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Oregon Achieves... Together!
A Message from the Director of the Oregon Department of Education, Dr. Charlene Williams
Dear Education Community,
I hope you have had some time over the past few months to rest, relax and recharge as we find ourselves on the cusp of a new school year!
Coming Together in a Time of Need
We also recognize that this has been a difficult season for some of our communities.
Our thoughts are with the students, families, educators and communities affected by this year's wildfires. Many have faced smoke, poor air quality, evacuations and other ongoing disruptions. In times like this, we see Oregonians coming together to help each other, and our schools play a vital role in this effort by providing locations for community meetings, shelter for those displaced by fires, and staging areas for the brave men and women working around the clock to keep their communities safe.
Please check out the wildfire resources we posted in the May edition of Education Update to help stay on top of the changing conditions and know what to do should your community be threatened by fires.
Summer Is Another Season for Learning
This is a very busy time of year for educators as we prepare for the coming school year. But let’s not forget to remember the hard work we have put in over the summer as well. Around 35,000 students participated this year in summer learning programs thanks to investments provided by the Legislature and Governor Tina Kotek this biennium ($70 million over two summers).
Summer learning is the perfect example of state leadership meeting local innovation: HB 2007 set the vision and ODE set the parameters, but local communities were given the flexibility to shape the experience, reflecting student voice, cultural relevance and regional needs in their literacy-focused summer learning programming. Effective programs reflect so much more than what you see happening during the brief window of time in the summer. There is planning, hard work and follow through.
We had the chance to witness the model at Portland Public Schools where scholars end up not just maintaining learning but growing and entering the school year better than they left. With a clear focus on literacy, partnership and equity, Oregon is building a high-quality, student-centered summer learning ecosystem.
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 Evidence shows that investments in summer learning support students to develop critical thinking skills, promote social-emotional well-being and inspire future leaders in the community. And you can just ask the students like we did. In the 2025 Student Voice Summer Survey Report conducted last year, students consistently reported feeling safe, welcomed, supported and engaged in their summer programs – conditions that research shows are essential for meaningful learning and participation. ODE remains committed to working with districts, the Governor’s Office and the legislature to expand access to these opportunities in the future.
A Season of Learning for Educators
Several districts capitalize on summer time to continue professional learning. I had the opportunity to join Salem-Keizer educators who gathered at Western Oregon University to engage in the important work of aligning instruction in reading and mathematics. Teachers, administrators, teacher leaders, and special education staff worked alongside classroom teachers, strengthening their collective capacity to support student success. This was the whole educational ecosystem coming together.
Preparing for 2026-27
With the first day of school fast approaching, it’s the best time to plan your efforts to support regular attendance throughout the year. ODE has a number of tools available for schools to build relationships with families and help families establish routines from day one that can last all year long. Those resources include:
Scholars need to be in the classroom to learn and, while we’ve seen progress in the percentage of students attending school at least 90% of the time, there is a continued need to address attendance barriers, especially for Oregon’s students of color and those experiencing houselessness. Let’s make a concerted effort to make our schools safe and welcoming for all and reach out with support before bad habits can develop.
Getting Session Ready
While our immediate focus is on the start of the school year, the 2027 Legislative Session will be here before we know it. ODE staff are already busy preparing for what we expect will be another important year for education, and the work starts long before the first day of session in January. As an executive agency, our role is to work closely with the Governor’s office and to provide quality information to the legislature so our elected officials can make good decisions about resources.
When we are asked, “What would happen if…?” and “What would it take to do…?,” our teams have to have the answers and provide the data to back them up. Those questions are already coming in and we expect the flow will only increase as the year goes on. It’s always an exciting time at ODE!
In Love and Justice,
Dr. Charlene Williams
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The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is excited to announce the release of the revised K-12 English Language Arts (ELA) and Literacy Standards. Over the past several months, a statewide panel of educators has been reviewing and updating the standards, which are the foundation of ELA education in Oregon public schools. The new standards were adopted by the State Board of Education in June and will be implemented beginning in the 2028-29 school year.
What’s New
The updated standards reflect new national research on the importance of extending foundational reading skills into grades 6-8, as well as expectations for rigorous learning in ELA and literacy instruction. The standards have also been restructured to be more user-friendly and accessible for teachers and leaders. This document shows a side-by-side comparison of ELA and literacy standards for a high-level overview of the changes.
More about the ELA Standards...
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An updated version of Oregon’s Framework for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs is now in effect. It establishes a shared vision, purpose, structure, and core program components, providing the foundation for high-quality, comprehensive school counseling programs in Oregon public schools. The updated Framework, along with OAR 581-022-2060, was adopted by the State Board of Education in June and will be implemented starting this school year.
Revisions to the Framework
The framework reflects current research, incorporates updates from the American School Counseling Association National Model, aligns with Oregon statute and rules, and integrates feedback from statewide engagement. It strengthens and clarifies a coordinated, student-centered approach within a multi-tiered system of supports by defining expectations for service delivery, providing role clarity for counseling staff, and committing to ensuring every student receives appropriate services and supports. It also focuses on core vision, structure, and program components, with implementation guidance provided separately to support flexibility and usability. Check out this document for a high-level summary of key updates.
More about the framework...
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This school year will start with some new faces on the Oregon Department of Education leadership team compared to last year.
Eric Anderson is the new Assistant Superintendent for the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment.
Dr. Andrea Lockard is now the permanent Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Research, Assessment, Data, Accountability, and Reporting (RADAR).
Lindsay Baker, ODE’s Strategic Initiatives Officer, is serving as Interim Deputy Director of Operations through fall 2026.
Read more about each of the new faces...
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Submitted by the Oregon Health Authority
National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance highlighting the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. In Oregon and around the world, vaccine-preventable diseases are still a threat, from polio to whooping cough to measles. Our state, like many others, has seen an increase in measles, with 35 cases reported in the state as of July 29. Measles can be dangerous, with common complications including ear infection, lung infection, and diarrhea. Swelling of the brain is a rare but much more serious complication, and approximately one to three of every 1,000 measles cases will be fatal.
The MMR vaccine provides excellent protection for most people against measles, with two doses being 97% effective at preventing the disease. When vaccination rates in a community are very high, about 95% for measles, the virus can’t find enough hosts to spread easily, so vulnerable community members like children too young to be vaccinated are better protected.
More about Immunization Awareness Month...
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