In this Message
- Update on Federal Actions
- Federal Funding Update
- ESSA Quick Reference Brief Spotlight: Community Eligibility Provision
- EGMS Federal Subgrant Award Notification (SAN) Reissuance
- Title I-A “101” – Session 4
- Title II Tuesday – Session 7
- Division 22 Professional Learning Series
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Meet New FST Staff!
- FST Reading Corner
ODE is actively monitoring changes happening at the federal level including the most recent Executive Order to close the U.S. Department of Education and the recent directive to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Oregon remains steadfast in its dedication to providing a high-quality public education system that serves all learners equitably. We are actively collaborating with the Governor’s Office, the Oregon Department of Justice, and other key partners to assess the potential implications of these actions and advocate for the continued support and stability of our schools. Please visit our update on federal actions webpage which we maintain to clearly communicate any impact federal changes have on Oregon. Please contact ode.communications@ode.oregon.gov with any questions.
On March 14, Congress passed another Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through the end of Fiscal Year 2025, which ends on September 30, 2025. However, Congress has not passed a budget bill to fund school year 2025-26 and negotiations are still underway. Once Congress passes a budget, the FST anticipates receiving allocations from the U.S. Department of Education and calculating district awards within 4-6 weeks after a budget is passed.
ESSA Quick Reference Brief Spotlight:
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and Title I-A
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a meal service option that allows schools and school districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without the burden of certifying students for meal benefits. In ESSA Quick Reference Brief: CEP and Title I-A learn more about the intersection of CEP and Title I-A and the options for using CEP data in the ranking and serving process.
Check out other ESSA Quick Reference Briefs on this web page.
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EGMS Federal Grant Subgrant Award Notification (SAN) Reissuance
In response to federal and Secretary of State audits pertaining to ODE’s federal grants, the Office of Finance and Information Technology has made some changes on the Subgrant Award Notification (SAN) template. As the SAN is the sole grant agreement issued for our federal formula pass-through grants, we will need to reissue the SANs for federal funding, using the new template that complies more specifically with federal requirements.
You can expect that your federal subgrants will have new SAN modifications issued in the upcoming months to provide you with the mandated federal language governing your subgrants. This will affect your claiming process because you will need to open and read each of these SANs prior to being able to claim on the associated subgrants.
If you have questions, you may direct them to fsu.grants@ode.oregon.gov . Thank you for your understanding as we work to comply with federal requirements.
Webinar Series: Title I-A "101"
This year the Formula Grants Team is offering quarterly webinars organized around the Formula Grants Calendar of Activities. These webinars are intended to provide just-in-time support for new Title I-A program managers, as well as time for collaboration and discussion. The final webinar in the series will take place on Thursday, May 8th from 10-11 AM PT using this Zoom link.
In Session 4 we’ll be focusing on school plans and family engagement. We’ll talk about reviewing and evaluating plans and hear from one Oregon district on how they are working with local partners to build family capacity to support their students.
We hope you can join us!
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Title II Tuesdays – Diversifying the Educator Workforce
Title II Tuesdays is a monthly opportunity to dive deeper into topics specific to Title II-A. The slide deck and webinar recording for Session 6 where districts shared their practices focused on induction, mentoring, and professional learning is now available on the ODE website.
Session 7 will be held on April 22nd from 10-11 AM using this Zoom link. In this session we focus on diversifying the educator workforce and hear directly from your district colleagues on strategies they are implementing to recruit and retain educators. Please bring your experience and voice to the conversation!
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The April session of the Division 22 Professional Learning Series will be focused on Comprehensive School Counseling Programs. Join us virtually on Friday, April 11th from 9:00 -10:30 am, when we will focus on the following topics:
- Division 22 Hot Topics/Updates from ODE Staff
- Comprehensive School Counseling Programs
- Implementation Support & Resources
- Best Practice District Spotlights
- Breakout Discussions Based on District Size
- Separate breakout for Charter Schools
Register via Zoom to get the meeting link and add the session to your calendar. Recorded content and materials will be posted on the Division 22 Standards Professional Learning page following each meeting. Dates and registration information for the entire series can be found on the Division 22 Professional Learning Series flier.
Questions? Contact Susan Payne, ODE’s Education Standards and Systems Specialist.
Meet Serena Robinson
FST is excited to welcome Serena Robinson as the Federal Systems Administrative Specialist. She brings two decades of experience in education, with a strong background in administrative support, compliance management, and program coordination. Throughout her career she has developed and implemented district policies, facilitated trainings, and ensured ongoing compliance with state and federal regulations. Known for her attention to detail and ability to streamline operations, she excels in clear and professional communication, supporting leadership, and fostering collaboration across diverse groups.
Serena is a lifelong Oregonian and has been married to her high school sweetheart for almost 30 years. Outside of work she loves spending time with her three adult children, all of whom live in Southern Oregon, where she also resides. She enjoys camping in the beautiful outdoors and finds baking to be her favorite way to relax and unwind.
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Meet Michelle Cusey
Michelle Cusey is an experienced education professional with a strong background in out-of-school time (OST) program administration, grant management, and policy development. She has spent over a decade supporting student learning and program development at both the state and national levels developing training, providing technical assistance, and aligning programs with federal and state priorities.
Before joining the Oregon Department of Education, Michelle served as the 21st CCLC Program Manager at the Montana Office of Public Instruction for five years, where she led statewide efforts to support and sustain high-quality afterschool and summer programs. Prior to that, she spent five years as a classroom teacher, fostering student growth and engagement in the school day setting. Most recently, she worked with the 21st CCLC National Technical Assistance Center (NTAC), providing training, technical assistance, and best-practice guidance to State Education Agency (SEA) coordinators nationwide, with a focus on sustainability, fiscal management, and continuous program improvement.
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Federal System Team's "Framework of Support"
Our goal is to provide differentiated support and strengthen the partnership between districts and ODE federal program staff. Check out the resources and support below and reach out to let us know how we can support you!
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