Latest news with #OregonDepartmentofEducation
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon Department of Education ends math, literacy programs after federal funding cuts
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Department of Education is slashing several math and literacy programs after the Trump administration terminated pandemic-era funds for schools, the Oregon Department of Education announced Tuesday. ODE received a formal notification from the U.S. Department of Education stating more than $2.5 million in COVID-era funding appropriated by Congress for the state agency was terminated effective March 28, ten months earlier than state officials expected, ODE said. Amid already struggling student test scores in Oregon, ODE says several programs now 'must be shut down' because of the federal funding cuts. DON'T MISS: Oregon schools could see 'operational disruptions' after Department of Education layoffs The cuts at ODE, include plans to develop a statewide instructional framework 'so that regardless of zip code Oregon students can count on excellent instruction,' the department said, noting a separate program developing a framework for teaching math will also be cut. Statewide literacy programs are also on the chopping block. According to ODE, this includes cutting the Oregon Literacy Practitioners Network, which would have created a network of ambassadors to share best practices for literacy education with teachers. Ex-partner 'sick to stomach' over Vancouver Outdoor Expo Another cut program would have developed trainings, and a collection of other resources, to support educators with implementing the newly released Oregon Adolescent Literacy Framework for grades 6-12. A separate program would have provided in-person regional training for educators, including five statewide summits to prepare educators on using the instructional resources for early and adolescent literacy education. ODE said it is continuing to evaluate the impacts of the funding terminations, noting, '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.' KOIN 6 News has reached out to the U.S. Department of Education. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now As reported by Politico, schools were required to finalize plans to spend the remaining $130 billion in COVID relief from the Department of Education by September 2024 and liquidate the funds by January. Liquidation extension requests would have allowed schools to use the funds for previously approved projects into early 2026, however, Education Secretary Linda McMahon 'has reconsidered' the requests, the outlet said. According to Politico, Education Department Spokesperson Madi Biedermann said, 'COVID is over. States and school districts can no longer claim they are spending their emergency pandemic funds on 'COVID relief' when there are numerous documented examples of misuse.' 'The Biden Administration established an irresponsible precedent by extending the deadline for spending the COVID money far beyond the intended purpose of the funds, and it is past time for the money to be returned to the people's bank account,' Biedermann added. Oregon bill allocating $800M toward Portland MLB team forges ahead ODE's announcement of terminated programs comes as Oregon reading proficiency scores are among the worst in the nation, according to a January report from the National Assessment of Education Progress, finding most Oregon fourth graders and eighth graders continue to perform below pre-pandemic levels in math and reading. In a statement in January, Charlene Williams, the head of the Oregon Department of Education, said the state was expanding programs to help students. '[The Oregon Department of Education] is expanding literacy efforts to reach schools serving some of our most impacted students, ensuring they have access to high-quality instruction and resources,' said Williams. 'Additionally, summer and extended learning opportunities are more important than ever in closing gaps and accelerating progress.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon schools could see ‘operational disruptions' after Department of Education layoffs
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Amid the Trump Administration's efforts to slash the federal workforce, the Oregon Department of Education is warning that Oregon schools could be impacted after plans were unveiled on Tuesday to slash jobs under the U.S. Department of Education. In Tuesday's announcement, the Department of Education said it plans to lay off 1,300 employees, with Education Secretary Linda McMahon stating, 'Today's reduction in force reflects the Department of Education's commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers.' After the layoffs, and some employees opting for a buyout offer to resign, the department will see a reduction of about half of its workforce, which previously stood at around 4,100 employees, as reported by , noting officials said the agency will continue to distribute federal aid to schools, manage student loans and oversee Pell Grants. DON'T MISS: Oregon USDA scientist fears 'chilling effect' after Trump admin layoffs hit Hood River research facility A spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Education told KOIN 6 News that the state agency is assessing potential impacts the layoffs could have in Oregon — and as of Tuesday evening — the agency is not aware of any regional job cuts. 'Federal funding supports critical programs, including resources for low-income students, special education, and professional development for educators. Eliminating this support would shift financial responsibility to state and local budgets, potentially straining resources and widening existing inequities,' ODE told KOIN 6 News. ODE added, 'Beyond funding, the department plays a role in ensuring accountability, maintaining educational standards, and providing critical data that helps inform policy decisions. The loss of these functions could create inconsistencies in education quality across districts and limit the state's ability to track student progress effectively.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now With a lack of federal coordination, ODE said Oregon schools could face disruptions. 'Reduced federal investment in staffing and district resources could increase workload, exacerbate educator shortages, and limit student support services for Oregon students. Without a coordinated federal role, Oregon schools may face operational disruptions that impact students and communities statewide,' ODE said. The Department of Education is the latest federal agency seeing cuts to its workforce amid efforts by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to slash the workforce and federal spending — leading some lawmakers in Oregon and Washington to denounce the latest federal job cuts. OMSI projects paused after Trump administration's federal funding freeze Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) — a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee — released a statement Tuesday, decrying the decision to gut the agency, saying, 'Families want help to get students' math and reading scores up and ensure their kids can thrive—instead, Donald Trump is taking a wrecking ball to the Department of Education and robbing our students and teachers of the resources and support they need, so that Republicans can pay for more massive tax cuts for billionaires.' Washington's senior senator added, 'Donald Trump and Linda McMahon know they can't abolish the Department of Education on their own but they understand that if you gut it to its very core and fire all the people who run programs that help students, families, and teachers, you might end up with a similar, ruinous result.' 'Students, families, and teachers in every part of the country will pay the price for Trump's slash and burn campaign to destroy public education in America. When you rip tax dollars from public schools, it is working and middle class families who suffer. When you fire the people who hold predatory for-profit colleges accountable and who help students get financial aid, it is students who pay the price for years to come,' Murray furthered. 'Fewer teachers, less accountability, less resources for students, and more chaos—it's the last thing students and schools need, but it's exactly what Trump is delivering.' 'Not sustainable': OHSU, UnitedHealthcare near end of contract amid ongoing negotiations Calling efforts to dismantle the federal agency 'illegal,' Washington Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) said this will 'slash federal funding for public schools nationwide, eliminate programs for children with disabilities, and cut programs that make attending college affordable.' Echoing concerns about the mass firings, Sen. Jeff Merkley posted on X, 'Trump wants to gut the Department of Education and rip our tax dollars away from teachers and students in our communities — all to fund billionaires in tax giveaways for his billionaire buddies. Hell no, I stand with teachers, students, and families.' Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) noted that dismantling the education department's workforce will impact schools in high-poverty areas, posting on X, 'Republicans are cutting off education from poor kids, all so they can pass a giant tax cut for billionaires.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon Republican lawmakers attempt to mirror Trump's trans athlete ban
PORTLAND, Ore. () — President Donald Trump's executive order blocking transgender athletes from competing in women's sports is drawing a variety of reactions — from condemnations to praise — in Oregon and beyond. There are already reported legal challenges following the executive order. However, some Oregon lawmakers are praising Trump's decision, urging similar action on the state level. PDX officials remain committed to sanctuary status 'No men in women's sports' — that's the bold executive order Donald Trump signed at the White House Wednesday. , sparking a heated debate nationwide. Debra Porta is the executive director of Pride Northwest, the nonprofit organization that's behind the annual Portland Pride event on the Waterfront. Porta told KOIN 6 News she believes the executive order will fuel discrimination and harassment for young people. 'Trans women, as a whole, are amongst the most vulnerable people in our country,' Porta said. 'It does real damage. We think, 'Oh it's just sports, it's just whatever.' But, you know, trans kids are at the top of the list for young folks who are vulnerable to suicide attempt — and success.' As part of his executive order, Trump said schools defying the mandate will lose critical funding, with no exceptions. 'America categorically rejects transgender lunacy,' Trump said. The Oregon School Activities Association says in its handbook that it allows students to compete based on their gender identity. Semi driver found guilty after crash that killed 7 KOIN 6 News reached out to OSAA for comment. In response, they said in part they are reviewing the executive order's impact with the Oregon Department of Education: 'The OSAA has been in contact with the Oregon Department of Education regarding the pending executive order and its impact in our state. We will work to review the executive order with our legal counsel and its potential effect on current Oregon nondiscrimination law and association policy. The OSAA will continue to act under the direction of the Association's members and in compliance with federal and state law to provide opportunities for tens of thousands of Oregon students to participate in interscholastic opportunities.' At the same time, some Oregon Republicans are pushing for similar action with two bills mirroring the executive order. That includes Senate Bill 618, which would divide sports by biological sex and ban biological males from female events, with legal action for violations. Supporting lawmakers said it's all about keeping sports 'fair' for women. Oregon House Republican Leader Christine Drazan also introduced LC 3895, a piece of legislation that would require 'schools to designate athletic competitions and extracurricular sports according to biological sex.' It would also prohibit 'biological males from participating in athletic competitions or extracurricular sports designated for biological females.' Porta said the idea of blocking trans people from participating in women's sports is anything but fair and the fight is far from over. 'We have always been here…and we'll always be here,' Porta said. There are several lawsuits already in the works challenging Trump's executive order. On Wednesday, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced he's exploring legal options to protect the rights of transgender people, including access to gender-affirming care. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How are Oregon students performing? A new website breaks it down
The Oregon Department of Education has launched a new website — a reimagined portal that breaks down standardized testing, enrollment, demographics and more. According to ODE's press release, the new Online Report Card is intended to make K-12 public education data more accessible for students, families and community members. "In the past, despite the availability of the data, the public couldn't easily access and understand how their schools were doing. That changes today," said Gov. Tina Kotek in a press release. "I believe Oregon's future depends on the success of its students. The online report card shows that we're focused on outcomes and transparency." The Online Report Card displays school, district and state-level data, including graphs for regular attendance, the percentage of ninth graders on track to graduate from high school, subject proficiency and more. The data can be sorted by grade level, gender, race/ethnicity and student group. While ODE has stated the site will be updated with newly released data each year, the site only has three years' worth of data, its earliest being from the 2021-22 school year. To view data from previous years, there is a link at the bottom of the Online Report Card page, which brings visitors to an archive page that is similar to ODE's previous report card page, which houses the At-A-Glance profiles back to 2017-18. ODE stated that the original report card page will remain up for the time being. The data displayed on the new site is the same information that can be found on other channels through ODE's website. However, at least for the three years of data that users can currently toggle between, the data is now all in one location. In particular, the standardized testing data could be helpful to users rather than sifting through the many spreadsheets to find results. "The Online Report Card is a vital step toward advancing educational equity by making critical data more transparent and accessible to all," said ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams in a press release. "This tool equips families and community members with information that helps them to actively engage in our shared mission of supporting every student's success. As someone passionate about the power of data, I am excited about the visualizations that make it easier for Oregonians to understand how our education system is serving students and where we must do better to ensure Oregon's children thrive." The Online Report Card's features include: Visual displays of data that compare schools to their school district and to the state. The ability to update visualizations to view grade levels and different student groups. Data are also displayed in a tabular format beneath the data visualizations. Data for the selected institution, year, and indicator can be downloaded into a spreadsheet. The Online Report Card and all its data components are also available in Spanish. To view the Online Report Card visit This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon education portal makes school data easier to access
