ODE Sexuality Education Newsletter -- December 2025

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ODE Sexuality Education Newsletter: December 2025
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ODE Sexuality Education Newsletter 

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December 12, 2025 

Dear Colleagues,

As December approaches the Winter Solstice and holidays, school closes for a well-earned winter break. Without the structure of the school community, many students might turn to spending more time connecting, creating, and exploring in digital spaces. Increased online engagement during this time can offer opportunities for students to build digital literacy skills, strengthen peer connections, and practice healthy decision making and boundary setting. Oregon’s Health Education Standards focus on these skills, including analyzing how media, digital platforms, and AI can shape both relationships with self– such as body image, values, and identity– and relationships with others, including friendship, romantic connections, and within the community.

This month’s newsletter features supports that educators can use to reinforce these skills before students head into the break. The resources include strategies for discussing online privacy, navigating viral trends, managing peer influence, and maintaining healthy boundaries in digital spaces. These tools can help students evaluate online content with confidence, protect their safety and well-being, and carry strong digital citizenship habits into the new year.

Header photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash, Newberg, OR

Section photo by Andrea Windolph on Unsplash

ODE Updates & Opportunities

Updates on Inclusive Sexuality Education in Oregon within Federal Context

Oregon’s health and sexuality education standards and commitment to gender equity remain unchanged, and school districts should continue their implementation plans, in accordance with OAR 881-022-2050 and ORS 336.455. Federal efforts do not impact requirements under Oregon state law and the State Board of Education for K-12 public schools.

By providing students of all gender identities with high-quality, gender inclusive, and research-based health and sexuality education, Oregon schools support student success and well-being. 

Resources available to guide instruction include: 

Civil Rights Webinar Series

ODE is offering a series of monthly webinars in the 2025-26 school year on various civil rights topics. All are welcome to attend. This series does not meet Civil Rights Coordinator training requirements.

More information and registration

Feedback Opportunity: District Equity Committees Draft Rules

ODE is developing draft rule changes pertaining to District Equity Committees (OAR 581-022-230) to propose to the State Board of Education for adoption in Spring 2026. This rulemaking is part of the implementation of HB 2453, which made changes to how District Equity Committees operate. ODE is hosting an engagement session on these draft rules on Wednesday, December 17th from 3:00-4:00pm. This session is open to all education partners and community members; all attendees must register via this link. Please register as early as possible to aid our planning and facilitation of the session. You may also provide input on the draft rules through this engagement survey. Please reach out to ODE.EII@ode.oregon.gov with any questions.

Sex Ed News & Resources for Educators

ODE is committed to supporting school districts with implementing Oregon Human Sexuality Education (OAR 581-022-2050). Please see below for related news and resources for K-12 educators. 

Research & News for Educators

Resources for Educators

Resources for Safety and Well-Being Over Breaks

Upcoming Events, Training & Conference Opportunities for Educators

Unless hosted or facilitated by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), these training opportunities have not been endorsed by ODE, but are being shared as relevant opportunities for education professionals to consider.

Questions? Connections? 

Please reach out to us at ode.sexed@ode.oregon.gov. 

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Want to stay connected with sexuality education at the Oregon Department of Education? Visit our website or subscribe to the ODE Sexuality Education ListServ today!