May 2023 Education Update

Oregon Achieves... Together!

A Message from the Director of the Oregon Department of Education, Colt Gill

Watch ODE Director Colt Gill's message to the Class of 2023!

May Is…

There is a lot to commemorate in May! Click on each link below for resources that will help incorporate these topics into schools:

Oregon School for the Deaf Student Competes on National Stage

Congratulations to Oregon School for the Deaf junior Kari Morgan who represented the state this week at the National Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, D.C. And while Kari did not make it to the final round, she represented our state and her school very well. You can check out the Oregon School for the Deaf’s Facebook page for plenty of pictures of Kari’s experience in the nation’s capital. You can also watch one of her performances that earned her the 2023 state title back in March. It’s the second consecutive year an OSD student won the state competition. Trayshun Holmes-Gournaris was the 2022 champ.

May 12 is Provider Appreciation Day!

Early Learning Division Director Alyssa Chatterjee made the following statement about Provider Appreciation Day on May 12:

This week, Oregon joins states around the country in recognizing the important work of child care providers, with Provider Appreciation Day on May 12th. We know that 95% of a child’s brain growth occurs before the age of five, and 65% of all children under the age of six have both parents in the workforce. With dedication and professional skills, child care providers create spaces that support children to learn and thrive while also making it possible for families to be successful in the workforce. Simply put, child care providers are the workers that make all work possible.

But Oregon is in the midst of a child care crisis. With a limited availability of affordable child care across the state before the pandemic, we know that over 7% of the early learning and child care workforce has left the industry, further impacting families and preventing parents from returning to the workforce. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we recognize the important role that child care providers play in Oregon’s economy and children’s development. The creation of the Department of Early Learning and Care is a positive step forward in unifying and strengthening high-quality early learning and care for Oregon families and children.

Child care providers don’t just make it possible for families to work. The earliest years of a child’s life are critical – they lay the foundation for the brain and body architecture that will support a child’s ability to learn, and for lifelong social, emotional, and physical health. This Provider Appreciation Day, let’s show our gratitude for those who support the social, emotional, and physical care of our youngest children.

Healthy Families Oregon Celebrates 30 Years

Healthy Families Oregon (HFO) is celebrating 30 years of supporting families in building a strong foundation for our communities and families.

HFO is a free, voluntary home visiting program offering support and education to Oregon families who are expecting or parenting newborns.

During home visits, each family’s values and strengths are honored. Trained staff support and empower parents to build nurturing parent-child relationships, learn about child development, and access community resources. Families choose to participate in weekly home visits for six months or longer, depending on what they need and want. The visits can continue for up to three years.

To learn more about HFO and find a program near you, visit the HFO webpage.

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Twenty-four million people in the United States identify as Asian with 1.6 million identifying as Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or a combination. AANHPI Heritage Month gives us the opportunity to recognize the unique experiences, traditions and cultures of people in these communities living in America. Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month began as a week-long celebration in the late 1970s becoming a month-long celebration in 1990. The month of May was chosen in honor of the first Japanese immigrants who came to the United States and the completion of the transcontinental railroad, which both occurred during May. Today, AANHPI communities speak over 100 languages in over 50 ethnic groups throughout the U.S., with ties tracing back to Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Hawaiian and other Asian and Pacific Islander ancestries.

The Importance of AANHPI Heritage Month for Students

AANHPI communities are often overlooked in U.S. history with 42% of Americans reporting they are unable to name a single Asian American historical experience. It’s important for young people with Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander ancestry to feel safe, seen and celebrated — not just during AANHPI Heritage Month, but year-round.

Resources for AANHPI Month

May is Jewish American Heritage Month

Jewish Americans have been a part of Oregon since the mid-1800s and have played an important role in the state it is today.

Read the White House proclamation
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Jewish Americans who helped form the fabric of American history, culture and society
ODE Resources on the Holocaust
Teacher resources from the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education

ODE In the News

The Roseburg News-Review and KQEN Radio in Roseburg both reported on the Wellness Award that ODE gives out every year with the help of the Nutrition Council of Oregon, the Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council and OregonASK.

Seeking Teachers and Teacher Leaders

A new ESSER III-funded partnership between Oregon State University and ODE will support hundreds of teachers and teacher leaders as they spearhead an effort to address unfinished learning, particularly within K-8 literacy and mathematics subject areas inclusive of multilingual learners and learners experiencing disabilities. Participants will identify problems of practice and co-design practical solutions to support teaching and learning for all students. Funding available for your work!

Learn more or indicate your interest in participating here.

About this initiative: Oregon has invested $9 million of the State Set-Aside Emergency and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER III) to support Oregon educators in addressing unfinished learning, specifically in literacy and mathematics. Through this partnership with OSU, ODE will invest funds to strengthen instructional leadership throughout the state, develop educator resources to accelerate student learning and create professional learning opportunities. Learn more about this and other ESSER III-funded initiatives on the ODE website. #ESSERImpactOR

U.S. Presidential Scholars Announced

On May 10, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 2023 class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, recognizing 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts and career and technical education fields.

Congratulations to Caroline Xingyan Gao of West Albany High School in the Greater Albany School District and Rishab K. Jain of Westview High School in the Beaverton School District for being named U.S. Presidential Scholars!

“U.S. Presidential Scholars have always represented the future of our country and the bright promise it holds. I want each of these remarkable students to know: your passion and intellect, pursuit of excellence, and spirit of service are exactly what our country needs,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “On behalf of President Biden, I am delighted to join your family, friends, and communities in celebrating your accomplishments. Aim high, share your talents, and continue embracing opportunities to lead as your exciting future unfolds.”

Provider Report Explores Pandemic-Driven Decisions

The COVID-19 pandemic brought widespread disruptions, closures, and chaos to early learning and care services and systems designed to support family well-being. To understand how state and local agencies could better support Oregon-based child care programs and help them remain open during public health emergencies or other situations that create pressure for closures, researchers at Portland State University (PSU) Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services (CCF) and OSLC Developments, Inc. (ODI) conducted a study.

The goal of this study was to learn from home-based child care providers who made the decision to close permanently during the pandemic and understand why they closed, and what, if any, supports might have enabled them to stay open and continue to serve families with young children.

Home-based providers represent an important component of the child care system and provide much-needed care for many of Oregon’s families who identify as Black, indigenous, and persons of color. Further, home-based providers may be less likely than center-based programs to have cash reserves and other resources that might help them stay in business during emergencies such as that posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To learn more, read the executive summary (multiple languages) and the entire report.

Student Spotlight

OSBA talked with Hillsboro students going through the high school apprenticeship program that is the first of its kind in the state.
The Ontario Argus Observer spotlighted two students graduating this spring who already each have 30 college credits to their name.
The Bend Source Weekly featured students creating assistive technologies to help their peers who are experiencing disabilities get through their school day easier.

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Positive mental health supports are crucial for building safe, welcoming school communities where all students, staff, and families can thrive. ODE has many exciting initiatives and resources aligned with its Integrated Model of Mental Health that support the mental health needs of Oregon’s school communities.

Launched in June 2022, Oregon Classroom WISE is a suite of free online resources available to anyone pursuing mental health literacy. It includes a host of print and video materials, guided tutorials and role plays, as well as interviews with students and school staff. Tailored course curriculums are available for multiple audiences, including students and families, classroom teachers, administrators and school counselors and school staff and community-based organizations.

The Community Care Demonstration Project (CCDP) is a collaboration between the Oregon Health Authority, University of Oregon, and four school districts across the state that responds to the health and mental health needs of Oregon’s school communities. A cornerstone of the project is the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of a model that embeds Community Care Specialists into public schools to provide linguistically and culturally responsive emotional support, and mental health and health service navigation to students and families.

In their first year these Specialists have provided health and mental health supports and service referrals to thousands of students and families, hosted family education events such as health fairs and insurance workshops, formed robust partnerships between their districts and community-based organizations and county agencies, and provided food, clothing, and shelter assistance.

Other mental health resources include:

May Is Military Appreciation Month

Military Appreciation Month takes place every year throughout the entire month of May.

Read the original designation by Congress passed in 1999.
The USO website has information about why it’s held in May.
Oregon is home to many military families. Read about the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and how it helps students in military families who move to Oregon from other states.

May Is Wildfire Awareness Month

Wildfires have had devastating impacts in Oregon recently and May is designated as the month to prepare for the upcoming fire season. Read how Governor Tina Kotek and other state leaders are preparing for the 2023 wildfire season. Then check out these resources for ways you can prevent and prepare for wildfires: