Teacher Standards and Practices Commission OSPA-WSPA Conference November 14, 2007

Changes in Licensure Rules Emergency Licenses will need showing of some academic preparation or experience in the area sought for licensure; –Special Education –School Counseling –Physical Education Reminder that first-aid card is required for all first licenses;

Changes in Licensure Rules Out of state applicants need showing of recency to get new Initial Teaching License (replaces Transitional Teaching License) Transitional License still available for administrators, school counselors, school psychologists

Changes in Licensure Rules Workgroup examining the grade authorizations on Initial and Continuing Licenses; –Remove references to buildings –Remove references to class environment (self-contained/departmentalized) –Examine “overlap” between levels

Changes in Licensure Rules Commission reviewing whether to require program for ESOL endorsement The “Learning Plus” option for the Basic Skills Test will not be available after December 31, 2007

Changes in Licensure Rules New tests being developed: –ESOL –Administrator Licensure –Civil Rights (no more workshops) Beginning September 2009

Changes in Licensure Rules Commission needs to examine: –Effect of new diploma requirements on licensure Science (Chemistry, Biology, Integrated Science, Physics) Math (Basic Math, Advanced Math) Literacy requirements

Office Operations Issues Data Exchange –Still working with a few districts to perfect the processes; –Successfully partnered with ODE for last HQ report; –Will also offer to higher education

Office Operations Issues New procedures on telephones will allow us to: –Reduce wait time to leave message; –Incorporate live back-up during the day; (3 people answering - dropped calls reduced) –Working on phone tree for more personal access to other staff

Office Operations Issues Office closed day after Thanksgiving; Will be closed one day in January for training on new security measures –Personal information protection; –Data security;

Office Operations Issues Electronic PEER (Professional Education Experience Report) Forms –Subcommittee working with office –Need closer examination of “180-day” rule What is “enough” experience to renew a license without requiring additional coursework (recency issue)? May need to move office space

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Expect the following soon: –Newly adopted commission standards for professional development; –Distinguish between licensure renewal professional development and district improvement professional development; –Commission approval of CPD for renewal;

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Commission advisory committee to review CPD approval; Better connection to “recency” issues; Avoid confusing multiple-agency input into CPD [legislative interests]

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices New Staffing: –2.5 FTE investigators (one limited duration) –2 FTE support staff (one limited duration) –1 FTE devoted to liaison work with DOJ (agency attorney) and defense attorneys (COSA and OEA)

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices Gross Neglect of Duty – Any serious and material inattention to or breach of professional responsibilities. [OAR (4)] Includes: –Misuse of school equipment; –Unauthorized use of school time; –Falsification of employment or licensure applications; –Unreasonable force against students, others; –Violent or destructive behavior on school grounds;

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices Gross Neglect of Duty (cont) –Any sexual conduct with a student; –Appearing on duty under the influence; –Unauthorized disclosure of student records; –Deliberate assignment in violation of scope of license; –Resignation without 60 days notice; –Knowing violation of Commission order or rule;

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices Gross Neglect of Duty (cont) –Sexual harassment; –Failure to report Gross Neglect of Duty of Gross Unfitness; –Failure to cooperate in commission investigation; –Knowing and unauthorized use of school computer equipment to send, receive or otherwise use sexually explicit materials.

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices Gross Unfitness – Any conduct which renders an educator unqualified to perform his or her professional responsibilities. Conduct constituting gross unfitness may include conduct occurring outside of school hours or off school premises when such conduct bears a demonstrable relationship to the educator's ability to fulfill professional responsibilities effectively.

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices Changes in law (Bergerson v TSPC): –Gross Unfitness – Off duty conduct must now have a “nexus” to the ability to perform job;

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices New Issues: –Speed of TSPC investigations (news reports) –District agreements not to report to TSPC –Requirement to place people on administrative leave during abuse investigation and cost to district (Why TSPC must wait before beginning investigation) –Removal of “after reasonable investigation” from reporting rule.

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices Reporting Requirements (1) For purposes of this rule, "chief administrator" means: (a) The superintendent, head teacher or person designated by a school district board as district school clerk under ORS of a school district, or education service district; (b) The chief administrative officer of the Oregon School for the Deaf and the Oregon School for the Blind; or (c) The chief administrative officer of a private elementary or secondary school under ORS to , regardless of whether the school is registered as a private school with the Department of Education.

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices (2) Educators subject to being reported under this rule include: (a) Any educator possessing a TSPC-issued licensed; (b) Any educator holding a charter school registration; (c) Any pre-service candidate placed in a public or private school for purposes of program completion pursuant to any program described in division 17 of these administrative rules. ***

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices (3) A chief administrator shall report to the Executive Director within thirty (30) days the name of any person described in subsection (2) above, when [after appropriate investigation] the chief administrator reasonably believes the person may have committed any act which may constitute one (1) of the designated acts of gross neglect of duty under OAR (4), subsections (a) to (i), (k) to (o) or (q) or one of the designated acts of gross unfitness listed under OAR (5), subsections (a) to (e).

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices Other issues: –Out of state student teachers – need to fingerprint; –Commission backlog over 300 cases (was 200 one year ago) –What is best route for prevention?

Discipline – Ethics – Professional Practices Newspaper articles: –Focus on sex offenders will create new awareness –Focus on TSPC being “under-funded” TSPC is 100 percent fee funded –Focus on districts possibly not reporting; –Focus on speed of investigations; –Has already increased reports of “violations” to TSPC

Questions? Discipline Contact information: –Melody Hanson (503)