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Update on Federal Actions

Page updated April 10, 2025.

Our Statement

ODE remains committed to making sure students have the tools and resources to thrive, to continue our vision for serving each and every scholar receiving education in Oregon. ODE is actively assessing all executive orders that have been introduced and their potential impacts on Oregon.

Current Situation

ODE received formal notification from the U.S. Department of Education that the agency’s more than $3.5-million COVID-era, congressionally appropriated dollars earmarked to help teachers improve student’s literacy and math skills were terminated, effective March 28th, ten months earlier than anticipated.

ODE is currently reviewing the latest information from the U.S. Department of Education. We’ll provide updates if and when changes are needed. 

Our Stance On Recent Orders and Letters

On April 10, 2025, the Oregon Department of Education sent a response to the U.S. Department of Education’s “Request for Certification” letter​.

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​What happens now that the U.S. Department of Education is releasing half of its workforce?

The Oregon Department of Education is closely monitoring for any specific impacts that these changes will have on Oregon. The immediate impacts are unclear and as we process what these changes to workforce mean for the system here in Oregon, we will clearly communicate any impact. ODE remains focused on ensuring the best interests of our students and our schools remain at the forefront of our work.

What if a Presidential Executive Order Is Introduced to Close the United States Department of Education?

We want to be clear - an executive order cannot eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, nor would it automatically disrupt state and local education systems. Changes of this magnitude would require congressional action, legal processes, and significant political negotiation.​

On March 5​​, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined several other state attorneys general in releasing guidance for K-12 schools and institutions of higher education.

The guidance addresses diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility issues​ in the context of the Feb. 14 “Dear Colleague” letter from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, and federal civil rights law.


The Dear Colleague letter does not change existing federal law. The letter reiterates the existing requirement that entities receiving federal financial assistance follow federal civil rights laws. School Districts should continue to comply with federal civil rights laws.

Oregon has long-standing core values and statutory commitments to ensure that every child is entitled to a high-quality educational experience free from discrimination or harassment, in compliance with federal laws. Those commitments to the principles of anti-discrimination, equity, and inclusion are reflected in many different laws, including: disability rights in education (ORS 659A.103), rights to public spaces (ORS 659A.403), prohibitions on discrimination (ORS 659.850), pay equity (ORS 652), educator equity (ORS 342), the Oregon Sanctuary Law (ORS 180.805 - 180.810 and ORS 181A.820 - 181A.829), and more.

These laws rest upon decades of bipartisan efforts by Oregon policymakers to advance equitable access to educational opportunity.

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The Oregon Department of Education remains committed to equity and excellence for every learner, which includes ensuring that students are able to attend school free from discrimination and harassment. Schools are required to adhere to state and federal civil rights laws creating nondiscriminatory environments and addressing illegal discrimination.

Recent actions and communications from the federal government have led to questions about Oregon school districts’ ongoing obligations to implement or comply with state and federal laws with respect to the protected classes of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

This is general information for Oregon K-12 public schools and public charter schools as they start to navigate these challenges. This information is not legal advice and ODE encourages school districts to consult with their own legal counsel in dealing with the issues addressed in this message.

Key Takeaways

  • Oregon public schools must comply with Oregon nondiscrimination law, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in accordance with ORS 659.850.
  • Federally funded schools, including Oregon K-12 public schools, must comply with all applicable Title IX regulations. OCR has directed schools to implement the 2020 Title IX regulations moving forward. School districts are encouraged to consult with their legal counsel regarding their obligations to comply with Title IX.

Oregon Nondiscrimination Law

Oregon law prohibits schools funded by money from the Oregon Legislative Assembly from discriminating on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity in any public education program or service, school or interschool activity.

ODE expects that schools will continue to comply with Oregon nondiscrimination law, and will not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. ORS 659.850 prohibits schools from discriminating against any person based on a protected class, including sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Schools that receive complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity should process those complaints in accordance with their adopted nondiscrimination policies and procedures. Questions about the application of Oregon nondiscrimination law to specific schools or scenarios should be directed to school district legal counsel. ODE will continue to accept discrimination complaints in compliance with ORS 659.850.

ODE will continue to provide training and technical assistance on Oregon nondiscrimination law and on creating safe environments for LGBTQ2SIA+ students.

Title IX

All Oregon public K-12 school districts that receive federal funding must comply with Title IX as a federal civil rights law.

Recent court decisions and communications from the federal government may require school districts to reassess their Title IX compliance. 

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a Notice of Interpretation stating that it will interpret Title IX’s prohibitions on sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. We recognize that many Oregon school districts may have acted in reliance on that position statement by OCR. USDOE subsequently incorporated sexual orientation and gender identity into the definition of sex discrimination in the revised Title IX regulations released in 2024. 

However, a January 9, 2025, court order vacated the 2024 Title IX regulations, finding (among other things) that the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity into Title IX was improper. And in a “Dear Colleague” Letter dated February 4, 2025, OCR stated that “…open Title IX investigations initiated under the 2024 Title IX Rule should be immediately reevaluated to ensure consistency with the requirements of the 2020 Title IX Rule and the preexisting regulations at 34 C.F.R. 106 et seq.”

Schools are encouraged to consult with legal counsel for assistance regarding compliance with Title IX. ODE will continue to provide training and technical assistance to assist K-12 schools in complying with the regulatory requirements of Title IX. Upcoming training opportunities will be advertised on ODE’s Title IX listserv.​

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Federal Programs

State tax dollars represent the largest share of funding for public schools in Oregon. Around 86% of the legislatively approved budget for ODE in the 2023-25 biennium came from state tax dollars. For the 2024 federal fiscal year, ODE will receive $1.841 billion in federal funds. Nearly 95% of that, $1.750 billion, goes to school districts. These are the main programs administered by ODE that are funded through federal revenue. Click on the "+" symbol for a quick explanation and links to more resources about each program.

$498 milllion for the 2024-25 school year

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was signed into law in 1965, with the goal of improving educational equity for students by providing federal funds to school districts serving students experiencing poverty. ESEA is the single largest source of federal spending on elementary and secondary education, and was reauthorized in 2015 as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Formula grants under ESEA are noncompetitive grants that local educational agencies (LEAs) are eligible for based on each title’s criteria. Formula grants under ESEA that affect the majority of Oregon school districts are primarily governed by:

Smaller formula grants under ESEA that serve specific student groups or schools include:

Competitive grants under ESEA:

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More information is available on the ESEA page.​


​198 million​ in the 2024-25 school year

The I​ndividuals with Disabilities Education Act​, as amended in 2004 (IDEA 2004-PL 108-446), is a federal law governing special education services and federal funding for eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities across the country. Children and youth (ages 3-21) receive special education and related services under IDEA, Part B. Infants and toddlers with disabilities (ages birth-2) and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. In Oregon, IDEA funds helped support the education of almost 83,000 children with disabilities in the past year. 

Formula grants under IDEA are noncompetitive grants that local educational agencies (LEAs) are eligible for based on application approval aligned with IDEA requirements. In addition to LEAs, IDEA funds also support a variety of special programs that impact the majority of Oregon school districts which include: 

$230 million for the 2024-25 school year

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP)​ is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions, providing nutritionally balanced, low-cost, or no-cost lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1946.

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In Oregon, more than 64 million meals will be served to students in Oregon schools in the 2024-25 school year.​

Other federal child nutrition programs include:

$18 million in 2024

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act reauthorized the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (usually just called Perkins). It is a federal education program that invests in secondary and post-secondary Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in the United States. ODE administers the federal funds through the Oregon Career and Technical Education (CTE) State Plan​.

$1​ million for the 2024-25 school year.

The STOP School Violence Act of 2018 was created to improve school safety and security by providing students, teachers, and officers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and prevent acts of violence. The STOP School Violence Act provides funds to the Department of Justice through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing (COPS Office) to support grantees. For more information visit the BJA website​.​

Other Resources

Guidance for Schools Supporting Immigrant Students and Families

This statewide resource provides school districts with information and resources necessary to continue to provide safe, welcoming environments for all students and to safeguard the rights and privacy of every student and their family: Supporting All of Oregon’s Students: Guidance for protecting and upholding the rights of immigrant students in Oregon’s K-12 public schools.

Oregon’s Sanctuary Laws

Visit the Oregon Department of Justice Sanctuary Promise Community Toolkit for information and resources.

Call Oregon's Sanctuary Promise Response Hotline to report a suspected violation, get support or be connected to resources (844-924-7829, Monday - Friday).