|
|
Oregon Achieves... Together!
A Message from the Director of the Oregon Department of Education, Dr. Charlene Williams
Dear Education Community,
There are two things in the foreground for me during this month of new beginnings and beautiful blooms.
The first is a deeply felt and, I believe widely shared, concern around school attendance. This is real and it is top of mind for many across our state; and there are no easy answers. I don’t want to sugar coat the challenges in addressing chronic absenteeism, which has deep roots in systemic racism and disproportionately impacts students of color, students experiencing disabilities, English language learners, students experiencing houselessness, and non-binary students. And: there is also so much to be hopeful about. Through programs like Every Day Matters (EDM), High School Success, Tribal Attendance and Promising Practices (TAPP) and the Integrated Community Partnerships Grant, districts and community based organizations are working together to focus on strategies that we know help to combat some of the challenges to regular attendance, like:
- Increasing parent/family agency to navigate systems and meet their family’s basic needs;
- Building school cultural awareness and recruiting mentors from the community;
- Partnering with mental and behavioral health professionals in the field;
- Addressing barriers to attendance for youth experiencing houselessness, (i.e., housing and clothing, transportation resources);
- Implementing data-informed practices which support the unique characteristics and social experiences of children/youth of color;
- Providing one-to-one tutoring; and
- Increasing summer learning and extended or afterschool learning time.
|
|
|
Establishing Oregon’s First Approved Recovery Schools
HB 2767 (2023) establishes a limited number of approved Recovery High Schools in Oregon. These schools, under an agreement with the Department of Education (ODE), will provide students with a specialized high school education experience, tailored to meet the needs of students with substance use and co-occurring behavioral health challenges. The new law requires standards for approval of recovery schools, and the operation of recovery schools to include; academic standards, substance use recovery services, graduation, program evaluation, and recovery school accreditation guidance. ODE may establish up to three (3) approved recovery schools for the 2024-25 school year and three more each biennium until there are a total of nine (9) schools.
More about Recovery Schools...
|
The Oregon Department of Education’s 2024 Legislative Summary is now available! This document provides a final list of bills affecting K-12 education or ODE that made it through the legislative process. With the support of the Governor’s Office, ODE had significant success in achieving its legislative agenda, with the passage of two key bills—HB 4082 and SB 1532.
With the leadership of Rep. Susan McLain, ODE supported HB 4082, the Summer Learning bill. This legislation will elevate expanded learning programs and further the collaboration needed across the state to effectively administer summer and after school learning grants. Evidence-based practices and research on summer and after school learning show the impact of high-quality programs on increased student academic achievement, engagement, and well-being. HB 4082 embodies a strategic approach, providing immediate funding with a blueprint for lasting impact.
More about the legislative session...
|
ODE is pleased to announce the publication of a series of new and less recent data briefs, examining data from the pilot administrations of the SEED survey around extracurricular access, student sense of belonging, and other constructs. These data briefs present quantitative data and qualitative data examining student experiences in Oregon schools. The briefs cover a range of topics, but one thread remains clear: building relationships matters.
Read about each brief and link to the documents...
|
 April marks the Month of the Military Child (MOMC), a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the resilience, sacrifices, and contributions of military-connected children. Did you know Oregon’s schools serve approximately 3,100 military-connected students spread across 115 of the 197 school districts? Their impact is felt in nearly all communities in Oregon.
The life of a military child is a unique blend of adventures and challenges. It's important to acknowledge their service to our country as part of a military family. Let's celebrate their bravery, pride, and strength together. Join us in honoring the incredible children who play a vital role in our nation's military families and in Oregon’s school communities, not just during April, but all year long.
Resources to celebrate the Month of the Military Child...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
