584-036-0083 Special Assignments

 

 

Summary of Proposed Action:  Changes the rule associated with Special Assignments.

 

Background:  The Licensure Redesign Committee has made recommendations with regard to clarifying the types of licenses needed in various “special assignments.”  The committee believes full preparation should be required for courses that do not “belong” to a specific licensure endorsement area.  The committee sought to clarify areas that have previously been confusing.

 

Fiscal Impact: N/A

 

Copy of Proposed Rule:

 

584-036-0083 (Amended Version)

Special Assignments

 

(1) Special assignments are assignments that have special requirements and/or limitations associated with the assignment that are different from the requirements and limitations associated with conventional teaching assignments associated with endorsements on the license. 

 

(2) Special Assignments include but are not limited to the following:

(a) Assignments in areas that do not require a specific licensure endorsement;

(b) Coaching Assignments within the school day;

(c) Assignment of “subjects” within an endorsement;

(d) Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSA);

(e) Driver’s Education Assignments;

(f) Public Alternative Education Assignments; or

(g) Public Charter Schools Assignments.

 

(3) Assignments not Requiring Specific Endorsements:

 

(a) The Commission requires full licensure, but does not require a specific licensure endorsement for credit courses that do not generally fall within a specific subject-matter endorsement area; 

 

(b) To be assigned to courses that require no specific endorsement, a person must have a valid and unrestricted Oregon teaching license.  Administrator and Personnel Services licenses are not eligible to “teach” in areas that do not require an endorsement unless they also hold a valid unrestricted teaching license.

 

(c) It is not acceptable to act as, or compel a licensed educator to be, the “Teacher of Record” for special assignments unless the teacher of record is actively engaged in direct instruction of the students enrolled in the courses for which credit is granted. Failure to honor this provision may result in discipline related to the license pursuant to OAR 584-020-0040(4).

 

(d) (1) No Endorsement Areas: Any Basic, Standard, Initial, Limited, Continuing or Five-Year teaching license is valid for assignment in areas in which the Commission has no licensure endorsements, Courses that do not require a specific endorsement may comprise electives, credit recovery and other areas in which any credit is granted, including but not limited to:

 

(a) (A) Computer education, including software programs;

(b) (B) Personal finance;

(c) (C) Driver’s Education;

(d) (D) Outdoor education; or

(e) (E) Other World languages other than Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish;

(F) Study skills, essential skills, or tutoring;

(G) Talented and Gifted separate course offerings;

(H) Career and Technical Education (CTE) separate course offerings provided outside of a structured CTE program approved by the Oregon Department of Education pursuant to Chapter 581, Division 44.

(I) Observing Occupations and related job duties such as supervising work study, work experience, or career education where credit is assigned;

 

(J) Photography;

 

(K) Leadership Class or Student Government; or

 

(L) SAT or ACT preparation.

(2) (4) Coaching Assignments: A person must have a valid An Oregon teaching license is required for coaching assignments that are included within the regular school day and for coaching assignments that involve any class time for which graduation credit is offered obtained by the participating students.

(3) (5) Assignments in "subjects" contained within an endorsement: Assignments in subjects which are a component of a broader endorsement (such as [history], jazz band which is subsumed in the [social studies] music endorsement) necessitate the broader endorsement or a Limited Teaching License (See OAR 584-060-0171).

 

(4) (6) Teachers On Special Assignments (TOSA): (a) Any Basic, Standard, Initial or Continuing unrestricted teaching license that is valid to teach full time in one or more endorsed subject-areas, is valid for an assignment involving leadership responsibilities, such as planning and development of curriculum, organization and maintenance of professional growth programs for licensed personnel, or improvement of instructional practices.

(b) A TOSA is not valid if the administrative position’s duties require evaluation of licensed personnel. to serve as an administrator if the duties include:

(A) Evaluation of licensed personnel;

(B) Discipline of licensed personnel; or

(C) Authorization of out-of-school suspension or expulsion of students.

 

(5) (7) Drivers Education Assignments: A person must have A teacher holding [a Basic, Standard, Initial, Limited, Continuing Professional or] pre-1965 [Five-Year Regular Teaching License] an unrestricted Oregon teaching license and the appropriate Oregon motor vehicle operator's license may to serve as a driver education instructor for the classroom portion of the course. An instructor who provides the behind-the-wheel portion of the course shall meet requirements established by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

(6) (8) Public Alternative Education Assignments: Any Basic, Standard, Initial, Continuing, Professional or pre-1965 Five-Year teaching license is valid to teach any subject or grade level in a public alternative education program in accordance with ORS 336.615 to 336.675.

 

(8) (9) Public Charter Schools Assignments: (a) No person shall serve as a teacher as defined by ORS 342.120 in a public charter school unless such person either holds a valid Oregon license issued by TSPC or is registered with TSPC as a charter school teacher pursuant to ORS 338.135 in accordance with OAR 584-023-0005 and ORS 342.125(5). 

 

(b)  For non-virtual charter schools at least one-half of the total full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching and administrative staff at the public charter school shall be licensed by the Commission pursuant to ORS 338.135(7).  For virtual charter schools, 95 percent of the teaching staff must hold a valid TSPC teaching license pursuant to ORS 342.125.  Any Basic, Standard, Initial or Continuing Professional Teaching License may count as the fifty-percent of required licensed staffing pursuant to ORS 338.135.

 

(c) Licensed and registered charter school personnel may be assigned outside the scope of the endorsements and authorizations on her or his the educator’s license[.] or registration without limitation.  However, charter schools teachers are required to comply with the federal Elementary Secondary Education Act provisions related to “highly qualified teachers”.

 

(7) (10) Private Schools and Programs Assignments: A teaching license is not required to teach in a private regular or private alternative education program.

 

Stat. Auth.: ORS 342
Stats. Implemented: ORS 342.120 - 342.430 & 342.985
Hist.: