September 12, 2025 

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back to school! Classrooms have come alive again with student excitement, joy, and, undoubtedly, some nervousness. Students are ready to form new friendships, deepen long-term relationships, and discover new parts of themselves. Some students may feel settled on day one and many other students may be grappling with new challenges, such as the Governor’s executive order prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during the school day. This is just the moment when students need more social connection and less isolation. The start of the 2025-26 school year is a time to support students to connect with each other and form meaningful, safe, and healthy relationships– in person and online.

In September, World Sexual Health Day highlights the importance of equity, autonomy, and inclusive information in health education. As educators establish expectations for the year, developing community agreements—such as listening respectfully, valuing diverse perspectives, and practicing consent in age-appropriate interactions—creates trust and helps students engage more openly with sensitive health and sexuality topics throughout the year. 

Similarly, engaging families and caregivers early in the year also strengthens student learning and trust. When educators share resources, explain how health and sexuality education will be addressed, and invite dialogue, parents and caregivers gain a clear understanding of the approach and its importance. These early conversations establish a collaborative foundation that supports students as they explore health topics throughout the year.

This newsletter has many new updates to support educator planning and instruction for the 2025-26 school year, including an updated Erin’s Law Toolkit, Menstrual Dignity Toolkit, ODE requests for feedback, and other updates from statewide partners.

Header photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash, Newberg, OR

Updated Resource: Erin’s Law Toolkit

ODE released an updated version of the 2021 Erin’s Law Toolkit, which provides clarity around child abuse prevention education requirements and resources for integrated planning and evidence-informed implementation. The updated 2025 version includes sections on:

• Mandatory reporting and confidential advocacy
• Considerations to promote online safety
• Engaging parents and caregivers
• Adapting materials for students with disabilities
• Instructional resources and standards-aligned lesson plans

Download the 2025 Erin's Law Toolkit

If you have any questions or feedback, reach out to: ode.SexEd@ode.oregon.gov

Updated Resource: Menstrual Dignity for Students Toolkit 

ODE released an updated version of the Menstrual Dignity for Students Toolkit which provides districts and schools with new resources as they implement the Menstrual Dignity Act in a way that centers student equity and menstrual dignity. The updated 2025 version of the toolkit incorporates additional information and resources:

• References to the Division 22 rule that links the Menstrual Dignity requirements (Section 5, page 6)
• Alignment with Oregon’s current Health Education Standards (Section 4, page 18, 21)
• Updated links for requesting reimbursement (Section 8, page 28)
• Updated Menstrual Dignity email address (throughout)
• Updated links to websites that have changed (throughout)
• Updated Menstrual Dignity One-Pager

For additional questions or feedback, please reach out to ode.menstrual-dignity@ode.oregon.gov. 

Feedback Requested: Substance Use Prevention Standards Language

Oregon’s Health Education Standards include Substance Use, Misuse, and Abuse (SUB) as a Topic Area. Within this topic area, specific standards also utilize the terminology “substance abuse.” Since the standards were adopted, prevention education specialists have shifted away from using the term “substance abuse” and instead recommend using “substance use disorder.”  According to NIDA, this shift helps reduce stigma associated with substance use and helps learners develop an understanding of substance use disorder as a medical condition and not a moral failing. 

ODE is proposing the following updates to the language in the Health Standards:

• Change the Topic Area title from "Substance Use, Misuse, and Abuse" to “Substance Use Prevention”
• Replace the phrase “substance abuse” with “substance use disorder (SUD)” throughout the document
• Eliminate the word “abuse” throughout the document as it relates to substance use. This word could be replaced with “misuse”, “SUD”, or simply deleted as grammatically appropriate.

Please take this brief survey, to help our team identify how this change may impact your work as well as identify other factors that we should consider when making this change. The survey closes on October 10th. 

If you have additional questions or feedback, please contact ode.substance-prevention@ode.oregon.gov.

New Release: My Future- My Choice Revised Edition

The My Future-My Choice curriculum has released its 2025-2026 revised edition on the MFMC website. The lessons are free to use and are designed to meet all Oregon Sexuality Education Standards and sexuality education laws. The website contains full lessons, handouts, slide decks and links to videos used in the lessons. If you have questions, please reach out to MFMCProgram@odhs.oregon.gov. .

Back to School Safety Resources

SafeOregon

SafeOregon website released a School Resources page that includes tutorial and registration link for upcoming training sessions. Other resources include:

Newly available from SafeOregon:

• Report, Don’t Repost Toolkit
• SafeOregon Classroom Curriculum
• Curriculum Teacher’s Guide

These resources are free, helping to support safety in all Oregon schools and districts. The Report, Don’t Repost Toolkit contains materials to support this campaign addressing online threats, cyberbullying, and other harmful material on social media.  

Aligned to Oregon’s Health Education Standards, middle and high schools can utilize the SafeOregon curriculum and supporting Teacher’s Guide to teach students about online safety, risk factors of dangerous actions and behaviors, identifying trusted adults, where to go for help, and how to advocate for safe schools and communities.

Help spread the word about 988 Oregon in your community

The State of Oregon recently launched the 988 Oregon: Connect to Hope campaign, aimed at making sure everyone knows they can call or text 988 for free, confidential mental health or substance use support. We want people to know it’s never too early to reach out for support. Reach out when you’re stressed, worried or just feeling really down. If you’re having suicidal thoughts or worried about someone else, 988 is here for you.