ODE Sexuality Education Newsletter -- February 2021

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ODE Sexuality Education Newsletter -- February 2021
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ODE Sexuality Education Newsletter 

February 5, 2021 

Dearest colleagues, 

Welcome to February and the hope of Spring. We continue to make our way season by season through this adaptation of normalcy. Our students have been amazing at adapting to the change of pace, and our educators, parents, guardians, and supportive adults have gracefully transitioned into the new roles created by this pandemic. Again, thank you for all you do, and please reach out if ODE can offer additional support.

February is Black History Month and resources abound for education, both personally and professionally. We have included several items in our resource section to enhance your lessons and understanding as you honor not only Black History but Black Futures in your classrooms this month. Check out this article which provides recommendations on teaching beyond the struggle and into the celebration of Black History. 

In this newsletter, we will share with you some announcements, research, resources, and opportunities for training by ODE, as well as other offerings by statewide and national colleagues that may be of interest to you.

 

ODE Sexuality Education & Equity Updates

Sex Ed Open Learning Project Mini-Grant Applicants selected!

We are pleased to announce that the ODE Sexuality Education Online Learning (SEOL) mini-grant project has resulted in the selection of six proposals which will create lesson materials to fill in important gaps in the available sexuality education curriculum for students around the state. 

Our grantees represent six counties across the state and the lessons they will develop vary from K-5 lessons on the recognition and affirmation of bodily autonomy and personal boundaries to 9-12 lessons on sexual & reproductive health that are inclusive of assistive technologies, adoption, and other family structures. The selected grantees have proposed to develop a combined 50+ lessons that will be available for free on the Oregon Open Learning Hub.

Each grantee project includes a comprehensive collaboration plan with youth from diverse perspectives and experience to assist in the development of learning materials. We will highlight progress each month and are excited to see the community-based work that will be part of free, accessible educational materials for all of Oregon. 

Final materials will be ready by November. We would like to thank everyone for their applications and are hoping to offer similar opportunities in the future. 

Statewide Graduation Rate Jumps More Than Two Points to Another All-Time High of 82.6 Percent 

The statewide graduation rose over the previous year to the highest graduation rate ever recorded in Oregon, according to data released by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). Rates for most historically underserved student groups also increased more than state average. 

Ready Schools, Safe Learners Guidance Update

The key changes in this update include:

  • Governor Brown returned the decision for operating schools in-person to the local level on January 1, 2021.
  • Updated advisory metrics  allow for a return to in-person instruction for elementary students at higher levels of case rates than previously recommended. 
  • A new requirement, that when students and staff return to in-person instruction out of alignment with the metrics, schools must offer access to on-site COVID-19 testing.
  • Multiple new resources to support learning outside, field trips, equitable grading practices, and more.

Apply to Sponsor a Summer Meals Program 

ODE’s Child Nutrition Program is reaching out to ensure that children continue to receive meals throughout the summer. Schools, non-profit community organizations, local government agencies, camps and faith-based organizations that have the ability to manage a food service program may apply to be Summer Food Service Program sponsors. For information about how to apply for the Summer Food Service Program, please contact ode.communitynutrition@ode.state.or.us or go here for more information. The deadline to submit an application to become a Summer Food Service Sponsor is May 14, 2021.

Sex Ed Data & Research 

Health and sexuality education holds an important responsibility to reflect the lived experiences of students and staff in Oregon and in the United States. Below, please find some local and national research and data that tell the stories of young people, especially as it pertains to experiences within educational environments. 

 

Sex Ed News & Resources 

Teaching inclusive sexuality education is a critical piece in our equity work. While we know the Oregon Human Sexuality Education OAR 581-022-2050 requires the use of “inclusive materials, language, and strategies that recognizes different sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expression” that must also be “culturally inclusive,” this work cannot happen overnight. ODE is committed to supporting school districts to provide sexuality education that allows all students to feel safe, seen, and valued. 

 

Black History Month & Racial Justice Resources

 

Upcoming Training Opportunities 

Note: Unless hosted or facilitated by The Oregon Department of Education (ODE), these training opportunities have not been endorsed by ODE, but are being shared as relevant and high quality opportunities for sexuality education professionals to consider. 

 

Grants, Job Openings, and Youth Opportunities

Community & Adolescent Health Grant Opportunity

Multnomah County Health Department’s Community & Adolescent Health (CAH) program, with funding from the CDC, announced an opportunity for one-time mini-grants of up to $10,000 for local projects that increase focused violence prevention efforts for youth and young adults of color. Applications are due by 5:00pm on Friday, February 19, 2021 . More information about the mini-grants, the application and budget can be found in the documents here. 

Sex Ed Conference Opportunity for Youth--Paid 

S.L.A.M. (Sexuality Liberators and Movers) announced the creation of S.L.A.M. by Youth which will be a conference taking place in 2022. The speakers and facilitators will be youth chosen through this application process. “S.L.A.M. firmly believes in the autonomy and expertise of our young people…[w]e offer the conference platform for young people to teach us.” Please share the opportunity with any youth who may be interested. Apply through this link! 

Job opportunities

Listserv Submission Process

We welcome your submissions to ODE's Sexuality Education ListServ! If you have announcements, job postings, or general questions for your colleagues, you can submit them to Sasha Grenier at sasha.grenier@state.or.us or to Andrea Bibee at andrea.bibee@ode.state.or.us.

In an effort to streamline Listserv messages, we are now planning to send out ListServ messages once a month, during the first week of the month. To accommodate this change and to ensure that we can equitably share announcements from everyone, we're now asking that you submit your Listserv posts no later than the 25th of each month.

Questions? Connections? Please reach out to us: 

Sasha Grenier, MPH, CHES (she/her/hers) Sexuality Education and School Health SpecialistOregon Department of Education | Office of Teaching, Learning, and Assessmentsasha.grenier@state.or.us | www.oregon.gov/ode 

Angie Foster-Lawson, MEd (she/her/hers) Sexuality Education Analyst Oregon Department of Education | Office of Teaching, Learning, & Assessment angie.foster-lawson@state.or.us | www.oregon.gov/ode 

Andrea Bibee, JD, MA (she/her/hers) Temporary Program Analyst Oregon Department of Education | Office of Teaching, Learning, & Assessment andrea.bibee@state.or.us | www.oregon.gov/ode