Summary of Proposed Action: The
rule appeared to require both a license and a master’s when it should have
stated “either” was fine to waive the Basic Skills Tests
Background: TSPC
staff pointed out the rule clearly stated an out of state person needed both a
license and a master’s to waive our basic skills test. The intent of the rule is that if one has a
master’s degree, they should be beyond a 9th grade basic skills
test.
Issues/Concerns that Surfaced (if
any):
Changed Since Last Commission Meeting?
¨
N/A; First reading – Hasn’t been
before the Commission
þ No;
same as last meeting considered
¨ Yes
– As follows:
Fiscal Impact: None
Staff Recommendation:
þ
Adopt rule as presented
¨ Adopt rule in the future; refer to public
comment
¨
No recommendation
¨ File
as temporary rule and refer to public comment
Permanent Rule for Adoption
584-036-0080 (Final Version)
Licensure Tests
(1) Licensure tests are required to demonstrate
subject-matter competency in most endorsement areas established by the
Commission. Passage of Commission-approved basic skills tests is required for
admission into Oregon educator preparation programs unless the candidate holds
a master’s degree from an accredited institution obtained prior to admission
into any Oregon education preparation program.
(2) Out-of-State Applicants: Out-of-state applicants
may present proof of passage of another state’s subject-matter competency test
for full subject-matter endorsement on an Oregon license under the following
conditions:
(a) The area in which the test was passed is
comparable to the subject-matter endorsement area adopted by the Commission and
is not a basic skills test;
(b) The test was administered by either the former or
current testing companies representing Evaluation Systems group of Pearson
(ESP) or Education Testing Service (ETS);
(c)(A) A passing score on an out-of-state licensure
test for subject-matter endorsement on the license results in waiver of a
comparable Oregon adopted beginning-teacher licensure test if the
subject-matter area covered by the out-of-state test is more similar than not
to the Oregon test.
(B) The burden is on the applicant to provide
alternate proof the test was taken and the score was a passing score in another
state if the applicant is unable to produce an original score report. TSPC
reserves the right to reject the alternate verification if the source of the
score verification is not a higher education institution or another public
educator licensure agency; and
(d) Any subject-matter test, except the basic skills
tests, may be waived if the applicant demonstrates special academic preparation
satisfactory to the Commission together with five years of half-time or more
experience teaching the specific subject matter on a license valid for the
assignment in a public school or regionally accredited private school in a U.S.
jurisdiction before holding any Oregon license. The five years of half-time or
more experience must be acquired entirely outside of the State of Oregon and
must be obtained while holding an unrestricted out-of-state license valid for
the assignment. Teaching experience without a valid license does not count
toward test waiver.
(3) An electronic score report submitted by the
testing company administering the test at the applicant's request will be
treated as an "original" score report. In all other cases, only the
original score report, or an authentic facsimile will be accepted as validation
of passing the required test. TSPC reserves the right to require the applicant
to produce authentic evidence of passage of the test the applicant wishes to
submit for consideration for test waiver.
(4) Other evidence documenting passage of a required
test for licensure may be accepted at the executive director's discretion when
exigent circumstances prohibit the educator from presenting an original score
report. The executive director may submit the evidence and the decision to the
Commission at the next meeting at the director’s discretion in cases the
director believes may need Commission review.
(5) Basic Skills Tests:
(a) To satisfy the basic skills testing requirements,
the Commission will accept passing scores on the following tests:
(A) NES Essential Skills Tests — Evaluation
Systems–Pearson (ESP)
(B) Any basic skills test currently approved or
accepted by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC);
(C) Any basic skills test current approved or accepted
by the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (WPESB);
(D) Any Education Testing Service (ETS) developed
basic skills tests approved by the Commission.
(b) A regionally-accredited or foreign equivalent
master’s degree or higher held at the time of admission into an educator
preparation program, waives the basic skills tests.
(c) An out-of-state applicant may waive the basic
skills test with evidence of full out-of-state licensure or a master’s degree
from an accredited institution or foreign equivalent.
(d) Applicants submitting proof of a non-provisional
California Teaching License will be deemed to have fulfilled the basic skills
testing requirement.
(6) Applicants seeking endorsement in areas where the
Commission has not adopted an approved test must complete coursework as
required by the Commission. In the alternative, applicants may submit evidence
of a passing score from another state’s licensure test and evidence they held
the endorsement on an out-of-state license in lieu of satisfying the
Commission’s required coursework.
(7) For situations not covered by these rules, the
Commission grants the executive director the discretion to determine whether
test scores or licenses submitted pursuant to this section meet the
Commission’s intent with regard to preventing unnecessary redundancy in
completing licensure testing requirements.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 342
Stats. Implemented: ORS 342.120 - 342.430,
342.455-342.495 & 342.553
Hist.: TSPC 2-2007, f. & cert. ef. 4-23-07; TSPC
2-2009, f. & cert. ef. 3-12-09; TSPC 6-2010, f. & cert. ef. 8-31-10;
TSPC 9-2012, f. & cert. ef. 9-14-12; TSPC 6-2013, f. & cert. ef.
11-14-13
584-036-0080 (Amended Version)
Licensure Tests
(1) Licensure tests are required to demonstrate
subject-matter competency in most endorsement areas established by the
Commission. Passage of Commission-approved basic skills tests is required for
admission into Oregon educator preparation programs unless the candidate holds
a master’s degree from an accredited institution obtained prior to admission
into any Oregon education preparation program.
(2) Out-of-State Applicants: Out-of-state applicants
may present proof of passage of another state’s subject-matter competency test
for full subject-matter endorsement on an Oregon license under the following
conditions:
(a) The area in which the test was passed is
comparable to the subject-matter endorsement area adopted by the Commission and
is not a basic skills test;
(b) The test was administered by either the former or
current testing companies representing Evaluation Systems group of Pearson
(ESP) or Education Testing Service (ETS);
(c)(A) A passing score on an out-of-state licensure
test for subject-matter endorsement on the license results in waiver of a
comparable Oregon adopted beginning-teacher licensure test if the
subject-matter area covered by the out-of-state test is more similar than not
to the Oregon test.
(B) The burden is on the applicant to provide
alternate proof the test was taken and the score was a passing score in another
state if the applicant is unable to produce an original score report. TSPC
reserves the right to reject the alternate verification if the source of the
score verification is not a higher education institution or another public
educator licensure agency; and
(d) Any subject-matter test, except the basic skills
tests, may be waived if the applicant demonstrates special academic preparation
satisfactory to the Commission together with five years of half-time or more
experience teaching the specific subject matter on a license valid for the
assignment in a public school or regionally accredited private school in a U.S.
jurisdiction before holding any Oregon license. The five years of half-time or
more experience must be acquired entirely outside of the State of Oregon and
must be obtained while holding an unrestricted out-of-state license valid for
the assignment. Teaching experience without a valid license does not count toward
test waiver.
(3) An electronic score report submitted by the
testing company administering the test at the applicant's request will be
treated as an "original" score report. In all other cases, only the
original score report, or an authentic facsimile will be accepted as validation
of passing the required test. TSPC reserves the right to require the applicant
to produce authentic evidence of passage of the test the applicant wishes to
submit for consideration for test waiver.
(4) Other evidence documenting passage of a required
test for licensure may be accepted at the executive director's discretion when
exigent circumstances prohibit the educator from presenting an original score
report. The executive director may submit the evidence and the decision to the
Commission at the next meeting at the director’s discretion in cases the
director believes may need Commission review.
(5) Basic Skills Tests:
(a) To satisfy the basic skills testing requirements,
the Commission will accept passing scores on the following tests:
(A) NES Essential Skills Tests — Evaluation
Systems–Pearson (ESP)
(B) Any basic skills test currently approved or
accepted by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC);
(C) Any basic skills test current approved or accepted
by the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (WPESB);
(D) Any Education Testing Service (ETS) developed
basic skills tests approved by the Commission.
(b) A regionally-accredited or foreign equivalent
master’s degree or higher held at the time of admission into an educator
preparation program, waives the basic skills tests.
(c) An out-of-state applicant may waive the basic
skills test with evidence of full out-of-state licensure [and] or
a master’s degree from an accredited institution or foreign equivalent.
(d) Applicants submitting proof of a non-provisional
California Teaching License will be deemed to have fulfilled the basic skills
testing requirement.
(6) Applicants seeking endorsement in areas where the
Commission has not adopted an approved test must complete coursework as
required by the Commission. In the alternative, applicants may submit evidence
of a passing score from another state’s licensure test and evidence they held
the endorsement on an out-of-state license in lieu of satisfying the
Commission’s required coursework.
(7) For situations not covered by these rules, the
Commission grants the executive director the discretion to determine whether
test scores or licenses submitted pursuant to this section meet the
Commission’s intent with regard to preventing unnecessary redundancy in
completing licensure testing requirements.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 342
Stats. Implemented: ORS 342.120 - 342.430,
342.455-342.495 & 342.553
Hist.: TSPC 2-2007, f. & cert. ef. 4-23-07; TSPC
2-2009, f. & cert. ef. 3-12-09; TSPC 6-2010, f. & cert. ef. 8-31-10;
TSPC 9-2012, f. & cert. ef. 9-14-12; TSPC 6-2013, f. & cert. ef.
11-14-13