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To: Superintendents, Charter School Leaders
From: Colt Gill, Director of the Oregon Department of Education
Date: April 18, 2023
Subject: 2023 Summer Learning Resources Update
Dear Partners,
As you may know, the Governor’s Recommended Budget included $50 million for summer programming this coming summer: $20 million to be matched by school districts for literacy-focused work in elementary grades, and $30 million for summer learning and enrichment programs for all grades provided by community-based organizations and tribes.
Earlier this month, I followed up on the Governor’s commitment and advocacy for summer investments by reaching out to legislative leadership to underscore the need for certainty around the investments. We informed them that districts needed time to plan and stand up summer learning opportunities in our schools and communities, and that our agency has been taking proactive steps to prepare literacy-focused summer programs if funding were to be approved this session. At the Governor’s direction, ODE expedited the development of a preliminary Early Literacy Framework that provides initial guidance to districts. We also shared reports and resources that document our learnings from the past two years, including the best practices toolkit, which identified early budget commitments and time to plan as key cornerstones to set districts, Tribes, and community partners up for success.
Despite the broad support for investments in summer learning and enrichment over the past two years and our advocacy for this year, it doesn’t appear there is the needed legislative support to give you the certainty and time you need to plan for the summer.
We know that regardless of state investments in 2023 summer programming, we must continue to strengthen students’ well-being that we know is so connected to academic outcomes, bridge connections with peers that waned during the pandemic, and re-engage students in the excitement of learning.
Districts may braid and blend other local, state, and federal funds to support summer learning. Click here for specific information on how to look to other local, state, and federal funds to help partner with community to offer summer learning and enrichment opportunities to the children you serve.
I encourage you all to continue to take action to support students this summer:
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Review student data: Review your local data and identify the student groups who experience opportunity gaps in early literacy.
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Partner: Identify community partners and tribal governments in your region that have trusted relationships with these student groups and their families, particularly in pre-kindergarten through third grade.
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Continue summer programming for PreK-3rd grades with a literacy component: With more limited resources for programs this summer, I encourage you to offer engaging, relevant, and culturally responsive literacy-focused programming for PreK-3rd grade students this summer if you can fund it through other means (see above).
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Ensure your programs are fully inclusive and inviting to all student groups: Including students with disabilities of all kinds.
If circumstances change and ODE receives any signal that the Oregon Legislature will fund summer programming in 2023, I will update you as soon as possible so that you can respond accordingly.
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