North Douglas Herald
School News
April 2024
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Highlights from the 2024 Boys & Girls State Championship in Baker City. Congratulations North
Douglas Warriors
- Courtesy of North Douglas Boosters
Page 13
North Douglas Students of the Month
5th Grade, Reece Bohlman,
North Douglas Elementary School
Reece is a model student when it comes
to good citizenship. He’s always kind and
respectful to his peers and staff, works hard
during class time, and always has a positive
attitude.
7th Grade, Harper Frey,
North Douglas Middle School
Harper is a model student in terms of schoolwork
and citizenship. She is incredibly calm and kind,
and she is also invested in making her school a
better place, which she demonstrates by being
active in leadership and helping in the kitchen.
Oregon expands career readiness with $7.6 million
investment in hands-on learning for 74 schools
Although this Press Release from Oregon Department of Education seems to be good news for
Oregon schools, it is to my dismay that there is not one of these 74 schools in Douglas county and only
2 in Lane county. It seems that having great need for programs such as this does not necessarily mean
that their consideration and priorities are directed adequately or fairly.
- Rusty Savage
Salem, OR – Seventy-four Oregon high schools—serving
more than 36,000 students—have secured career readiness
grants totaling $7.629 million, Oregon Department of
Education Director Dr. Charlene Williams and Labor
Commissioner Christina Stephenson announced today.
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Revitalization
Grant funds from the State of Oregon will serve diverse
communities around the state, with programs focused on
advanced manufacturing, agricultural science, business,
computer science, construction, cosmetology, engineering,
firefighting, health sciences, hospitality, media and natural
resources.
In total, the 31 grants help to create or expand CTE programs
focused on high-wage, high-skill and in-demand fields such
as Health Care, Manufacturing and Construction. These
programs provide valuable access to experience, expertise and
additional forms of support to the communities they serve and
give students relevant education and preparation for career and
postsecondary learning experiences.
“As the class of 2023 graduation rates indicate, CTE moves
the needle on student success,” said Oregon Department
of Education Director Dr. Charlene Williams. “CTE keeps
students excited about both their school day and their future.
These classes build a life changing bridge between the school
experience and high-quality, well-paid careers in fields ranging
from accounting and astrophysics to welding and zoology.”
Students who pass CTE courses graduate at higher
rates when compared to the general student population.
According to the most recent data for the Class of 2023, CTE
concentrators (across all student populations) graduated at a
95.0% rate, 13.7 percentage points higher than the state as a
whole.
In 2011, the Oregon Legislature established a competitive
grant program entitled the CTE Revitalization Grant which
strengthens the alignment of Career and Technical Education,
workforce development and economic development. In
July 2015, Governor Kate Brown signed House Bill (HB)
3072 and HB 5016, authorizing $9.0 million for the Oregon
Department of Education to continue the CTE Revitalization
Grant program. During the 2023 legislative session, $7.629
million was allocated for CTE Revitalization.
The CTE Revitalization Grant Advisory Committee–
comprising representatives from organized labor, trade
organizations, education and Oregon’s business, labor,
industry and trades communities—reviewed 66 applications
totaling $16 million in requests. The committee prioritized
applications based on geographic diversity, community
partnerships and programs that lead to high-wage, in-
demand occupations, especially for historically and currently
marginalized students.
“We’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation that
transcends statistics and elevates lives through CTE,” said
Labor Commissioner Christina Stephenson. “The graduation
rates among participants of these CTE programs not only
surpass state averages but also symbolize the power of
equitable investment in education. This isn’t just about closing
achievement gaps; it’s about dismantling barriers and ensuring
that every Oregon youth, regardless of background, has access
to the opportunities that CTE provides.”
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Bureau
of Labor and Industries (BOLI) jointly appoint the Career
and Technical Education Revitalization Grant Advisory
Committee. Additional information on grant criteria and
additional summaries of the projects selected for this round
of funding can be found on the CTE Revitalization Grant
web page.