August 2024 Education Update

Oregon Achieves... Together!

A Message from Oregon Department of Education Director Dr. Charlene Williams

We know that children are far better learners when they are properly fueled up. For tens of thousands of Oregon children, schools provide a vital source of nutrition. The fruits, vegetables and grains in their breakfast and lunch help them grow strong bodies and minds, and contribute directly to their ability to read, calculate, build healthy relationships, problem solve and learn.

But during the summer months, when schools are out, that resource goes missing for many. Which is why sites like the Salem Boys and Girls Club, that provides meals and activities for families during the summer, are so important.

Last month I had the honor of participating in a kickoff for the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program alongside Oregon Department of Human Services Director Fariborz Pakseresht and U.S.D.A. Western Regional Administrator Jesus Mendoza. The Epping Homestead Branch of the Boys and Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties, which offers a Summer Meals program, hosted this inspiring event.

Summer EBT is an all hands on deck moment to ensure Oregon kids are provided the food and nutrition support they need to thrive in the summertime and beyond.

Just like Summer Learning addresses unfinished learning between school years, accelerates academic achievement and strengthens student well-being, Summer Meals keep students connected to proper nutrition so they can stay active and engaged while classes are out. And it’s why Oregon jumped at the chance to provide Summer EBT to eligible families this year. Giving our families more access to groceries during the summer means students will show up for the first day of class ready to learn.

It was such a pleasure to sit with some of our scholars on site and hear about their favorite foods and experiences in school.

The results of the Summer EBT launch have exceeded expectations thus far, with the families of more than 321,000 children automatically getting the benefits; but we know that there are many more families out there who have children who may be eligible for the $120 Summer EBT benefit.

Please encourage families to visit the Summer EBT website or connect with the call center (833-673-7328) to start receiving this benefit.

And we encourage our schools and Summer Meals providers to have flyers on site to raise awareness and get our families the benefits they qualify for. Thank you to everyone who worked hard to get the new Summer EBT program up and running in such a short time. This program is a stellar example of how much we can help Oregon’s students and families when we work together toward a common goal.

Wildfire Information Available Online

Wildfires are again affecting communities across Oregon. Much of the state is impacted, either directly from the fires or from the smoke from fires in Oregon, other western states and Canada. Multiple state agencies are teaming up to provide the most up-to-date information available online about wildfires in the state. In addition, the Oregon Smoke Information page is a collaboration of local, state, tribal and federal organizations to coordinate and share information about wildfire smoke affecting Oregon communities.

Start Planning Now for Attendance Awareness Month in September!

The Every Day Matters team is designing some key resources for schools and districts to use that will support a strong start to the 2024-2025 school year. Our goal is to provide these resources and share promising practices to start the year strong! Join us for a VIRTUAL meetup on Monday, August 5, @ 4:00 pm. Please register online.

New for the 2024-2025 School Year! The Every Day Matters team will be hosting a virtual Attendance Community of Practice, aimed at providing support and resources to personnel working directly with students to address barriers to attendance and the root causes of chronic absenteeism. Please share with your networks! Online registration is also available for this year-long Community of Practice.

Early Indicator & Intervention Systems (EIIS) Virtual Summer Intensive

Kickstart your school year with a virtual three-day Early Indicator and Intervention Systems (EIIS) intensive, August 13-15! Facilitators will be available to consult with teams on their EIIS goals and strategies for the upcoming school year.

2024-25 School Year Opportunities

Three Learning Series will be offered beginning in September: EIIS: Foundations for Student Success, EIIS at Middle and High School and the EIIS Community of Practice. Please view the Learning Series flyer for more information about the learning series offered, schedule and registration.

ODE In the News

KDRV in Medford showed how the Phoenix-Talent School District used a Community Care Demonstration Project grant from ODE to open a Community Resource Center.
Jefferson Public Radio talked with ODE Child Nutrition Specialist Cathy Brock about Summer Meals and the Summer EBT program.
Ashland.News attended the Black Youth Summer Institute at Southern Oregon University where ODE Director Dr. Charlene Willams and Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Deb Lange both spoke to the students.

Student Spotlight

OPB featured a Salem-Keizer student who graduated a year early thanks in part to using work experience for credit.
KOIN spoke with three Lake Oswego students who started a non-profit to get more kids playing instruments.
The Bend Bulletin highlighted three high school students seeing the benefits of staying in the Girl Scouts past the time when most drop out.
The Oregonian interviewed the first Oregon student to win the National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest.

Let’s get back on track with routine vaccinations

(Submitted by the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division)

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the efforts of health care professionals to protect patients of all ages and communities against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Vaccines save lives. Vaccines are safe and effective for preventing potentially life-threatening diseases in children and adults. NIAM serves as an important reminder to stay current on routine health care visits and recommended vaccinations. It also reminds us that there are many social, geographic, political, economic, and environmental factors that create challenges to vaccination access and acceptance. These are challenges that public health works to overcome. If you have questions, talk to a health care professional you trust about vaccines.

In Oregon and around the world, vaccine-preventable diseases are still a threat, from polio to measles to whooping cough. Without high immunization levels, communities are at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks. Our state, like many others, is experiencing outbreaks of measles and whooping cough and a decline in some routine vaccinations.

During NIAM, encourage your family, friends and community members to schedule appointments to ensure we all are up to date on annual exams and recommended vaccines. Remind people in Oregon that immunization is part of a healthy life and one of public health’s most successful interventions. If you or someone you know is not sure how to access immunizations, OHA’s Guide to Getting Vaccines in Oregon can help find vaccines or get insurance to pay for them. Sharing your science-based vaccination stories with family, friends and neighbors is also one of the most effective ways to be part of someone’s vaccination journey.

As your children head back to school this fall, it is particularly important for you to work with your child’s health care provider to make sure they are caught up on well-child visits and recommended vaccines. In the 2023-2024 school year, 91% of students in Oregon were complete for all school-required vaccines, 7.2% had a nonmedical exemption and less than 1% had a medical exemption. Check the OHA website to learn what immunizations are required for your child to attend school in Oregon.

Remember to take care of yourself, too. Make sure to receive any vaccines you need to stay healthy. Stay up to date on your immunizations and boosters, and plan to get your seasonal flu immunization this fall. Use CDC’s adult vaccine assessment tool to see which vaccines might be right for you.

Together, we can protect ourselves, our families and our community. Enjoy your summer knowing you are doing your part to keep people in Oregon safe from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Oregon Non-Profit Recognized by U.S. Department of Education

Congratulations to Todos Juntos for being named one of 13 inaugural champions of the Engage Every Student Recognition Program by the U.S Department of Education!

Based in Canby, Todos Juntos received the recognition for its use of American Recovery Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to expand access to afterschool and summer learning for youth.

Todos Juntos leveraged $120,000 in ESSER funding in partnership with the Canby, Estacada, Molalla, Sandy and Clackamas School Districts to provide afterschool and summer learning programming to more than 1,000 elementary and middle school students. In addition to engaging students in tutoring services to boost their learning outcomes and self-confidence, Todos Juntos offers enriching afterschool clubs and provides a safe and stimulating environment for children to explore various interests such as arts, sports and STEM activities, fostering creativity, teamwork and personal growth.