February 2026 Education Update

Oregon Achieves... Together!

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

Dear Education Community,

You’ve no doubt read or heard about the record graduation rate attained by Oregon’s Class of 2025. The 83% four-year graduation rate represents more than 500 additional students crossing the stage ready for what comes next.

Even more meaningful is that this progress shows up for several student groups who have too often faced the greatest barriers to success, including migrant students, students in special education, students in foster care, American Indian and Alaska Native students, students experiencing poverty, and students experiencing houselessness.

It’s a reflection of the hard work of students, families, educators, and communities across Oregon, and the numbers matter. Graduation changes life trajectories. It opens doors to college, career, and opportunity.

Graduation rates are given as numbers, but every number represents a young person whose success depends on the strength of our systems, our focus and our follow-through. A record graduation rate is worth celebrating. And at the same time, we know there is more work ahead, particularly in earlier grades, where outcomes like third-grade literacy tell us we need to act with urgency.

That’s why accountability matters. With the 2025 Education Accountability Act, we’re being clear about where we’re going, how we’ll measure progress, and what we’ll do when the data show we need to improve. Shared accountability, a system where there is not just commitment, but tangible follow-through, support, and improvement, is how we turn responsibility into results.

Our goal is simple and ambitious: every child, in every community across Oregon experiences improved academic outcomes in safe, welcoming schools and environments that nurture belonging and well-being. That’s the promise we’re making — and that’s the work we’re committed to delivering.

Focusing on Mental Health

And while that promise does not waiver, recent events in Oregon communities have made it harder to ensure our schools feel safe and welcoming for everyone. When the students and families we serve are dealing with additional stress and anxiety, it takes a toll on all of us. There are resources to help. This flyer has resources that promote and support health and well-being. And be sure to read the article below about upcoming Mental Health Office Hours.

Black History is American History

This month offers us a valuable opportunity to celebrate and deepen our understanding of the rich contributions of Black Americans throughout our history. It also serves as a lens through which we can examine modern policies and government actions and a powerful reminder that we are stronger together.

The legacies of Black individuals should be integrated into student learning year-round, but this month in particular, I encourage each of you to take part in activities and events honoring the achievements and legacies of Black leaders, artists, educators, and community members. As we do so, it is important to take a balanced and intentional approach by not only commemorating the struggles, persecution, and resilience that have shaped Black history, but also by uplifting and celebrating Black joy, creativity, excellence, and the ways Black communities continue to thrive.

Please use these resources to celebrate Black History Month, now and into the future.

Promoting Career and Technical Education

This month is also Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. It’s an opportunity to elevate and celebrate the accomplishments of Oregon’s CTE Programs.

CTE concentrators (students completing two or more credits in an approved CTE Program of Study) graduated at a record rate of 97.8%, 15.8 percentage points higher than the statewide average.

CTE Program numbers around Oregon are growing. In the 2021-22 school year, Oregon schools hosted a total of 1,038 CTE Programs of Study. Nearly 100 have been added since! Here’s a quick snapshot of recent growth:

2021-2022: 1,038
2022-2023: 1,061 (+23)
2023-2024: 1,086 (+25)
2024-2025: 1,120 (+34)
2025-2026: 1,125 (+5)

CTE helps learners make meaning and connect their education journey with future aspirations. Not only do CTE concentrators graduate at a rate significantly higher than the statewide average, students who take even a single CTE course experience higher graduation rates. CTE helps learners succeed by tapping into passion and opportunity.

Learn more about CTE in Oregon HERE.

Let’s continue to work towards an ambitious vision where every single student in Oregon leaves our school system ready to learn, ready to earn, and ready to thrive.

In Love and Justice,

Dr. Charlene Williams

Celebrating Black History Month in Our Classrooms

As we celebrate Black History Month, we have a valuable opportunity to deepen our students' understanding of the rich contributions, achievements, and ongoing legacy of Black Americans throughout our nation's history. This month offers a special chance to highlight often-overlooked narratives, celebrate Black excellence across all fields, and engage students in meaningful discussions about equity, justice, and representation.

We encourage educators to go beyond traditional approaches by incorporating Black history and achievements into their regular curriculum throughout the year.

Oregon Black Pioneers

Oregon Black Pioneers offers free, standards-aligned curriculum units that make Oregon's Black history come alive in the classroom.

Three Thematic Curriculum Units:

Black Pioneers and Trailblazers - Investigates how Black pioneers contributed to Oregon communities, trades, and culture.
Black Exclusion and Resistance - Examines how Black Oregonians experienced and challenged Oregon's anti-Black laws in the 19th century.
Black Activism and Civil Rights - Explores how Black Oregonians used collective power during the 1950s-1980s civil rights era.

Oregon Historical Society

Explore and download the Oregon Historical Society’s educational resources related to Black history. Materials include curricula, units, lessons, and other resources that are sorted by grade level and resource type.

Center for Geography Education in Oregon

Teaching Through Rather than About: Analyzing Black Histories and Geographies with Primary Sources is a free open-access book developed through C-GEO in collaboration with Oregon educators and local and national history organizations. It includes 11 secondary lesson chapters that model teaching through Black histories rather than about Black histories, utilizing a Black Historical Consciousness framework. Each chapter features:

Complete lesson plans with essential and supporting questions
Primary source analysis activities
Performance tasks
Adaptation and extension suggestions

The lessons emphasize centering Black voices and experiences as active agents in history rather than treating Black history as a separate topic.

PBS Documentary Series

Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History is a four-part documentary series exploring the rich, complex relationship between Black and Jewish Americans. Drawn together by shared experiences of racism and antisemitism, these communities forged civic and cultural bonds, particularly during the civil rights era. The series examines both the challenges and enduring promise of this alliance.

iCivics

Celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of independence, the Civic Star Challenge explores how Black Americans have shaped our nation and its civic life from the very beginning.

Mental Health, Well-Being, and Safety Office Hours

Making our schools safe, welcoming environments that nurture belonging and well-being doesn’t happen without a lot of hard work. Helping students navigate through their academic career plus the experiences they go through every day is complex. The Mental Health and Well-Being Staff at ODE would like to offer up space to bring questions, ask for resources, consult, and receive support on the following topics:

Substance use prevention & intervention
Transformative Social and Emotional Learning (TSEL)
Suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
School violence prevention
Trauma informed practices
Restorative practices
Mental health literacy
School Counseling Programs
Staff Well-being

If you are interested, register for the ODE Mental Health, Well-being, and School Safety Office Hours. Once the office hours start, you can select breakout rooms based on your area of interest. The first Office Hours will be from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. on March 11, 2026. Additional dates and times will be announced later. Subscribe to the ODE Mental Health listserv to be notified about those dates, as well as to receive future messages about mental health and well-being resources.

If you have any questions, please contact ODE.HealthySchools@ode.oregon.gov.

A Joint Vision for College Credit in High School

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) have been working to help shape a state vision for the future of college credit in high school. College credit in high school includes credit offered through partnerships between high schools and Oregon colleges and universities, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate programs.

In close partnership between ODE and HECC, the vision was created with engagement statewide, including a survey that received more than 600 responses from teachers, faculty, program coordinators and community members, among others.

At their December public meeting, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission voted to commit to a vision that will prioritize equitable access to college credit opportunities for all high school students. The State Board of Education learned more about the vision in their December public meeting and expressed their support for this work.

Vision for College Credit in High School

In support of the state’s education and workforce goals, every student in Oregon will have access to college credit in high school.
In these courses, students will build skills, gain confidence, and get a head start on their path after high school.
Through intentional partnerships, high schools, colleges, and universities will create purposeful career and college experiences that reduce the cost of college and encourage students to imagine and plan for their future.

The vision was presented by HECC and ODE staff as part of their work on a two-year policy development project through the College in High School Alliance. Oregon is one of seven states in this multi-state initiative working to advance state-level policy. This work builds on an already close partnership between ODE, HECC, and postsecondary institutions on college credit policy pursuant to state statute and administrative rule.

The Oregon agencies intend to work to achieve the new vision by focusing on affordability, sustainable funding, credits with a purpose, and shared responsibility between K-12 and higher education. Stay tuned for news on further implementation of this work!

2026 Statewide In-Service Day

ODE has received questions about the 2026 Statewide In-Service Day. Please know that each school district determines their own in-service days, not ODE.

Schools have traditionally used the second Friday in October. This year that would be October 9. However, there is no statewide date set by ODE. Each school district determines their own in-service days and activities.

ODE In the News

ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams went on KATU’s ARC PDX On the Road as part of their look at education in Oregon and Washington.
OSBA News highlighted ODE’s Technical Assistance Program and the new grant opportunity dealing with Engineered Wood Roof Systems Assessment.
OPB looked at how districts have been implementing Governor Kotek’s executive order on cell phones and other electronic devices in schools.

Student Spotlight

The Woodburn independent talked with Gervais High School students who won awards for their journalism skills.
The Klamath Herald and News was on-site as Eagle Ridge New Tech students built a shed during the Build My Future event.
A North Eugene High School student appeared on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert where she played some classical music on accordion.

February is CTE Month

Each February we celebrate Career and Technical Education (CTE) and the benefits that students realize through participation in programs that help them develop technical skills, employability skills, and self-awareness about their career options. Early career exploration provides valuable insights into individual interests and aptitudes, enabling students to align their passions with an appropriate CTE program. Now is also a great time to energize students to consider participating in a CTE program of study as they select classes for next year.

Did you know that for the Class of 2025, learners who took two or more credits in a CTE Program of Study graduated at a record rate of 97.8%? That's 15.8 percentage points higher than the statewide average! Considering that CTE learners complete high school with direct knowledge of their interests, aptitudes and career options, CTE is a clear choice for Oregon learners.

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?

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. Follow ODE on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter) to see how students are engaging, growing and learning thanks to CTE.

Congratulations, Panthers!

The Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD) high school basketball teams proudly competed in the Western States Basketball Classic, hosted this year by the Washington School for the Deaf (WSD) from January 29-31. This annual tournament rotates among Deaf schools in the western states and brings together student-athletes for three days of competition, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

In addition to OSD and WSD, this year’s tournament featured boys and girls teams from Arizona State School for the Deaf and the Blind, Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, and Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

OSD’s boys team took on strong competition throughout the tournament, winning one game and using the experience as an opportunity for growth, resilience, and team development. The girls team delivered an outstanding performance, finishing undefeated at 6-0 and claiming the championship gold!

Individual excellence was also recognized through All-Star Team selections. OSD was proudly represented by Qwinn Politt (10th grade), Kyleigh O’Connell (12th grade), Gloria Flores Estrada (12th grade), and Monica Griffin (12th grade). In an exceptional honor, Monica Griffin was also named All-Star MVP, awarded to only one female athlete across the entire tournament.

We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes for their sportsmanship, teamwork, and Panther pride both on and off the court!

Monica Griffin (No. 22, 12th grade), named All-Star MVP and Girls All-Star Team, and Qwinn Politt (No. 23, 10th grade), named to the Boys All-Star Team, pose with their medals following the Western States Basketball Classic.

(Photo courtesy of OSD 11th grader Emma K. More of her photos from the tournament can be viewed online.)

Congratulations to Oregon’s U.S. Senate Youth Delegates!

Students from Woodburn and Eugene will be representing Oregon in this year’s U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP) in Washington, D.C.

Isabella Baldisseri and Zev Gallagher Wacks will join 104 student leaders from across the nation for an intensive week-long study of the federal government. At the 64th annual USSYP Washington Week (March 7-14), they will meet with senators, President Trump, a Supreme Court Justice, and other high-level officials. Each delegate also receives a $10,000 college scholarship to support their academic pursuits in government, history, and public affairs.

Baldisseri is currently Student Body President at Woodburn High School, serves as District Governor of the Pacific Northwest Key Club, and works with the City of Woodburn Parks and Recreation Board. She has also conducted research at Oregon Health and Science University and contributed to literary publications.

Wacks is Student Body Vice President at South Eugene High School, champions environmental justice, and has served on multiple youth councils. He helped pass Oregon’s climate education bill and is active in voter registration efforts and various school and community organizations.

Alternate delegates are Emma Johnson of West Linn High School and Ethan Smith of Grant High School in Portland.

More information on the U.S. Senate Youth Program is available online.

Elevating Education-System Employee Wellness

This month, our wellness topic is burnout. What is it? How do we get it? How do we find wellness again?

Back in 2020 a book written by a former high school teacher and her twin sister called Burnout; The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle put words to feelings experienced by so many. The book connects burnout to Human Giver Syndrome, a term coined by Kate Manne to explain the societal pressure for some people to be selfless, prioritize the needs of others first, suppress their own emotions, and feel obligated to endlessly give to others. This can lead to deep feelings of exhaustion leading to burnout. Burnout is also a syndrome that refers specifically to workplace exhaustion and energy depletion. This can create negative feelings about your job and decrease the ability to do your job effectively.

What can be done to reduce burnout for educators? A dynamic process called completing the body’s stress cycle. This can be done by creating a distinction between the situation causing stress and the way in which our body feels that stress. When we experience stress, it needs to be released, otherwise it piles up and leads to burnout. If you want to learn more, this podcast with the authors of the book in conversation with Brene Brown is helpful.

Educator Well-Being Offerings

Financial struggles are a major contributor to educator burnout and high turnover rates. Educators need tools and resources to help absorb financial shock, plan for retirement, and have freedom to make life choices that lead to greater health and well-being.

Financial Beginnings is a non-profit that teaches individuals practical strategies to improve their financial wellness. With funding from Oregon Well-Being Trust, Financial Beginnings is offering free financial well-being workshops to current public educators in Oregon. Spots are limited, so use the links below to register soon.

Session 1: Goals and Tools

Wednesday, February 25, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Register here to receive the Session 1 Zoom link

Session 2: Savings and Retirement

Thursday, March 12, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Register here to receive the Session 2 Zoom link

In addition, starting February 10, Oregon Well-Being Trust will host an educator well-being community of practice through the end of the school year. The goals of the group are to develop a deeper understanding of well-being and share strategies for increasing capacity for districts to improve their well-being.

For more information or questions on the community of practice, please email nat.jacobs@ode.oregon.gov or stephanier@oregonwellbeing.org.

Additional School Wellness, Inclusion, Safety & Health resources are available on the ODE website.

Annual school immunization deadline is February 25

(Article provided by the Oregon Health Authority)

The annual school immunization deadline is coming soon! Letters to families were mailed on or before February 4. Students who received letters will not be able to attend school starting February 25 until their records are updated with documentation of immunization or exemption.

Our goal is to keep children in school or child care without any interruptions and make sure they can get caught up on needed vaccines. How can you help? If families are looking for vaccines for their children, share resources in your community, including:

211info—families can call or text 211 to find local clinics that give vaccines, and interpreters are available in multiple languages
Local health departments
School based health centers
Pharmacies
For families seeking exemptions, information can be found on the OHA website.

Helping connect families with vaccine services now can keep kids from being excluded from school. Thank you for your help in making sure students can stay in school and be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.