Oregon Department of Education Well-Rounded Courses Access Update

The Well-Rounded Courses Access Update is the Oregon Department of Education’s (ODE) primary communication tool for topics related to the Well Rounded Access Program (WRAP).  In October 2020, Oregon received a five-year, $9.8 million grant to expand access to well-rounded education courses.  More information about this program can be found on ODE’s Expanding Access to Well-Rounded Education webpage. 

Introducing the New Arts Education Specialist, Shannon Johnson Shannon comes to ODE straight out of the classroom, having taught visual arts for about 12 years, worked in school administration, and helped to build various arts programs both in Oregon and in Minnesota, her home state. She graduated from St. Olaf College with a BA in Studio Art, and from Portland State University with an MA in Curriculum and Instruction. Their focus recently has been on arts integration at the elementary and middle school level. They are passionate about the importance of arts education in our schools and believe that high quality education in the arts is essential to making learning deep and meaningful for students. They are also passionate about removing barriers to access for students to these rich learning opportunities. Shannon will be working on the Well Rounded Access Program team in the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, with the goal of increasing STEAM education opportunities for our students across the state.

Shannon Johnson, MA (she/they)

Well Rounded Access Program Survey

ODE has created a survey to better inform this work and the Needs Assessment for this project.  We invite you to participate in this survey and share it with your contacts.  It is currently available in both English and Spanish, but if you would like the survey in another language, please contact us at ODE.WRCoursesGrant@ode.state.or.us and another version may be provided.  The survey will remain open through September 23, 2021.  Thank you for your time and consideration!

National Arts in Education Week: September 12 - 18 

As we begin a new school year, consider the role of the arts in carrying us through uncertainty and challenge. Engaging in the arts offers students new ways to express themselves, process events, and develop problem solving skills during this time of upheaval. The arts can bring joy and connection, and also honest opportunities to engage in conversations about difficult and important topics with our communities. 

We know the arts are integral to a meaningful and well rounded education for Oregon students, and there is still much work to be done educating and advocating for the arts in our schools. To this end, Congress has designated September 12-18 as National Arts in Education Week. This week was first recognized by Congress in 2010, with the purpose of raising awareness about the importance and power of arts in our schools, and promoting equitable access to arts education for students across our country. Many local, state, and national organizations are working to bring increased access to high quality arts education and share resources with policymakers who can make an impact. Consider engaging this week in learning about current movements and thinking in the field of arts education, using some of these resources:

• National Art Education Association: National Arts in Education Week. You can learn more on this page about current work in arts education advocacy. 
• The Kennedy Center. Learn more about arts education pedagogy and the different forms of arts education, including amazing resources for arts curriculum and integration. 

Happy Arts Education Week!

 

For questions or comments, please email ODE.WRCoursesGrant@ode.state.or.us.  To subscribe to this or other State Government newsletters, please visit the GovDelivery website.  You can access this topic by scrolling to the Professional Learning Topic and selecting Well-Rounded Courses Access.  

ODE’s Equity Stance: Education equity is the equitable implementation of policy, practices, procedures, and legislation that translates into resource allocation, education rigor, and opportunities for historically and currently marginalized youth, students, and families including civil rights protected classes. This means the restructuring and dismantling of systems and institutions that create the dichotomy of beneficiaries and the oppressed and marginalized. To find out more about ODE’s work in education equity, please visit ODE’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion website.