In the spring of 1985, the Oregon Department of Education conducted an assessment of eighth graders' skills in writing, reading, and mathematics. The state reading test consisted of two parts: the first designed to measure students' inferential and evaluative reading comprehension and selected study skills, the second designed to measure students' literal comprehension. After the tests were scored, an interpretive panel of teachers and curriculum specialists convened to draw conclusions about strengths and weaknesses in student performance and to identify statewide needs for program improvement. Among their recommendations and findings are the following: (1) student performance on evaluative comprehension and study skills was at an acceptable level; (2) Oregon's eighth graders are reading at a level appropriate for the reading level of state adopted textbooks; (3) student performance on inferential comprehension, evaluative comprehension, and study skills places Oregon eighth graders at approximately the 62nd percentile nationally; and (4) 80% of the students could easily read and comprehend the Oregon Driver's Manual. (Test results are included as well as sample passages of the test.) (HOD)