November is Native American Heritage Month
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month and including it in lesson plans is easier with the resources below.
The Tribal History/Shared History page on the ODE websiteshould be your first stop. It represents years of collaboration with Oregon’s tribal governments to tell the entire story of Oregon’s history and the culture of today. The page is packed with resources including newly released lesson plans for kindergarten through grade 3 and new
Canvas-based professional development. Bookmark the page because new information is being added regularly. And don’t forget to
subscribe to the Office of Indian Education’s monthly newsletter!
ODE is proud to share the
2025–2030 American Indian/Alaska Native Student Success Plan (AIANSSP), a renewed commitment to ensuring that American Indian and Alaska Native students across Oregon have equitable access to culturally sustaining, high-quality education from early learning through postsecondary pathways. The goals of this plan are to Champion Tribal Languages, Address Inequity in Native Student Data, Pursue Native Excellence, Cultivate Holistic Systems of Support, and Center Culturally Responsive Approaches, each goal also sharing specific objectives identified to continue to uplift AI/AN student success.
The
Smithsonian network of museums in Washington, D.C. includes the
National Museum of the American Indian whose website has
pages dedicated to helping K-12 educators. Be sure to check out the resources dedicated to teaching more accurately and
thinking more broadly about the Thanksgiving story.
Closer to home,
the Oregon Historical Society has a resource on their website called
Experience Oregon, which is the cornerstone of their museum experience. There are also several Tribal museums throughout the state which offer a plethora of resources, events, speakers, and experiential learning.
As America acknowledges our 250th Anniversary in 2026, it is fascinating to look at the influences which history has shared regarding Benjamin Franklin and his interest in the Haudenosaunee political and cultural structures, and how those early alliances led to Franklin’s inspiration and encouragement of Thomas Jefferson to utilize suggestions of a strengthened nation based upon a, “colonial union.” Jefferson and Franklin leaned heavily on what they had learned from
the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. As America looks to the future, so should we look to history, to continue to learn about what strategies, alliances, and structures work well for our democracy historically, inspiring the founders of this nation and providing learning opportunities for the students of today.
The best part is that all of this information is available year-round. So celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November, but then also include this perspective in classes throughout the school year!
CTE Revitalization Grants Awarded
More than 50 high schools, consortia, and education service districts (ESDs) serving a combined 20,000 students in Oregon recently received career readiness grants to create or expand Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs last month.
The $6.4 million in CTE Revitalization Grants from ODE and the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) will support curriculum, equipment, and programming in communities across Oregon, with grants targeting high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand fields, including health care, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, construction, computer science, engineering, health sciences, hospitality, and natural resources.
These programs give students opportunities to gain hands-on experience, connect classroom learning to real-world applications, and prepare for careers and post-secondary education. They also strengthen connections among schools, employers, and communities to help meet Oregon’s workforce needs.
“The CTE Revitalization Grant Program recognizes the power of bringing education, innovation, and initiative together,” said ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams. “These projects give students practical, real-world learning experiences that help them connect what they learn in the classroom to the careers and opportunities ahead. By bringing together education partners, business and industry, and community members, we are investing in our young people and Oregon’s economic vitality.”
CTE participation is associated with strong graduation outcomes. Students who complete at least two CTE credits graduated at a record rate of 97.8% in the 2024-25 school year – 15.8 percentage points higher than the statewide graduation rate. This demonstrates the value of providing students with relevant, engaging learning experiences that connect their education to future opportunities.
“We’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation through CTE that goes beyond statistics and changes lives,” said Labor Commissioner Christina Stephenson. “These graduation outcomes show what happens when students are connected to real pathways towards skilled, family-wage careers with benefits. By ensuring equitable access to CTE across Oregon, we can give more students–especially those historically excluded from such opportunities–a chance to step into stable meaningful work that supports their long-term futures.”
The CTE Revitalization Grant Advisory Committee reviewed 66 applications requesting a total of $16 million. The committee considered geographic diversity, community partnerships, and alignment with high-wage, in-demand occupations, with particular attention to opportunities for historically and currently marginalized students.
ODE appoints the advisory committee, which includes representatives from education, organized labor, trade organizations, business, and industry.
See which programs received grants, and learn more about those programs on the
CTE Revitalization Grant webpage.
Celebrating STEM!
November 8 is International STEM Day, an opportunity to highlight the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in education.
In September, the
STEM Investment Council, the
Oregon Department of Education, and
the Higher Education Coordinating Commission released the revised
2026-2032 STEM Education Plan. The plan provides a shared statewide vision for expanding STEM opportunities, improving student outcomes in math and science, strengthening workforce connections, and preparing learners for Oregon's digital future.
More information on International STEM Day is available online.
Youth Advisory Council Members Start New Year
ODE is thrilled to welcome back the Youth Advisory Council for the 2026-27 school year! This year’s council includes 37 members representing 16 of Oregon’s Education Service Districts, different school types, and an exciting breadth of diversity in lived experiences.
During the 2025-26 school year, the council tackled a variety of issues, including assisting with student mental health surveys, providing insight to shape the statewide vision for college credit in high school, and collaborating with ODE’s Digital Learning Team to share their experiences with personal electronic devices in classrooms. Our year-long engagement with the personal device policy led to the formation of a
policy brief summary that elevates their recommendations for the second year of policy implementation!
This year, the council is looking forward to continuing to refine the process for youth-led subcommittee work, hosting a virtual youth summit to connect with other youth and students serving in state level advisory spaces, and continuing to provide important input to ensure that student voice is present in the design and implementation of education initiatives.
Council members will work directly with state leaders to elevate their perspectives on issues important to students. Among their tasks:
- Setting goals and measuring success
- Reviewing existing state programs
- Connecting with other youth leaders
- Assisting with surveys
- Improving reporting processes for bias incidents
Contact Us
More information about the Youth Advisory Council, including upcoming meeting dates, are available on the ODE website or you can contact Youth Advisory Council Coordinator Amy Hodge at
Amy.Hodge@ode.oregon.gov.
ODE In the News