There will NOT be September Office Hours.
The next Office Hours are Wednesday, October 11th from 9-10am.
October Office Hours - Special Presentation
Alex Haislip, ODE's School Safety and Emergency Management (SSEM) Project Manager will join our meeting to do a short presentation on SSEM. There will be time allowed for a question/answer session after his presentation. In the meantime, you can check out the ODE’s SSEM webpage to find an annual drill calendar and training calendar, resources and the Monthly Minute newsletters.
The start of a school year signifies new beginnings for students in all of Oregon’s 36 counties – an opportunity to start fresh with renewed energy and excitement. This is true for me as I reflect on how public education has shaped me as a learner, teacher, and administrator as I arrive as the Director of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).
The last few years have deeply challenged students, educators and families. Suddenly classrooms became virtual, highlighting disparities in broadband connection around the state. Stress and uncertainty about living through a global pandemic reinforced the need for better mental health for students and staff in our schools. The impacts of the pandemic continue to echo through our schools, reshaping the way our system must serve our students.
The Anchors That Help Us Serve Students
It was a pleasure to meet with so many dedicated leaders at the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators conference in Eugene earlier this month. As I said in my address, here are the anchors that I believe make all the difference in a public education setting, to help set a tone of care and connection for every student in every school:
- Centering students and supporting them – not just as learners, but as leaders.
- Consciousness and care as we work to improve our education system.
- Community and coalition building to bring people together and design solutions that work.
- Confidence and conviction to accomplish great things together.
To learn more about these anchors, please see the August 2023 Education Update.
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September is National Suicide Prevention Month
September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and share resources to support those affected by this serious public health issue. Schools are critical partners in promoting the health and wellbeing of students and can implement a variety of suicide prevention and mental health programs to support youth at risk, connect students to services, and normalize asking for help. The ODE recommends as best practices that private schools create a Suicide Prevention plan such as districts are required to do under Adi’s Act (ORS 339.434). ODE’s Safe and Inclusive Schools team has created this Adi’s Act Overview Infographic as a helpful tool. Find out how you can take part in National Suicide Prevention Month, learn more about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and access school-specific suicide prevention and mental health resources on SchoolSafety.gov.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) Changes
The College Place, Oregon Goes to College, The Ford Family Foundation, the Oregon Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA) and others, have combined efforts to host one website for all of our FAFSA and ORSAA change information.
The College Place is teaming up with OASFAA to host two virtual Paying for College events.
In English: Tuesday, October 24th at 6:30 pm
En español: Jueves 26 Octubre 6:30 pm
Upcoming College Fairs in Oregon
Getting information out to your students and families? Be sure to include the NACAC and PNACAC college fairs nearest to you!
October 8 & 9 Portland NACAC Fair
October 10 Central Oregon PNACAC Fair
October 11 Southern Oregon PNACAC Fair
October 12 Douglas County PNACAC Fair
October 13 Mid-Willamette PNACAC Fair
October 19 Boise NACAC Fair
New Guidance on Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Schools
ODE is excited to release a new resource: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Classrooms. The resource, informed by a report from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology, is designed to provide Oregon’s educators and educational leaders with resources and tools to learn about:
- the possibilities for using AI in the classroom;
- potential equity implications of artificial intelligence;
- instructional uses to support student learning and teacher productivity;
- and tools and resources for developing policies and protocols related to school and district use of AI.
In an effort to support deeper understanding of the new ODE guidance, the Digital Learning Team will be hosting office hours every Friday at 3:00 p.m. during the month of September (starting September 8).
The US Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology’s report titled “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning” provides examples regarding the history of AI and the importance of proactively addressing the growth of AI in our schools and classrooms. Importantly, this report puts an emphasis on developing people centered policies rather than machine centered policies by keeping humans in the loop when using AI.
2023 Enacted Education Legislation
Please review the ODE’s 2023 Summary of Enacted Education Legislation to review all legislation that was passed during the long session this spring. The ODE cannot offer legal advice and advises all private schools to review the new legislation with legal counsel to determine whether any new legislation may or may not impact their school.
Celebrate Constitution Day – Friday, September 15th
As part of The Right to Vote: The Role of States and the US Constitution the Gilder Lehrman Institute will host a Voting Rights Forum at Stuyvesant High School, and stream it live via Zoom from 11:00am – 12:30pm Pacific Time. Teachers and students across the country are welcome to register to attend this program online.
Professional Learning/Development Opportunities
School Mental Health Virtual Learning Series: From Assessment to Action: Enhancing Organizational Well-Being in Schools – September 12 – hosted by the Central East Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network in collaboration with the National Center for School Mental Health, is part of a virtual learning series that focuses on advancing high quality, sustainable school mental health from a multi-tiered system of support, trauma-sensitive, culturally responsive, and equitable lens.
"Be Well: Centering Mental Health in Schools" Webinar - Part II – September 13 – hosted by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, will feature a panel of school leaders, students, federal government officials, and experts who will discuss the current state of student and educator mental health and policies to improve the tools available to K-12 schools.
Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools for American Indian Youth –September 14-15 –hosted by Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Missoula, Montana. Registration is free.
Facebook Live: Youth Suicide Prevention – September 19 – hosted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will feature a NIMH-expert led discussion on how to talk to youth about suicide risk, how to identify the warning signs of suicide, risk factors for suicide, and NIMH-supported research on interventions for youth suicide prevention.
Growth and Well-Being: Essential Elements For Gifted Children – October 7 – hosted by The Oregon Association for Talented and Gifted (OATAG) at Clackamas Community College in Oregon, City.
Oregon Science Teachers Association Annual Conference – October 12-14 – hosted by the Oregon Science Teachers Association at Gresham High School in Gresham, Oregon.
Oregon Association of School Libraries Fall Conference – October 13-14 – hosted by the Oregon Association of School Libraries in Lincoln City, Oregon. Scholarships are available for first timers and the application closes September 15.
2023 National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security – November 1-2 – hosted by CISA, will convene school safety experts, practitioners, and leaders featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions, and one-on-one interviews with government, private sector, and school safety community leaders, who will discuss issues such as violence prevention, cybersecurity, school climate, emergency planning, and student mental health.
Reimagining Our World Together – November 4 – hosted by the Oregon State Literacy Association, Oregon Council of Teachers of English, and Oregon Council for Social Studies at Parkrose High School in Portland. Register before October 15th for the discounted rate which includes a year of membership for each of the organizations.
Open Education Conference – November 7-9 – Sign up by October 1 for early registration rates. Full and partial scholarships are available to those for whom cost would be a barrier.
The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) annual conference – November 9-12 – Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Note: Unless hosted, facilitated, or published by The Oregon Department of Education (ODE), these resources have not been endorsed by ODE, but are being shared as relevant opportunities for private school educators and school leaders to consider.
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