As Oregon enters the fourth school year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, schools and local public health authorities are practiced and equipped to manage COVID-19 while maintaining access to in-person learning for every student, every school day. 

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is no longer producing biweekly reports that include the number of COVID-19 outbreaks in schools. Due to the processes required to identify and report an outbreak, OHA’s school outbreak reports do not contain the most up-to-date outbreak information for schools or families, as data are reported retrospectively, in some cases up to several weeks after an outbreak.

More about the change in reports...

In Oregon, the number of online and remote schools have consistently increased over the last two decades. During the 2021-22 school year, enrollment in these schools grew to 4.5 percent of all K-12 public students. While virtual public charter schools enroll a significant proportion of students, most of the new online and remote schools opening in recent years have been initiated by school districts. Based on current trends, it is clear that remote and online instructional models have been and will continue to be an important part of the K-12 education landscape in Oregon.

The purpose of Executive Numbered Memo 001-2022-23 is to publish the Online and Remote Learning Guidance. This new guidance:

• Clarifies what is required of remote and online schools; and
• Communicates the value of partnership and accountability – at the local and state level – for how to collectively improve the quality of student learning.

More about the guidance...

Guidance released from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) helps public elementary and secondary schools fulfill their responsibilities to meet the needs of students with disabilities and avoid the discriminatory use of student discipline. These newly released resources are the most comprehensive guidance on the civil rights of students with disabilities concerning student discipline and build on the Department’s continued efforts to support students and schools through pandemic recovery.

The new resources reflect the concern, particularly in light of the prevalence of student mental health issues associated with the pandemic, that some students with disabilities are not receiving the supports and services necessary to address their educational needs, including their disability-based behavior. The guidance makes clear that schools do not need to choose between complying with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and keeping their school community – including students and staff – safe.

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The passage of HB 2166 and SB 236 in July 2021 established the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program and launched an Oregon study. In 2022, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 5202 and approved funding for the program. The purpose of the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program is to:

• Reduce the use of suspension, expulsion, and other forms of exclusionary discipline in early care and education (ECE) programs, and  
• Reduce disparities in the use of suspension, expulsion, and other forms of exclusionary practices in ECE programs based on race, ethnicity, language, ability, or gender.  

From April to July 2022, a group of community members formed a Rulemaking Advisory Committee and drafted the new rules for this program. For more information on the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program, including a background, timeline, and resources, visit the Early Learning Division website. Watch for updates as this program continues to develop. 

As part of the 50th anniversary of Title IX – the landmark civil rights law that has opened doors for generations of women and girls – the U.S. Department of Education released for public comment proposed changes to the regulations that help elementary and secondary schools and colleges and universities implement this vital legislation. The proposed amendments will restore crucial protections for students who are victims of sexual harassment, assault, and sex-based discrimination – a critical safety net for survivors that was weakened under previous regulations. The proposed regulations will advance educational equity and opportunity for women and girls across the country to ensure that every student in America, from kindergarten through a doctorate degree, can achieve her dreams.  

More about the proposed changes to Title IX...

Every year, two students from Oregon are chosen to participate in the U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP). Qualified high school juniors or seniors must show demonstrated leadership by serving in elected or appointed positions in which they are actively representing a constituency in organizations related to student government, education, public affairs and community service. They must be actively serving in qualified leadership positions, enrolled in high school and living in Oregon for the entire 2022–2023 academic year.

More information is available at the USSYP website.

For Oregon the application is due no later than October 10^th 2022.

The students selected to represent Oregon receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship and participate in a week-long government and leadership education program. The 61^st annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week is planned for March 4-11, 2023 in Washington, D.C.