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Updates from the Oregon Department of Education
1. You are Invited: Oregon Multilingual Learner Statewide Collaborative
2. Reminder: 2023-24 CIP Budget Narrative Carryover Applications Are Now Open
3. Informational Update: OSSB/M November Scheduled Release Underway
1. Equal Access to Elementary and Secondary Education for Students Who Are English Learners with Disabilities
Upcoming Events, Training & Conference Opportunities
1. Call for Presenters & Registration Open: Oregon Association for Bilingual Education Winter Institute – RFP Submissions Due November 29, 2024
2. Virtual: PODER Statewide Town Hall - Protecting Immigrants in Oregon, December 4, 2024
5. Oregon Association for Bilingual Education Conference Ambassador, December 5, 2024
8. Virtual: Building Upon OELA’s Commitment to MELs: A Discussion with Montserrat Garibay and Jose Viana, December 10, 2024
9. Newcomer Toolkit Webinar: Supporting Newcomers’ Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Needs, December 12, 2024
10. Proposals Now Open for the 2025 Multilingual & English Learner Conference, Deadline December 16, 2024
11. Virtual Oregon ELPA21 Cost-Free Professional Learning Workshops, January 2025
1. You are Invited: Oregon Multilingual Learner Statewide Collaborative
Register here for the next meeting on December 4, 2024 from 2:30-4:00 PM!
The Oregon Multilingual Learner Collaborative is a collaborative of professional educators, administrators, higher education and education partners who have a vested interest in elevating outcomes for multilingual learners through high-quality instructional programs and practices. Participants learn from one another, with one another and share resources that advance the success of multilingual learners.
The first problem of practice that the collaborative has decided to address is: Curating and Developing Resources that Support Newcomer Students. Please join us if you are interested in participating in this important work!
For questions, contact Jennifer Fontana, Multilingual Education Specialist.
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2. Reminder: 2023-24 CIP Budget Narrative Carryover Applications Are Now Open
Your Oregon Department of Education Federal Systems and Multilingual & Migrant Education teams want to remind you that Carryover applications for the following 2023-24 Federal Title Program funds are now open in the 2024-25 CIP Budget Narrative application. These funds include:
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Title I-A
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Title II-A
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Title I-C Regular School Year
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Title III-A Regular School Year
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Title I-C Preschool
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Title III-A Immigrant Grant
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Title I-C Summer
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Title IV-A
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Title I-D
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Title V-B RLIS
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“Carryover” refers to funds that were not spent as originally obligated by the district. Districts access these remaining funds through CIP Budget Narrative Carryover applications.
Key Dates
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November 1, 2024: 2024-25 CIP Budget Narrative applications were due
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November 22, 2024: 2023-24 CIP Budget Narrative Carryover applications are scheduled to open
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January 17, 2025: 2023-24 CIP Budget Narrative Carryover applications are due
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~January 2025: 2024-25 Title III-A Immigrant applications are scheduled to open
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February 3, 2025: Funds Frozen for Unapproved CIP Budget Narrative applications
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~March 2025: 2024-25 Title I-C Summer applications are scheduled to open
Action Needed
For questions, please contact the education specialist associated with each grant:
3. Informational Update: OSSB/M November Scheduled Release Underway
Processing has begun for Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy and Multiliteracy (OSSB/M) requests submitted on or prior to November 15, 2024.
- Materials for most districts should arrive within one week (ODE did not find any errors that prevented processing, so an error correction batch will not be needed).
- Please consult the OSSB_M Manual for whom to contact with questions or concerns regarding OSSB/M materials.
- The next scheduled release will begin processing on the first working day after May 1, 2025.
Please contact Ben Wolcott, OSSB coordinator with questions or concerns.
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The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released a new fact sheet discussing equal access to elementary and secondary education for students who are English learners (ELs) with disabilities. According to the most recent Civil Rights Data Collection, U.S. public schools educate 5.2 million students who are English learners. Sixteen percent of students who are ELs also have disabilities. This fact sheet aims to ensure that schools understand their obligations to these students under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II).
Title VI requires that elementary and secondary schools identify students who are potentially ELs and ensure their meaningful participation in educational programs. Section 504 mandates a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities, and Title II requires effective communication for individuals with disabilities. Schools must provide ELs with disabilities both EL services and disability-related services as required by federal law.
The fact sheet also highlights practices that may violate civil rights laws, such as determining disabilities based solely on limited English proficiency or providing disability services in English when services are needed in the student’s native language.
More information about OCR’s work in this area is available at OCR’s Equal Education Opportunities for English Learners webpage.
Image by Ryan Wallace.
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2. Secretary Miguel Cardona Calls for Authentic Family Engagement in Education
In a speech to the National Assembly for Family Engagement in Education, Secretary Miguel Cardona highlighted the importance of authentic parent-family engagement in education, criticized the use of “parents’ rights” rhetoric by some to divide school communities, and emphasized that the future of public education is at stake like never seen before. Click here to read Secretary Cardona's remarks.
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3. Comprehensive Resources for Effective Family Engagement Programs
The National PTA and Johns Hopkins University have introduced Family Engagement Solutions, an innovative online resource designed to support district leaders, educators, and advocates in building stronger family-school partnerships. By offering evidence-based programs, this tool aims to enhance collaboration and drive improvements in student outcomes. Recognizing that family engagement plays a pivotal role in student success—affecting attendance, behavior, academic performance, and graduation rates—this resource supports effective leadership and complements efforts to create thriving school communities.
4. U.S. Department of Education Announces Final Beta Testing Period for the 2025–26 FAFSA Form
The U.S. Department of Education is in the final beta testing phase (Beta 4) of the 2025–26 FAFSA®, building on successful earlier tests. Since October 1, over 14,000 students have submitted FAFSA forms, with 81,000 records already processed for 1,850+ schools and 43 states. No critical bugs have been found, and user experience improvements have led to a 95% satisfaction rate among beta participants.
By the end of the month, Beta 4 will open to all interested students and families on the FAFSA website, allowing them to test the form before its official release, set for no later than December 1. The Department will continue monitoring performance and providing updates on Beta Central at fafsa.gov/beta.
Don’t miss a free virtual event on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, to learn about creating a StudentAid.gov account and completing the 2025–26 FAFSA®. Sessions are open to students and parents. Click here to learn more.
Image by Element5 Digital.
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5. 2025 Summer Courses at Universities in Spain
Did you know that the U.S. Office of Education and Canada, in collaboration with renowned Spanish universities, offer courses and master’s programs for Spanish teachers and educational administrators? These programs provide professional development, showcase current teaching methodologies, and offer an immersive experience in Spain’s language and culture. Click here to view the list of Language and Culture Courses and visit the Summer Courses webpage for more information.
 
1. Call for Presenters & Registration Open: Oregon Association for Bilingual Education Winter Institute – RFP Submissions Due November 29, 2025
The Oregon Association for Bilingual Education (OABE) is excited to invite educators to submit presentation proposals for the upcoming 2025 Winter Institute! This event brings together educators along with, students, administrators, leaders, and parents to engage in the work of promoting bilingualism and multiculturalism in our communities, as well as raising achievement and equitable opportunities for students, especially emerging bilingual students.
Proposal Details
OABE is seeking interactive, 75-minute sessions focused on promoting multiculturalism and equity for emerging bilingual students. If you’re ready to share your insights and ideas, please submit the OABE 2025 Call for Presenters Form. Scholarships are available to lead presenters. As the main presenter for the 2025 OABE Winter Institute, your one-day institute (8:00 AM-4:30 PM) registration is complimentary. The registration includes access to all workshops, plenary sessions, and lunch.
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Proposal Deadline: November 29, 2024
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Acceptance Notification: December 20, 2024
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Full Presentation Due: February 7, 2025
Registration for Attendees:
The Winter Institute will kick off with school visits and a leadership reception on February 21, followed by the main conference on February 22 at the Canby School District. The event is open to teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, researchers, advocates, policymakers, and parents. Click here to register.
For questions about proposal submissions, please contact Elisa Lee.
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2. Virtual: PODER Statewide Town Hall - Protecting Immigrants in Oregon, December 4, 2024
Join ICS and PODER Oregon for an important discussion on actionable steps that community service providers and allies can take to support and protect immigrants and refugees across Oregon.
Panelists from Catholic Charities, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest will share vital information about immigrant legal rights and preparedness planning in response to increased immigration enforcement.
3. Virtual: English Learners Forum – Family Partnerships to Promote Linguistic Equity in Dual Language Programs, December 4, 2024
Join The Century Foundation’s EL Forum, – Family Partnerships to Promote Linguistic Equity in Dual Language Programs, on December 4, 2024, at 4:00 PM PST for a discussion on the critical role of equitable family engagement in supporting Hispanic/Latino students in dual language education. Click here to learn more and register for this event.
Image by Christina.
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4. Webinar: Equipping Schools for Uncertainty: Navigating Deportation Policies with Practical Tools and Preparedness, December 4, 2024
School administrators play a key role in supporting students and families navigating immigration-related challenges. This webinar will provide practical strategies to help your school address these complexities with clarity, confidence, and care. To learn more and register for this event, select one of the following sessions:
5. Oregon Association for Bilingual Education Conference Ambassador, December 5, 2024
Are you interested in supporting and partnering with OABE by serving as an OABE Ambassador? This is a wonderful opportunity for in-service teachers to share resources, connections, and innovative ideas to help enhance and expand OABE's mission.
OABE invites you to the 2024-25 virtual OABE Ambassador informational meeting. During this session, you will have a chance to meet some of the OABE board members and learn more about OABE's mission, the expectations and role of an ambassador, the upcoming 2025 conference, and the possible subcommittees you could serve on.
If you are interested in being an OABE Ambassador, please fill out the OABE 2025 Ambassador Registration Form.
Please contact Elisa Lee with questions.
6. Award Nominations: Oregon Association of Latino Administrators, Deadline December 7, 2024
The Oregon Association of Latino Administrators is pleased to announce the opening of the nomination period for the 2025 Distinguished Latino/a/x Educational Award (DLEA) and the Tom Ruhl OALA Ally Award.
The DLEA honors a Latin/a/o/x educator for outstanding contributions, while the Tom Ruhl OALA Ally Award recognizes a Latino/a/x or non-Latino/a/x educator for leadership in equity and cultural competence. Nominations for either award must be submitted by Saturday, December 7, 2024 via the 2025 Distinguished Latino/a/x Education Award & Tom Ruhl Award Form.
The nominees and award winners will be notified of the decision via email by January 5th, 2025. The award recipients will be recognized at the 21st Winter OALA Conference themed 21 Years of Positive Resistance: Leading Systemic Transformation with Love held at Mountainside High School on February 7-8, 2025.
Please contact Yuliana Rodarte with questions or for more information.
Image by Brands&People.
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7. Webinar: Culturally and Ecologically Responsive Instructional Designs, December 10, 2024
Join the Center for Applied Linguistics to learn how AI technology offers powerful opportunities to support multilingual learners' language and literacy development. This webinar will explore strategies for enhancing vocabulary, reading, and writing through tools like online dictionaries, Web 2.0, social media, and smartphones.
Panelists will also discuss generative AI for data-driven learning and the importance of aligning instructional design with cultural and ecological contexts to improve implementation and learner outcomes. Click here to register for this event.
8. Virtual: Building Upon OELA’s Commitment to MELs: A Discussion with Montserrat Garibay and Jose Viana, December 10, 2024
Click here to learn more about this engaging panel discussion Montserrat Garibay and Jose Viana.
9. Newcomer Toolkit Webinar: Supporting Newcomers’ Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Needs, December 12, 2024
Register here to join the December 12 webinar on the U.S. Department of Education (ED) OELA Newcomer Toolkit. Part 2 of the series will continue to explore the Newcomer Toolkit and will discuss newcomer students’ social, emotional, and mental health and how these factors affect their access to equitable education (Chapter 3).
Presentations will highlight both research and practice perspectives. The panelists will discuss how they support new students considering the unique stressors students may be experiencing, create trauma sensitive school environments, promote resilience through positive interactions and relationships, and support educators in meeting students’ unique social, emotional, and mental health needs, while providing equitable and high-quality instruction.
The panel includes:
- Montserrat Garibay, Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director, OELA
- Beatriz Ceja, Deputy Assistant Secretary, OELA
- Mary Martinez-Wenzl, Director of Multilingual and Migrant Education, Office of Teaching, Learning, & Assessment, Oregon Department of Education
- Yamil Ardila Bullock, Multilingual Learners/Title III Director, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
- Sonia Márquez, Principal, Doris Henderson Newcomers School
11. Virtual Oregon ELPA21 Cost-Free Professional Learning Workshops, January 2025
ELPA21 offers a cost-free professional development series available annually to districts. There are ten free seats for each engagement available to educators in Oregon. These seats are on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to register for any of the ELPA21 workshops.
Upcoming dates and topics in January are:
- January 7, 2025 | Oregon-ELPA21 Differentiating Instruction for ELs (Level 1)
- January 9, 2025 | Oregon-ELPA21 Differentiating Instruction for ELs (Level 1)
- January 15, 2025 | Oregon-ELPA21 Differentiating Instruction for ELs (Level 2)
Please contact ELPA21 directly with questions.
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If you have content or stories you’d like featured in our newsletter, we want to hear from you! Whether it’s an article, event, or an inspiring story, your contributions add depth to our discussions.Please send your submissions and ideas to Estephany Membreno, Administrative Specialist, and you may see your content in an upcoming publication.
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For questions or assistance, the Multilingual and Migrant (MME) team is available to support you. Please contact us via email for further information.
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Hector Aguirre, Migrant Education Title IC Specialist
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Leslie Casebeer, Office Specialist, TIII, TIC & ESEA Monitoring
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Diego Contreras-Medrano, Research Analyst
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Jennifer Fontana, Multilingual Education Specialist
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Yuliana Kenfield, Migrant Education Title IC Specialist
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Mary Martinez-Wenzl, Director of Multilingual & Migrant Education Team
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Estephany Membreño, Administrative Specialist II
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Kim Miller, Title III Education Specialist
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Reza Norouzian, Multilingual Education Research Analyst
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Natalia Piar, Multilingual & Migrant Education Team Coordinator
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You were added to this newsletter if you are part of the Migrant Education Program and/or the Title III English Learner listserv. Migrant Ed and Title III leaders, staff, and interested members of the public may subscribe to this newsletter through ODE's QuickSubscribe portal at any time. We thank you for serving Oregon's multilingual and migrant students.
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