Teaching and Learning

Academic success opens doors to future opportunities for every student. Our commitment to academic achievement means ensuring that all learners have the support, instruction, and encouragement they need to reach their full potential.

We are focused on key milestones that serve as strong predictors of long-term success: helping more students read proficiently by third grade, ensuring ninth graders stay on track for graduation, and increasing the overall graduation rate. By working together to strengthen teaching, align curriculum, and provide targeted support, we aim to lift achievement for all students across every grade level.

Tonya Cairo

Director of School Improvement

541-259-8932

Curriculum Overview

Current Social Science Adoption

Timeline for Social Science Adoption

In Lebanon Community School District (LCSD), the Social Science curriculum is currently undergoing a significant update and adoption process to align with new state mandates. Following the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) cycle, new instructional materials are being evaluated during the 2025-2026 school year for full implementation.

Implementation Target: New materials are expected to be in classrooms by September 2026.
The Goal: To move from the 2018 standards to the 2024 Oregon Social Science Standards, which integrate more inclusive perspectives and updated historical frameworks.

Key Components of the New Standards

The updated curriculum will focus on five major pillars of social science:

Civics and Government: Understanding local, state, tribal, and national government structures.
Economics: Developing financial literacy and understanding global economic systems.
Geography: Analyzing human migration, settlement patterns, and the impact of technology on sustainability.
History: Examining past events through multiple lenses, including local, state, and tribal narratives.
Social Science Analysis: Teaching students how to use primary sources and think critically about different viewpoints.

State-Mandated Perspectives

The new adoption must include specific legislated content required by Oregon law:

Tribal History/Shared History (SB 13): Lessons on the history and contributions of Oregon’s federally recognized tribes.
Holocaust & Genocide Education (SB 664): Specialized guidance for teaching these topics with age-appropriate rigor.
Ethnic Studies (HB 2845): Integrating inclusive education that reflects the diversity of the Oregon and U.S. populations.

How Families Can Get Involved

Just like the Health adoption, the Social Science process is designed to be transparent:

Review Committees: A formal adoption committee of educators, administrators and community members has been established to lead the selection.
Standards-Aligned Review: Our team is currently evaluating instructional materials that have been vetted and approved by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).
Community Engagement: We invite you to join us for a Curriculum Review Night at Lebanon High School on April 23rd, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. This is a dedicated opportunity for families to examine the proposed materials firsthand and provide feedback before a final decision is made.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Social Science Adoption Team for their tireless efforts and the many hours dedicated to guiding this selection process. For a detailed overview of the progress made thus far, please refer to our Social Science adoption timeline.

Current Health Adoption

Curriculum Adoption Overview

Timeline Update for Health

While the district was originally scheduled to implement a new K–12 Health curriculum by September 2025, the School Board approved a postponement in May 2025. To ensure a thorough and inclusive selection process, the new implementation date is now set for September 2026.

Our Selection Process

We are committed to a transparent and collaborative approach to choosing the best possible learning resources for our students:

Review Committees: A formal adoption committee of educators, administrators and community members has been established to lead the selection.
Standards-Aligned Review: Our team is currently evaluating instructional materials that have been vetted and approved by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).
Community Engagement: We invite you to join us for a Curriculum Review Night at Lebanon High School on April 23rd, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. This is a dedicated opportunity for families to examine the proposed materials firsthand and provide feedback before a final decision is made.

Alignment with State Standards

The new curriculum will align with the 2023 Oregon K–12 Health Education Standards. These updated standards focus on several essential areas of student wellness:

Comprehensive Health: Supporting mental, emotional, and social well-being.
Prevention: Education on substance use and disease prevention.
Safety: Age-appropriate instruction on human sexuality and child sexual abuse prevention (aligned with Erin’s Law).

Family Partnership

We view parents and guardians as essential partners in this process. Families always have the right to review current materials and may utilize LCSD Health Education Exemption procedures for specific sexuality education components as defined by Oregon Law. We are grateful for your continued engagement in your child's education.

A special thank you to the Health Adoption Team for their dedication to this ongoing selection process. Please view a full summary of their work on our K-12 Health timeline.

Human Sexuality Education

Human Sexuality Education

Comprehensive sexuality education is a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning about the emotional, physical, and social aspects of human sexuality and healthy relationships.

The comprehensive human sexuality education curriculum adheres to state law (OAR 581-022-1440) and Lebanon School District Policy IGAI, emphasizing abstinence while including medically accurate content on contraception and sexually transmitted diseases. Instruction is always age-appropriate. Given the diverse beliefs of our families, parents/guardians are encouraged to meet with the health education teacher to discuss any concerns.

Sexuality education aims to equip children and young people with knowledge and skills that will empower them to:

Realize their health, well-being and dignity;
Develop respectful social and sexual relationships;
Consider how their choices affect their own well-being and that of others;
Understand and ensure the protection of their rights throughout their lives.

Family Notification/Opt-Out of Human Sexuality Education

State law (OAR 581-022-1910) protects the right of school districts to exempt students from educational programs to accommodate religious beliefs and disabilities. In accordance with this law, parents can submit a written request to exempt their student from instructional activities related to any or all sexuality education components.

LCSD Family Notification/Health Education Exemption

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