November 27, 2023 

Dearest Colleagues,

Sexuality education happens everywhere: whether it’s in lyrics of a song or in holiday movies, messages on relationships, affection, and identity are on constant broadcast. During winter holidays, students are often processing different relationship dynamics with family and friends, gender stereotypes in the media, and affirming boundaries around physical affection. Linking these concepts of consent, media literacy, and identity to the new 2023 Oregon Health Education Standards can be a powerful way to connect required instruction to students' lived experiences and realities.

The new Oregon K-12 health standards include safe boundaries, inappropriate touch, and consent:

• Kindergarten: Define what a personal boundary is and recognize that personal boundaries differ in different kinds of relationships and for different people.

• Grade 3: Demonstrate effective ways to verbally and nonverbally communicate personal boundaries and show respect for the boundaries of others.

• Grade 5: Explain the relationship between consent, personal boundaries, and bodily autonomy.

• Grade 8: Demonstrate verbal and nonverbal communication skills that express personal boundaries and consent and how to show respect for the boundaries of others.

• High School: Examine the impact of power differences within relationships and other factors that can affect the ability to give or perceive consent, including in sexual activity.

Educators can find K-12 lessons around healthy relationships and boundaries on the Sex Ed Open Learning Project.

This newsletter includes announcements, research, resources, and opportunities for training, as well as other offerings by statewide and national colleagues related to sexuality education.

Section photo by  Aaron Burden   on Unsplash

Header photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash, Newberg, OR

The requirements of the Menstrual Dignity for Students Program are now included in the Division 22 Assurances Process. While this does not change the requirements or intention of the original Menstrual Dignity Act, it does enhance ODE’s ability to provide technical support to schools and districts in their efforts to provide free and privately accessible menstrual product options to all students. 

What does this mean for schools? How can you be sure that your school is in compliance with all components of the Act? Join ODE's Menstrual Dignity Team as we address these questions.

Register for this virtual meeting- December 6th, 2023- 3:30pm

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The Oregon Teacher Training Institute (OTTI) is offering an in-person K-12 professional development course for educators and administrators to deliver comprehensive sexuality education as part of health instruction, focusing on healthy relationships, social emotional learning, child abuse prevention education, and healthy sexuality throughout the lifespan. 

The course will introduce participants to the new Health Education Standards and instructional practices for teaching comprehensive and inclusive K-12 sexuality education. OTTI workshops are delivered in partnership with DHS, OHA, and other local partners. This event is reserved for classroom educators and administrators only.

Register here for the full day in-person professional learning 

January 23, 2024 in Salem, Oregon

Interested in having an OTTI Sex Ed Training in your area? Let OTTI know!