Summer EBT is a new grocery benefits program that starts this summer. It helps families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer when school is out. Families will get $120 for each eligible child. They will receive the benefits in one payment on an Oregon EBT card.

Families that have SNAP, TANF or OHP don’t need to apply. Summer EBT food benefits will be added to their Oregon EBT card automatically. Families will get a letter for each eligible child by mail or email when their benefits have been sent.

Families that do not have SNAP, TANF or OHP and may be eligible will need to apply. Children are likely to qualify if they go to schools with free or reduced-price meal programs and live in households that meet income requirements for those programs. Families can go to sebt.oregon.gov to check if their child may be eligible. They can also sign up to get a notification by text or email when it’s time to fill out and submit the application.

For more information, read the joint release sent out last week by ODE and the Department of Human Services and visit sebt.oregon.gov or ebtv.oregon.gov for Spanish language content.

Juneteenth celebrates the date, June 19, 1865, when Union troops reached Galveston Bay, Texas, to inform the enslaved African-Americans there that they, along with the more than 250,000 other enslaved black people in the state, were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. Even though the holiday occurs when most schools are on summer break, the events and symbolism of the holiday are important aspects of our nation's history and civic knowledge that students can explore in the final weeks of school or throughout the year when learning about civic holidays, civil rights, democracy and U.S. History.

Juneteenth Teaching Resources: 

Freedom is in the Claiming (NYT 2020)

National Museum of African American History

10 Books for Adults, Teens, Kids to Celebrate Juneteenth

Learning for Justice Teaching Juneteenth

Gilder-Lehrman Juneteenth Lesson Plan

More ideas for teaching Juneteenth in K-5 

Vox: Why all Americans should honor Juneteenth

TedEd Video (5min)

Celebrating Pride Month in June provides an opportunity for schools to honor the joy and legacies of resistance against oppression of LGBTQ2SIA+ communities through supportive action, education, and celebration. District leaders are reminded of the legal foundation and student success strategies in Oregon, which outlines strong support for LGBTQ2SIA+ students in all Oregon’s public schools. We reiterate Governor Kotek’s declaration, “Pride will always shine brighter than fear ever can”  – we are proud of and stand with all LGBTQ2SIA+ students this and every month in order to increase belonging, joy, and safety in every Oregon classroom. 

Pride & LGBTQ2SIA+ Affirming Resources 

• Review ODE’s LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Program and Supporting Gender Expansive Students Guidance resources 
• Assess LGBTQ Inclusivity in your school using the CDC’s self-assessment tool
• Teach LGBTQ+ History and Stonewall Uprising Social Science lesson plans 
• Read books from Welcoming Schools and GLSEN National Student Council lists 
• Request free LGBTQ+ affirming books for K-12 educators through GLSEN Rainbow Library or Hope in a Box

More resources for supporting LGBTQ2SIA+ affirming school communities can be found on the ODE LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Resources webpage.

(The following op-ed was published in the Portland Tribune on June 6, 2024.)

In Oregon, summer is another season for learning.

This week, thanks to Gov. Tina Kotek and the State Legislature, school districts and communities throughout Oregon will start shifting their campuses toward Summer Learning.

Through the state’s $30 million investment, young scholars can engage in innovative and inclusive educational opportunities over the next few months.

This funding reaches throughout the state — including 43 school districts and 13 education service districts partnering with more than 130 community organizations — and will directly impact more than 50,000 K-12 children statewide.

This isn’t just about addressing unfinished learning; it’s about reimagining summer as a season for deep, enriching learning experiences that go beyond traditional classroom walls.

Continue reading the article...

On June 5, North Marion High School Family Outreach Advocate Rafael Pelaez was named the 2024 Education Support Professional of the Year by Oregon Lottery and Oregon Department of Education! Oregon Lottery awarded Rafael $5,000 and a commemorative plaque and also presented the school a matching plaque and banner.

The event was covered by the Woodburn Independent and Salem Statesman Journal newspapers. You can find a link to photos and video from the event in the ODE news release.

Read some praise for Rafael and his work...