The English Learner Outcomes Program (ELOP) within the Oregon Department of Education is partnering with Education Northwest (EDNW), a nonprofit research and evaluation organization based in Portland, to evaluate the English Learner Outcomes Program. Passed in the 2015 legislative session, the EL Outcomes Program directs ODE to develop and implement a statewide strategic education plan for Multilingual and English Language Learners (ML/EL learners) in the K12 education system to:

• Address disparities experienced by ML/EL learners
• Address the historical practices leading to disproportionate outcomes for ML/EL students
• Address the educational needs of ML/EL students in K-12 education by examining culturally appropriate best practices in Oregon and the nation

As part of the EL Outcomes Program Evaluation, an advisory group will be formed and facilitated by EDNW to play an essential role in co-developing an evaluation framework, helping interpret and make meaning of data, holding the evaluators accountable for serving the community, as well as vetting and communicating decisions.

The English Learner Outcomes Program advisory group will meet quarterly for two hours throughout 2025 and 2026, with the first meeting occurring before the end of this school year. The aim is for there to be 8–12 advisors, including representatives from the communities the program serves, district and ODE leaders and staff members, as well as educators.

If you’re interested in joining the English Learner Outcomes Program advisory group, please complete the English Learner Outcomes Program Evaluation_Advisory Group_Interest Form.

For questions, contact the EL Outcomes Program Team, Manuel Vazquez, or Jason Greenberg Motamedi.

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2.Your Input Needed: Public Comment for Honoring Student Proficiency on the ELPA Summative

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is seeking public comment on its request to the U.S. Department of Education to renew and expand ODE’s current policy Honoring Student Proficiency on the High School ELPA Summative.

What is Honoring Student Proficiency?

Honoring Student Proficiency on the HS ELPA Summative is a scoring policy that enables students with English learner status to build a Proficient profile on the English Language Proficiency (ELPA) Summative over a period of time, rather than having to demonstrate Proficiency in a single-year, “all or nothing” attempt.

What is ODE requesting?

Testing data and district feedback indicate the policy is well-received and successful. ODE would like to extend and expand the policy, so that more students can participate. The U.S. Department of Education has indicated that this request constitutes a significant change to the policy and has asked that ODE gather public comment. The U.S. Department of Education will consider information gathered via the public comment process as part of their final decision regarding ODE’s request. Full information about ODE’s request can be found on via the Honoring Student Proficiency Public Comment resource, posted to the Assessment Communication page.

Who can submit public comment?

ODE welcomes comments from educators, students, families, or community members, and anyone who may have an opinion about this renewal request. Use the Honoring Student Proficiency Public Comment Form to submit a comment, also found on the Assessment Communication page.

Contact ode.waiverfeedback@ode.oregon.gov with questions about this public comment process.

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3. Upcoming Deadline: May Scheduled Release

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) will begin processing Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy/Multiliteracy (OSSB/M) awards for the 2024-25 school year on the first working day after May 1, 2025. Any OSSB/M requests submitted after May 1 will be processed during the June schedule release.

ODE will notify submitters of any errors that prevent processing. Submitters will have the opportunity to correct their submission.

For more information, consult the OSSB_M Manual.

Contact Ben Wolcott, Seal of Biliteracy coordinator, with questions or concerns.

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4. Student Voices Needed: Applications Open to Participate in ODE’s 2025-26 Rulemaking Process

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Oregon State Board of Education (SBE) are looking for incoming high school juniors and seniors to participate in Oregon’s K-12 administrative rulemaking processes as either a Student Member of ODE’s Ongoing Rules Community Advisory (ORCA) or a Student Advisor to the State Board of Education for the 2025-26 school year.

Key Dates

• Students can now apply to be a Student Advisor to the State Board of Education or a Student Member of the Ongoing Rules Community Advisory
• Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted
• The Department aims to select students no later than July 31, 2025
• Students will serve from August 2025 through July 2026

Action Needed

If you know a current high school sophomore or junior (someone who will be a junior or senior during the 2025-26 school year) that might be:

• Interested in learning about Oregon’s K-12 Administrative Rules and how they impact our state education system;
• Willing to participate in group discussions and provide feedback, including constructive criticism, to ODE staff regarding draft rule language; and
• Committed to attending student pre-meetings and monthly full meetings of either the ORCA (for Student Members) or SBE (for Student Advisors) between August 2025 and June 2026.

Please direct them to this bulletin, which includes more information on each of these engagement opportunities and the application process.

Background

The Ongoing Rules Community Advisory (ORCA) is an engagement body hosted by the Oregon Department of Education. ORCA members are volunteers representing various perspectives within our education systems, each with their own lived experiences and bodies of work. This includes school leadership, licensed and classified staff, student voices, parent voices, culturally specific and community-based organizations, education service districts, tribal voices and state education partners. The ORCA itself does not make decisions for, nor recommendations to, ODE. ORCA members instead provide their unique perspectives and feedback to the department as one element of our larger rulemaking process.

The Oregon State Board of Education (SBE) works on providing equitable policies and practices that lead to the educational and life success of every Oregon student. It envisions an aspirational education system that honors its increasingly diverse student body and affirms every student to reach their full potential in a rapidly shifting global environment. Alongside the Oregon Legislature, the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon’s Governor, the Board provides leadership for Oregon’s 197 school districts and 19 Education Service Districts. ODE develops rules for consideration by the Oregon State Board of Education, which is the only body authorized to adopt, amend, repeal or renumber our education-related rules.

For questions about these opportunities or the application process, email Haedon Brunelle ODE’s Rules Coordinator.

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 2. Survey on International Visiting Teachers in Dual Language Bilingual Education 

A study conducted by Dr. Soria E. Colomer, PhD, and Dr. Nelly Patiño Cabrera, Ed.D., from Oregon State University, is exploring the experiences of international visiting teachers in K-12 Dual Language Bilingual Education (DLBE) programs. The goal is to understand their motivations, challenges, and impact to inform recruitment and retention practices.

Visiting international teachers are invited to complete a 5–10-minute survey. Responses will help inform school leaders and policymakers, with all answers remaining anonymous.

Click the link to participate or scan the QR code.

For questions about this study, contact Soria Colomer, Associate Professor of Bilingual Education from Oregon State University.

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4. Oregon Pushes Back on Federal Threat to School Funding

Gov. Tina Kotek and state education leaders are rejecting a demand from the Trump administration to abandon DEI policies or risk losing federal funds. Their response underscores Oregon’s firm commitment to inclusive education and student well-being. Click here to learn more.

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1. Webinar: Staying Motivated to Make a Difference, April 22, 2025 (Repost)

Join the Identification and Recruitment Consortium on April 22, 2025, for Staying Motivated to Make a Difference. This webinar will offer strategies to help MEP staff manage challenges, stay focused, and maximize their impact—whether working individually or in a supervisory role. Click here to register for this event.

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3. Webinar: Title VI and Shared Ancestry Characteristics, May 7, 2025 (Repost)

This webinar explores how Title VI prohibits discrimination based on shared ancestry characteristics, discusses how schools/districts can respond to complaints, and delves into best practices moving forward. Click here to register for this event.

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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.

Explore the Multilingual and Migrant team webpage to discover more about our initiatives, impact and resources.