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To: Superintendents, Charter School Leaders, K-12 PIOs, Education Partners
From: Dr. Charlene Williams, Director
Date: March 17, 2026
Re: Unified Application Update
Dear Superintendents and Charter School Leaders,
One of the key priorities of the Education Accountability Act (SB 141) is for ODE to reduce bureaucracy so educators have more time to focus on teaching and learning. To that end, we are pleased to announce a major milestone in achieving that goal – the launch of the Oregon Unified Application. This is the first step in a long-term effort to streamline state and federal grant processes and refocus planning on what matters most: improving student outcomes.
Over the past nine months, 34 pilot districts have partnered with ODE in a thoughtful co-creation process to develop the Oregon Unified Application. These districts have generously contributed time, expertise, and candid feedback to help design a more meaningful and manageable approach to district planning. We are deeply grateful for their leadership and collaboration.
Key Components of the Unified Application
The Unified Application marks a significant shift toward simpler, clearer planning.
- One application used across multiple district grants
- Phase 1 (Pilot) Spring 2026 – 34 districts/18 grants
- Phase 2 (Statewide roll-out) – Spring 2027
- Includes priority questions, compliance questions, assurances, and budget
- Focused on Oregon’s highest priorities for student learning
- One coordinated timeline for state and federal grant processes
- Reduces duplicative entry while meeting all requirements
- When fully implemented, it will replace the CIP-Budget Narrative & the Integrated Application
By simplifying planning at the state level and streamlining the submission process, we aim to:
- Reduce administrative burden placed on districts
- Support more integrated, strategic district planning
- Help educators focus on strong instruction and implementation
- Create a clear alignment between funding and student outcome priorities
This work represents a structural shift — from fragmented and redundant applications to focused and outcome-centered planning. The Unified Application asks only for information that is legally or statutorily required (for compliance purposes) or is actionable for improving student outcomes. If a data point does not meet either of those criteria, it is excluded. This ensures that districts are not asked to provide information that will not be used, reducing unnecessary work.
Phase 1 - Unified Application Pilot
From March 16 through April 30, the 34 pilot districts will complete the Unified Application for the state portion and from May 1 through June 30 for the CIP-Budget Narrative portion of the 2026-27 grant cycle. This first phase serves as a formative pilot, allowing us to gather feedback from districts to refine the process in preparation for a broader, Phase 2 rollout next spring for the 2027-28 grant cycle.
Phase 2 - Statewide Rollout
As we move toward a statewide rollout, here is what districts can expect:
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Late Summer/Fall 2026: Non-pilot districts submit CIP-Budget Narrative with reduced questions and narratives.
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Fall 2026: In a new process, ODE will provide data for districts to complete needs assessments for the 2027-28 application cycle; will continue with district engagement efforts to inform decision-making in a new unified application.
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Winter 2027: ODE will release a unified application for all districts (districts will no longer complete a separate integrated programs application).
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Spring 2027: All districts will complete a unified application for state and federal grants and required planning.
What's Next
We will continue to share updates and provide expanded detail and clarity as we approach the statewide rollout and provide opportunities for engagement and learning ahead of implementation.
If you have questions in the meantime, please email ODE.GrantConsolidation@ode.oregon.gov.
Thank you for your continued leadership and partnership on behalf of Oregon’s students.
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