standards have not yet been developed for science and the social sciences, and they will not be determined for the arts and second languages. Students who meet the grade-10 performance standards will receive a Certificate of Initial Mastery and those who meet the grade-12 standards, to be developed later, will receive the Certificate of Advanced Mastery. Certificates of Initial Mastery will be awarded in 1998-99 for English and mathematics and will be phased in for other subjects through 2003. Performance standards for classroom assignments and state tests are defined for grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 in this publication for: (1) reading and literature; (2) writing; (3) speaking; and (4) mathematics. (SLD)