Dear Education Community, 

As we step into August and look ahead to a new school year, I want to take a moment to welcome you back! I hope this summer has brought you opportunities to rest, reflect, and recharge.

A new school year is always a powerful moment: one filled with possibility, renewal, and purpose. This year, I invite us to center our collective efforts around our three foundational pillars: Academic Excellence, Accountability, and Belonging and Wellness – each essential to helping all students thrive across every stage of their education.

Academic Excellence

Whether it’s laying the foundation for literacy or helping high school students find their path to their dream careers, our goal is to empower all learners. We must uphold high expectations and provide strong, targeted support to ensure academic excellence for every student - supporting their growth into lifelong learners who are ready to thrive in college, careers, and their communities.

Accountability

I want to invite all of us to pause, reclaim, and embrace what accountability really is and really means. Often, the word “accountability” carries a negative connotation. Most people hear accountability and they make it synonymous with pressure, compliance, and even blame. But that is not the educational accountability we are interested in cultivating in Oregon.

Real accountability is transformational, it is meant to be a commitment to one another, in partnership and shared agreement to be the best stewards of our students’ possibilities; a commitment that we proactively and intentionally use our data, our dollars, and our decisions not just to meet benchmarks, but to truly design and build the proper conditions of a healthy and strong educational ecosystem where our students can and will thrive. And when our students thrive, Oregon thrives!

Right now, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility. Oregon is home to incredible students and deeply committed educators—but we must acknowledge that current student outcomes are not where they need to be. 

ODE is stepping up to lead. Change for Oregon’s scholars must begin with the Oregon Department of Education and extend from the instructional core to the school door.

We are working on simplifying and coordinating our systems so school leaders and educators get clear guidance, the right resources and strong support to do their best work. You’ll find more information below regarding Senate Bill 141, which the Oregon Legislature passed this year and Governor Kotek ceremoniously signed last week.

We’re also excited to share updates on how ODE is evolving as an agency. You can read more in the article below. Transparency remains a top priority—we are committed to building trust, strengthening engagement, and ensuring that families, educators, and communities have clear, accessible insights into student outcomes, district performance, and available support.

At the heart of accountability is serving students. 

The spirit of this accountability journey is that when done right, it will be a tool for liberation, not limitation. A tool for proactive partnership, not lagging remediations. A tool for investing, timely support, and clear action that shows our students we are a system that sees them, supports them, and does not give up on them. Our country needs to know that Oregon’s scholars are top tier because we have created an education system that cultivates their excellence.

Belonging and Wellness

This time of year, it is especially important to remember that the connection between health and learning is undeniable: students who are active, well-nourished, well-supported and connected are more likely to attend school regularly, be ready to learn, and stay engaged in the classroom. Starting the school year with intentional focus on Care and Connection can set a positive tone that lasts all year. Addressing the mental health needs of students and staff is essential to creating welcoming, inclusive school environments for all. And, of course, ensuring that our schools are safe and inclusive reduces absences and provides the right climate for learning.

As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

In Love & Justice,

Dr. Charlene Williams