Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon.gov Homepage

March 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,

I’m sure I am not alone in asking myself, “Are we really already in March?”

Let’s spring forward into hope: We just wrapped up the 2024 Legislative short session where we were able to partner with the Governor’s Office and many of our legislative partners for some major wins on behalf of the students in Oregon. We are particularly excited about the passage and funding of Summer Learning and a new Refugee/Immigrant Student Success Plan. We are also pleased to see the release of Early Literacy Success dollars for Community and Tribal Grants, additional funding for fiscal transparency, student safety, social emotional learning, and curricula supplements on opioid-abuse prevention.

This work, along with the work all of you are doing in your communities, makes us “merchants of hope” (a phrase introduced to me by Dr. Crystal Kuykendall.) As educators, we extend hope by creating the conditions for students to thrive academically and in their social-emotional wellness. We prepare them with options for an even better and brighter future. This work is hard, especially when our own well being is challenged, but it is deeply necessary and fundamental to our collective future.

Therefore, let’s start by celebrating the over 900 Teacher of the Year nominees across our state. What a testament to the amazing instruction that is happening for our scholars. Oregon, we have our work cut out for us as we try to narrow this amazing field down to first, one Regional Winner in each of the 19 Education Service Districts, and later this summer, to one educator representing the efforts of so many statewide. Thanks to ODE’s partnership with Oregon Lottery, each regional winner will receive $1,000 and the Oregon Teacher of the Year will not only receive $10,000, but an additional $5,000 will go to their school - all awarded later this fall. Stay tuned, and congratulations again to the nominees!

1. Amplifying student voice:

Throughout the month of February, our team continued a series of conversations around the state to actively listen to the invaluable voices of students. These interactions have provided us with profound insights into their perspectives, concerns, and aspirations. We are committed to incorporating these insights into our ongoing efforts to enhance the educational experience for all. Some of our learnings so far:

  • Students celebrate the staff who see, challenge and support them.
  • Students are organizing activities to shift school morale and culture, normalizing the conversation around mental health.
  • Students want to be challenged and well-supported with activities that bolster their transition to post-secondary opportunities.
  • Students are developing strategies to assist adults with hard conversations around race, along with steps and protocols to confront bullying, harassment and racial slurs.

2. Showing up with Love:

By now, many of you will have already heard about, confronted, and likely been mourning and tending to the aftermath of the tragic death in February of a nonbinary student in Oklahoma named Nex Benedict, who was a victim of a violent incident at their school. This devastating event underscores the critical need for safe and inclusive environments in every school and for every student. This is especially true for gender expansive students in Oregon who have reported experiencing harm in schools, including higher rates of bullying, suicidal thoughts and attempts, sexual assault, fear-based absences, and houselessness.

The loss of a young life is a stark reminder of the ongoing work that is needed to ensure our schools are havens for all students, regardless of gender identity or expression.

But, it should not be only in these moments of tragedy that we commit to fostering safe and affirming environments where all students thrive. Showing up with love means reasserting that commitment every day, sometimes more than once.

As you are already aware, a loss like this may have profound impacts on the mental health of students and community members, particularly for the 12% of Oregon youth who identify as transgender, gender expansive, or unsure of their gender identity, according to the 2022 Student Health Survey. This is why it’s so crucial that schools serve both as academic institutions and as safe havens. Just one trusted adult in a student’s life can provide safety and easy access points for support services, and much needed open channels of communication.

Let’s continue to work tirelessly through a shared value of compassion towards a fundamental goal of providing a nurturing and safe educational environment for all students.

March 31st presents a unique opportunity to emphasize our love and support for transgender students, as well as the broader LGBTQ2SIA+ community.

Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31): This day celebrates the resilience and achievements of the transgender community, while also raising awareness about the discrimination and challenges they face. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and supporting transgender individuals in all aspects of life and calls on us to take action against the hatred that continues to terrorize the transgender community.

3. Other Celebrations in March:

  • National Reading Month: March kicks off with National Reading Month, emphasizing the importance of literacy and the joy of reading. Please share your exciting activities and initiatives to promote a love for reading among students. Here are some of the accomplishments so far with our Early Literacy Success Initiative.
  • Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: A distinct opportunity to highlight the importance of promoting inclusion, understanding, and acceptance for individuals with developmental disabilities, fostering a more compassionate and supportive community and world.
  • National Women's History Month: Let's honor the remarkable contributions of women throughout history. Take this opportunity to explore and celebrate the achievements of women who have made a lasting impact in various fields.
  • Classified School Employees Week (First full week in March): Join us in celebrating the dedication and hard work of classified school employees, acknowledging their crucial role in maintaining a positive and effective learning environment for students.
  • National Pi Day (March 14): Join the mathematical fun on Pi Day! Engage students in activities that make learning about math enjoyable, incorporating the significance of the mathematical constant π.
  • World Poetry Day (March 21): Encourage creativity and self-expression through the celebration of World Poetry Day. Engage students in poetry workshops, readings, and events to foster a love for the written word.

4. Gratitude

Thank you for your dedication to education. We look forward to a month filled with inspiration, growth, and meaningful connections.

In Love and Justice,

Dr. Charlene Williams

March is Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. The National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA), which led the movement for March being declared National Women’s History Month, has announced the women’s history theme for 2024: Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. During 2024, the Alliance recognizes the example of women committed to embracing everyone and excluding no one in our common quest for freedom and opportunity.

Please explore these Women’s History resources:

Oregon Women's History Celebrations and Events

Women's History Month Resources for K-5 Classrooms

Women's History Month Resources for 6-12 Classrooms

Summer EBT Is Coming!

ODE and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) are pleased to share that Oregon has received the first of two approvals needed to launch the new Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) food benefit program for school-age children this year. Summer EBT will provide families with a total of $120 in food benefits, per child, during summer break. It will help address the summer hunger gap when many children lose access to the free and reduced-price meals they had at school.

The Oregon State Legislature approved the joint ODHS/ODE request to offer Summer EBT during the legislative session that concluded earlier this month. Oregon now needs a second approval from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to fully green-light the program launch, tentatively set for June.

While Oregon awaits its final approval, ODE and ODHS continue to work quickly to create the systems and processes, and bring on the staff needed to operate the program and deliver food benefits to eligible children. Many details about how the program will operate and how we will communicate with families are being worked out. With the legislative approval, we’ll move ahead with bringing a contractor on to design the Summer EBT application and delivery system, set-up a Summer EBT call center for families, and assist both agencies with communications and outreach. ODHS also will begin bringing on staff to operate the program and deliver food benefits to eligible children.

We’ll keep you updated as the rollout progresses. We look forward to working with you to make this program successful for Oregon families from its start!


March is Disability Awareness Month

Each March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities and our partners work together to create a social media campaign that highlights the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities.

The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life, as well as awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live.

This year's theme is "A World of Opportunities." More information about the national campaign is available online, including translated versions of this year's poster.

Disability Is Diversity

Embracing diversity means accepting disability as part of the human condition, a key identity feature that enriches our work spaces, learning spaces and communities. ODE recognizes the impact of ableism and other systems of oppression on students experiencing disabilities. You can learn more about ableism in schools, its impacts, and how to unlearn ableism to cultivate equity and belonging in every school.

Diploma Seal Reminder

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. Schools and or Districts 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 under Additional Resources on the Oregon Diploma webpage.

ODE In the News

Our joint news release with the Bureau of Labor and Industries announcing the newest round of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Revitalization Grants earned attention from news outlets around the state. Here is some of the coverage:

Student Spotlight