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Date: March 17, 2020
To: Superintendents and Principals
From: Colt Gill, Director of the Oregon Department of Education and Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction
RE: Governor Kate Brown Extends Statewide School Closure for Students in Oregon through Tuesday, April 28
Through Executive Order 20-08, Governor Kate Brown ordered public schools to remain closed to students from March 16, 2020, through April 28, 2020, unless that period is extended or terminated earlier by the Governor.
School Districts, ESDs, and charter schools shall continue to receive allocations from the State School Fund, as if they had been actually in session during the closure period.
In order to receive allocations from the State School Fund during the closure period, public schools shall:
- Continue delivering supplemental education and learning supports to students to the extent practical through independent study and other appropriate options.
- Provide school meals in non-congregate settings through the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option, consistent with requirements provided by the Oregon Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Transportation grant funds from the State School Fund may be used by public schools for delivery of meals in non-congregate settings to eligible school sites using school district transportation services.
- Provide for supplemental services and emergency management services, including but not limited to, the provision of child care for first responders, emergency workers, health care professionals, and other individuals, consistent with any guidance and requirements provided by the Oregon Department of Education. Public schools may use transportation grant funds from the State School Fund for school district transportation services to support the transportation of children to and from school-based child care.
- Develop plans for the operation of essential, non-educational services, including food services, to students and families.
- Continue to regularly pay all employees of public schools. A public school subject to this Executive Order may require school employees to report to work to assist with the provision of supplemental services and emergency management activities.
ODE will provide further guidance to public schools regarding the directives. School districts should refer to the ODE COVID-19 page. and send questions to ODECOVID19@ode.state.or.us.
The Oregon State Board of Education, in collaboration ODE, will take on temporary rulemaking to facilitate the directives in this Executive Order, and the ability of public schools to respond to the ongoing emergency. Rulemaking shall include, but not be limited to, amendment of the instructional time requirements of OAR 581-022-1620.
ODE, OHA, and DHS will provide guidance to school districts and communities to ensure continuity of mental health services to children and their families.
ODE, Early Learning Division, and DHS will collaborate and align resources to support and ensure the reimbursement for, continuity of, and availability of care provided by family-based, center-based, and license-exempt child care providers.
In consultation with the Early Learning Council, the Early Learning System Director is hereby directed and authorized to waive, suspend, or amend existing administrative rules pertaining to child care, and to establish requirements for emergency child care for first responders, pursuant to paragraph 4(c) of this Executive Order.
Nothing in this Executive Order should be construed to require public school employees in at-risk categories, or public school employees who have an at-risk member of their household, to take action inconsistent with public health recommendations or the advice of the employee’s physician.
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