SALEM (AP) — The Oregon Department of Education says that after five years of learning English as a second language, only one in five Oregon students could read, write and speak it fluently by spring 2008.

That is below the state’s goal that half of English learners should reach proficiency in five years or less.

Last year, almost twice as many students — about 40 percent — were deemed fluent in English after five years in the program.

State officials said new tougher measuring standards are responsible for the low percentage of students reaching full proficiency.

Oregon has nearly 70,000 students learning English as their second language. They are the fastest growing segment of the school population and account for nearly one of every eight students in public schools.