Oregon: State education update for October — test gains, Teacher of the Year, new STEM plan and a measles reminder

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) sent its October 2026 Education Update on Friday, Oct. 9. Director Dr. Charlene Williams wrote that results are improving but still short of where the state wants them.

- Test scores: Last month’s Oregon Statewide Assessment results showed higher proficiency in nearly every grade in math, English language arts and science.

- Teacher of the Year: Nate Jackson, a social studies teacher at Willamette High School in the Bethel School District (Eugene), was named Oregon’s 2026-27 Teacher of the Year on Oct. 6. Sixteen regional teachers of the year were named in September.

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- STEM plan: ODE, the Oregon STEM Investment Council and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission released the 2026-2032 STEM Education Plan, focused on belonging, math and science basics, career pathways and digital skills.

- School lunch and farm to school: National School Lunch Week is Oct. 12–16, and October is Farm to School Month. School board members and superintendents are invited to eat lunch with students that week.

- Health: ODE says 60 measles cases had been reported in Oregon as of Oct. 6. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective.

- Also: updated guidance on AI in K-12 schools, a student-survey brief on the phone and device policy under Executive Order 25-09, and the first Attendance Impact Awards coming later this fall.

Source: Oregon Department of Education, "Education Update," October 2026: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORED/bulletins/42e54ea. Notice Nearby wrote this brief in its own words. Read next: Lane County brief on the Teacher of the Year https://noticenearby.com/briefs/or-lane-nate-jackson-oregon-teacher-of-the-year-2026-10-09 · Oregon hub https://noticenearby.com/or