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February 2024 Education Update

Oregon Achieves... Together!

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

ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams 

Dear Education Community,

Happy Black History Month and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month! Some of you may know, my journey in education was powerfully influenced by Black teachers and allies who exposed me to representation in multiple fields and cultivated a belief that I could do anything. I was in awe of Black pioneers such as Mary McCLoud Bethune, Dr. Charles Drew, Garrett Morgan, Madam C.J. Walker, Shirley Chisolm, Carter G. Woodson, Lewis Lattimer, Harriet Tubman, Ben Carson, Elijah McCoy and so many others. Thanks to strategic efforts to diversify the STEM field, I entered education as a mathematics instructor and have been on a mission ever since to eliminate barriers for students. This month, we would like to highlight this story about an ODE grant to increase diversity in computer science. We are grateful for opportunities to partner with educators to provide these important experiences for Oregon students.

Short Session Priorities

We are in the midst of the short legislative session and we remain committed to our efforts to accelerate learning for our scholars. We are pleased to be working with the Governor’s Office and Rep. McLain on HB 4082 for Summer Learning funding and with Sen. Jama on SB 1532, which will codify and provide grant funding for the Refugee/Immigrant Student Success Plan.

Our budget priorities for short session are as follows, (more detailed information can be found here):

Priority 1: Strengthening Student Academic Success & Wellbeing
  • Summer Learning for 2024
  • Student Safety
  • Early Literacy Success Initiative: Birth to Five, Community and Tribal Grants
  • Transformative Social Emotional Learning Framework and Standards
Priority 2: Improving Customer Service
  • Financial Transparency Dashboard
Priority 3: Executing Legislature’s 2023 Priorities
  • Special Education Stipends
  • Curricula supplements on opioid-abuse prevention
Priority 4: Filling Budget Gaps to Maintain Services
  • Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE)
  • Maintaining access to healthy food among child care providers
  • Community Care Demonstration Project

Accountability

This month, we are excited to announce that we are launching our accountability workgroup. This amazing group of stakeholders will help us create a comprehensive accountability framework to ensure resources are appropriately, effectively, and efficiently utilized to produce successful outcomes and experiences for students. I can’t spill all of the tea at this time, but promise to keep you updated. Stay tuned.

Let’s Go!

It’s time to move Oregon to the front of the line, not just recover. I have had the privilege of meeting and visiting with many of you at your sites across the state and our shared priorities remain. Let’s leverage every resource available to ensure scholars can thrive: urgently addressing attendance, creating extended learning time and providing high-dosage tutoring. We must continue to work to strengthen our core. Let’s assure our curricular and instructional practices are top tier, culturally responsive tools that will accelerate learning.

In Love and Justice,

Dr. Charlene Williams

February is Black History Month

February is Black History Month, and although Black history should be included and celebrated year-round, it is worth recalling that the original celebration of Black history, championed by Carter G. Woodson was first recognized in 1926 and was only one week long. It took another fifty years for a declaration of Black History Month. While heritage months are helpful reminders of our national past, we have seen tremendous progress among social science and humanities educators working to include Black history not merely as the shaded pages of a U.S. History textbook but as a bright thread running through the fabric of the human story. We teach Black history because of its centrality to U.S. and world history.

This month's Oregon Open Learning newsletter is dedicated to celebrating K-12 Black History Open Educational Resources (OER) as well as listening to the voices of Oregon educators. There are more than 70 Oregon Open Learning Black History OER, including many for elementary classrooms.

Class of 2023 Achieves Second Highest Graduation Rate Ever in Oregon

The statewide graduation rate for the class of 2023 is 81.3 percent, tying the previous class as the second highest graduation rate ever recorded in Oregon, according to data released by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).

While the overall rate held steady, some student groups reached all-time highs for graduation including former English Learners (87.6%) and Migrant students (81.6%).

“These 37,700 graduates overcame historic challenges to earn their diploma. During their journey to graduation the class of 2023 endured the full, multi-year impact of COVID and its aftermath,” said Dr. Charlene Williams, Oregon Department of Education Director. “Each diploma represents an inspiring step forward for a student, their loved ones, and their community. With impressive grit and resourcefulness they worked their way through the jarring and isolating impacts of the pandemic to earn their education. We need to maintain high expectations and provide high levels of support that will lead to academic excellence for all of our students. Each and every child from birth through 5th grade must be set up for success in learning to read and reading to learn and be provided opportunities to find their path to graduation success and their dream career.”

“I am never satisfied when it comes to our kids. We will continue working hard to improve results in the coming school years,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “Still, it’s important that we are seeing some positive results in key areas where the state has been targeting resources, such as career and technical education and supporting English Language Learners. This targeted approach to success is working for our students, so let’s do more of that, and I hope lawmakers support summer learning investment in the 2024 session.”

More details on the graduation rates are available in the January 25, 2024 press release.

ODE In the News

Student Spotlight


February is CTE Month

Each February we celebrate Career and Technical Education (CTE) and the opportunities that students receive by participation in programs that help them develop technical skills, employability skills and self-awareness about their employment options. Early career exploration provides valuable insights into individual interests and aptitudes, enabling students to align their passions with a suitable CTE program. Now is also a great time to energize students to consider participating in a CTE program of study during forecasting.

What is your school or district doing to feature the accomplishments of CTE programs of study? Are you thanking CTE teachers, highlighting student work, and hosting a CTE showcase event for students and families? Revisit the January CCL newsletter for ideas and resources to promote CTE in your school or district! Share with the rest of the state too!

To promote the importance of CTE, the CTE Youth Advisory Council, sponsored by the Oregon Department of Education and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, has launched the #ThisIsCTE social media campaign in February 2024. Follow ODE on X to see how students are engaging, growing and learning thanks to CTE.

State Board Approves Temporary Rule In Response to Winter Storm

We recognize students need to be in school with access to opportunities for instructional time and we appreciate all of your efforts to provide rich instructional time for Oregon’s scholars.

Several weeks ago, ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams shared a memo outlining ODE’s plan to pursue a temporary rule with the State Board of Education that would provide districts up to 14 hours of instructional time due to school closures caused by extreme weather.

OAR 581-002-0035 Waivers and Permissions was adopted by the State Board at its meeting on February 15.

This is a temporary rule in line with steps the state took in 2017 following an emergency weather declaration. This temporary rule is specific to this school year in response to the devastating impacts of the January winter storm. There is no requirement that a district pursue this waiver. For districts that do apply, there is no requirement that they request the full allowable 14 hours.

Differentiated Solution Path for Instructional Time Shortfalls

Under this temporary rule, districts faced with a significant number of lost days due to inclement weather have two options for the 2023-24 school year.

  1. Permission Option: Districts can request permission under 581-002-0035(4) to count towards the instructional time requirement up to 14 hours for emergency school closures due to adverse weather conditions and facilities failures.
  2. Waiver Option: If 14 hours is not enough given the impact the storm had on school facilities and operational capacity, a district may request a one-year waiver of the instructional time requirement, under the existing Division 22 waiver provision in OAR 581-002-0035(1). Requests for a Division 22 waiver must be made in writing and must be approved by a vote of the State Board. Districts seeking a waiver should contact Susan Payne, ODE’s Education Standards and Systems Specialist, for more information.

Instructions for Submitting Permission Requests (for up to 14 hours)

Districts shall submit their requests to the Director’s office via this form. Requests must include:

  • an explanation for school closures, including the extent of any damages
  • the date on which the local School Board approved the request
  • any steps the district is taking to add instructional time to the schedule and/or calendar
  • a copy of the revised calendar and bell schedules (if applicable)

Permission may be granted by ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams so long as the request meets the requirements of the rule and demonstrates that the district has exhausted alternatives for adding back instructional time. Districts may expect to receive a response to their request within 5 business days. 

We know these unprecedented weather events are becoming more frequent. As we move forward, we must always be clear about the importance of instructional time for students and work with our partners in districts and the legislature to ensure that time is protected. I’ll also note that legislators are currently considering House Bill 4082, legislation that would provide substantial funding for summer learning opportunities across the state. Given the disrupted learning many students have faced this year due to extreme weather and other factors, I’m hopeful we can give our students more time to learn and engage with trusted, caring adults and build connections with each other this summer.