Harassment definition
What it does: Requested by the Oregon Department of Education, HB 2280 would align the statutory definition of sexual harassment with the definition used in the state’s health education standards by adding a definition for “without consent.”
What’s next: The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday, April 25.
Civil rights coordinator
What it does: School districts must comply with federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin (Title VI), sex (Title IX) and disability (ADA/Section 504). All Oregon districts have coordinators designated for such a purpose. HB 2281 A would further require civil rights coordinators to be responsible for enforcing state nondiscrimination laws and coordinating investigations. The bill would also impose sanctions, established by the State Board of Education, on noncompliant public elementary or secondary schools.
What’s next: The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Thursday, April 27.
Academic content
What it does: Statute requires the State Board of Education to review and revise its Common Curriculum Goals, performance indicators and diploma requirements to include rigorous academic content standards. Oregon law requires school districts and public charter schools to provide instruction that meets these standards. Requirements for academic content standards to include sufficient instruction on histories, contributions and perspectives of certain classifications of individuals was passed in 2019. HB 2905 would require academic content standards for history, geography, economics and civics to include instruction on individuals who are of Jewish descent and would require schools to adopt textbooks and instructional materials that adequately address the contributions of men and women of Jewish descent.
What’s next: The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday, April 25.
Outdoor School
What it does: Established in 2015, Outdoor School is a multi-day residential program in outdoor settings for Oregon fifth and sixth graders. HB 3037 would require the Oregon State University Extension Service to collaborate with ODE to identify and collect student-level data relevant to outdoor school programs.
What’s next: The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday, April 25.
Merging teacher oversight
What it does: The Teacher Standards and Practices Commission consists of a 17-member commission supported by 31 full-time staff. The agency is responsible for issuing licenses, approving educator preparation programs, approving nontraditional pathways to licensure, approving professional development for license renewals and investigating misconduct. TSPC is fee-funded and receives no General Fund appropriations.
The Educator Advancement Council, established in 2017, is responsible for professional development for educators, establishing and maintaining a set of Regional Educator Networks, conducting a biennial survey of the state’s educators, issuing grow-your-own grants, and drafting a biennial educator equity report. In 2021, the EAC Council was allowed to appoint a director who could hire staff. EAC is currently supported by 14.6 full-time staff.
Senate Bill 275 A would repeal the changes made to the EAC in 2021 and would require ODE and TSPC to consult with EAC to identify each entity’s role, methods for improving alignment and coordination, structures to decrease or maintain fees charged for licensure, the benefits and drawbacks of merger, and the steps necessary to merge the entities.
What’s next: The House Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Wednesday, April 26.
Legislative notes:
House Bill 3178 (Feb. 21 and March 20 Legislative Briefs) would expand the Higher Education Coordinating Commission criteria for awarding scholarships to culturally and linguistically diverse teacher candidates. The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Thursday, April 27.
Senate Bill 218 (March 27 Legislative Briefs) would require ODE and law enforcement agencies to make records of sexual conduct investigations and investigations of child abuse available to the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. The bill would also make modifications to TSPC complaint investigation and reporting processes. The House Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Wednesday, April 26.
Senate Bill 285 (Feb. 21 Legislative Briefs) would increase the grant amounts allowed through the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching program, modify the procedure for calculating and awarding grants, and allow for grant amounts to be biennially adjusted for inflation. The House Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Monday, April 24.
Senate Bill 767 (Feb. 13 Legislative Briefs) would require charter schools that operate facilities outside their sponsoring districts to gain permission from districts in which they operate. The bill would allow virtual charter schools to operate only tutoring or testing facilities outside their sponsoring districts. The House Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Monday, April 24.
