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Recovery Schools

Recovery Schools Overview

HB 2767 (2023) establishes a limited number of approved Recovery High Schools in Oregon. These schools under an agreement with the Department of Education (DOE), will provide students with a specialized high school education experience tailored to meet the needs of students with substance use and co-occurring behavioral health challenges. The new law requires standards for approval of recovery schools, and the operation of recovery schools to include academic standards, substance use recovery services, graduation program evaluation, and recovery school accreditation guidance.

ODE may establish up to three (3) approved recovery schools for the 2024-25 school year and three more each biennium until there are a total of nine (9) schools.

What is the purpose of Recovery High Schools?

Recovery high schools serve several essential purposes in supporting students in recovery from substance use and co-occurring behavioral health challenges. These schools are a school of choice for students and are not to be used as placement options.

  • Safe and Supportive Environment: Recovery high schools provide a safe and supportive environment where students can focus on their recovery from substance use and pursue a traditional high school diploma without the pressures and triggers that may exist in traditional high school settings.
  • Academic Continuity: Recovery high schools ensure that students continue an educational path that leads to graduation while receiving the necessary support and resources to address their substance use and co-occurring behavioral health care needs.
  • Comprehensive Services: Recovery high schools offer a comprehensive approach to recovery support, integrating substance use education, mental and behavioral health supports, and coping skills development into academic coursework.
  • Peer Support and Sense of Community: Recovery high schools provide a sense of community and belonging for students who may feel isolated or misunderstood in traditional high school settings. These communities are small by design to enhance bonds between students and enable staff to differentiate instruction and support to meet the student's needs.
  • Long-Term Recovery Support: By addressing substance use and co-occurring behavioral health challenges early in adolescence, recovery high schools help students develop the skills, resources, and support networks they need to maintain long-term recovery and lead healthy, fulfilling lives beyond high school.

The Approved Recovery School Application is open between June 7, 2024 and July 8, 2024 at 3:00pm.


2024 Application Timeline

  • June 7 - Application Open

  • June 17, 11:00am - Pre-Application Conference

  • June 18, 11:00am - Pre-Application Conference

  • June 24, 3:00pm - All questions, requests for clarification due to the SPC

  • July 1 - Answers to questions and requests for clarification will be issued

  • July 8, 3:00pm - RFA Closes - All applications must be submitted no later than 3:00pm

  • August 2024 - Issuance of Notice of Award


Single Point of Contact (SPC): All questions regarding this application must be routed through the SPC: Lena Baisden-Cleave: Lena.Baisden-Cleave@ode.oregon.gov


Request for Application:


Recovery Schools Advisory Committee

The Recovery Schools Advisory Committee will generally meet quarterly. 
Upcoming meetings for 2024:

July 24, 2024
August 14, 2024
September 25, 2024
October 16, 2024
November 13, 2024


See the RSAC Meetings page for more details.

Contacts

You can submit questions and inquiries regarding Recovery Schools to ode.recoveryschools@ode.oregon.gov