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April 2022 Education Update

Oregon Achieves... Together!

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

ODE Director Colt Gill 

This summer, Oregon will command the center of attention in the world of track and field.

For the first time in the meet’s history, the World Athletics Championships will be held in the United States. It’s appropriate that legendary Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene will host the World Athletics Championships Oregon22.

Using Oregon22 As A Teaching Tool

Event organizers are using the championship’s Making Tracks youth engagement program to help students connect what they are learning in class to the world around them.

The program offers resources across five categories:

  • Global explorations – More than 200 countries will have athletes participating in Oregon22. It’s a great way to teach about the geography, history and culture of the athletes and the countries they represent.
  • Career explorations – It takes thousands of employees and volunteers to make Oregon22 run smoothly. Project management, marketing, finance, medical and media are just some of the career areas that are a part of making Oregon22 happen.
  • Arts and culture – With so many countries participating, there is a great opportunity to explore the diversity of languages, art and culture they represent through reading comprehension, research, writing and art creation skills.
  • STEM - Physics and physiology are at the center of the action at any track and field meet and with all of the timing and results, there is plenty to explore in math and statistics. Technology and engineering come into play in everything from the clothes the athletes wear and equipment they use to how performance can be measured to hundredths of a second.
  • Active healthy lifestyles – The elite athletics on display can lead us all to become more active and could spark a student’s interest to take up one or more of the disciplines they see.

Many of the Making Tracks resources can be used long after the last medals are awarded at Oregon22.

I encourage everyone to review the resources and enjoy the pageantry and athleticism on display this summer in Eugene.

Check out the message from Oregon22 organizers about the event and other ways student and schools can participate.

New Report Reveals Community Partnerships are Key in Advancing Equity and Inclusion for Children Under Five Experiencing Disabilities

On March 31, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), Early Learning Division (ELD) and early learning system leaders and advocates around the state released the Oregon Early Childhood Inclusion Indicators Initiative Annual Report.

The report outlines the vision, mission, and progress towards creating equal opportunity to access high-quality early care and education for children experiencing disabilities. It also highlights the need for continued investments to ensure families, providers, general and special education staff have the support they need to provide stable and continuous care for young children in community and early care and education environments.

See our press release for more information about the report.

CTE Find Yourself Here Videos

The Secondary and Postsecondary Transitions team launched a media campaign in February to highlight Career Technical Education (CTE) Month.

As a way to reframe the way people view CTE, the campaign showcases the value of CTE as a path to career while helping learners embrace CTE as part of their dreams and aspirations. This outreach effort focuses on connecting with students and families from communities of color, as these groups have historically been underrepresented in CTE programs.

Using student voices, these videos center on how CTE courses keep students interested in school, find an area of study they are passionate about and prepare them for a career.

Oregon Draft 2022 K-12 Science Standards

In March 2021, ODE staff began conducting community outreach listening sessions and opened a public feedback form (May 2021 - January 2022) regarding the current K-12 Oregon Science Standards.

Since August 2021, the Oregon Science Standards Advisory Panel has been reviewing public input and engaging in discourse on next steps for K-12 science education standards alongside the Oregon Department of Education staff.

If you would like to provide input on the draft K-12 2022 Oregon Science Standards and the flexibility in middle school science sequencing, please use the 2022 Science Draft Standards Feedback form.

For additional information or questions, please contact Jamie Rumage, ODE Science Education Specialist.

Legislation Increases Oregon Promise Grant Dollars for Low-income Grantees, Expands Eligibility

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) announced this month that thanks to the approval of Senate Bill 1522 by the Oregon Legislature and Governor Brown, low-income recipients of the Oregon Promise Grant pursuing community college will receive more funds to help with rising college costs and eligibility for this financial aid program has been widened. The Oregon Promise is a state grant that helps to cover tuition costs at any Oregon community college for recent high school and GED® test graduates. With high school graduation on the horizon for many students, now is a great opportunity to remind students to complete their application for the Oregon Promise grant, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or an Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) to take advantage of this grant and other aid for which they may qualify.

Student Spotlight

COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Providers now Available

The Early Learning Division (ELD) released updated guidance for COVID-19 and child care settings to mirror the statewide requirements that were adjusted this spring.

Some of the key guidance changes include:

  • Updated exclusion requirements and recommendations for child care
  • Mask recommendations that encourage programs to support individual choice to wear a mask
  • Updated recommendations for prevention strategies
  • Who to notify if there’s a case of COVID-19 in a facility

Links to the guidance in additional languages are available on the ELD website.

Educator Advancement Council Update

Educator Advancement Council March Meeting Recap: Balancing power from the ground up by aligning policy, practices, and values. During the months of February, March, and April, the Council has been, and will be, meeting to discuss one of its foundational documents, the Inter-Governmental Agreement. March’s discussion was focused on examining part of the IGA that address power structures inside of the Council itself. Read the full recap.

The Educator Advancement Council is recruiting four Director seats and we need YOUR VOICE. Learn more and apply by April 25th.

Just Launched - new EAC website: Visit our new features, such as our Events Calendar, Live Feed, and News Feed.

Announcing the Tribal Nations Educator Collaborative: The EAC is pleased to announce the adoption of the title "Tribal Nations Educator Collaborative", formerly known as the Indigenous/Tribal Educator Institute. The adoption of the new name better embraces the EAC's value and intention of co-creating this body of work with the nine federally recognized Tribal nations and tribal education partners. More about the Collaborative.

Graduation Honor Seals Available

Graduation is just around the corner! Oregon public school students who earn a 3.5 GPA or above are eligible for an honor diploma seal. School registrars are welcome to request diploma seals via phone call, email or fax to the ODE front desk. Contact information is provided on the request form which can be found on the Oregon Diploma webpage.

ODE In the News