2015 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 09 - Education and Culture
Chapter 326 - State Administration of Education
Section 326.111 - Department of Education; composition; functions.

(1) The Department of Education is created and shall function under the direction and control of the State Board of Education with the Superintendent of Public Instruction serving as an administrative officer for public school matters.

(2) The Department of Education shall consist of:

(a) Agencies and officers that are added by law to the Department of Education; and

(b) The administrative organizations and staffs required for the performance of the department’s functions.

(3) All administrative functions of the State Board of Education shall be exercised through the Department of Education, and the department shall exercise all administrative functions of the state relating to supervision, management and control of schools not conferred by law on some other agency. [1965 c.100 §10; 1967 c.552 §22; 1989 c.491 §2; 1991 c.757 §1; 1991 c.886 §2; 1993 c.45 §12; 1999 c.39 §3; 2005 c.209 §3]

Note: Sections 1 and 2, chapter 728, Oregon Laws 2015, provide:

Sec. 1. Task Force on Class Sizes. (1) The Task Force on Class Sizes is established for the purpose of determining appropriate class sizes of students, identifying methods to reduce class sizes and determining the cost for the methods to reduce class sizes.

(2) The task force consists of 15 members appointed as follows:

(a) The President of the Senate shall appoint one member from the majority party of the Senate and one member from the minority party of the Senate.

(b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member from the majority party of the House of Representatives and one member from the minority party of the House of Representatives.

(c) The Governor shall appoint the following 11 members taking into consideration geographic and demographic diversity:

(A) One member who is a district superintendent.

(B) One member who is a chairperson of a school district board.

(C) One member who is a board member of a parent organization.

(D) One member who is a teacher in any grade from kindergarten through grade 5.

(E) One member who is a teacher in any grade from grades 6 through 8.

(F) One member who is a teacher in any grade from grades 9 through 12.

(G) One member who is in a leadership position for a bargaining representative for teachers.

(H) One member who is a member of a bargaining representative for teachers.

(I) Two members who represent local nonprofit organizations that regularly work with public schools.

(J) One member who represents the Department of Education.

(3) The task force shall:

(a) Determine appropriate class sizes based on grade, types of students and subject area content.

(b) Identify options to reduce class sizes.

(c) Identify the costs associated with the options identified under paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(4) When fulfilling the task force’s duties described in subsection (3) of this section and making recommendations for legislation, the task force shall take into consideration:

(a) The optimization of student learning outcomes and long-term impacts.

(b) The enhancement of efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of educational services to students at all grade levels.

(c) The allowance of sufficient flexibility for individual school districts and schools in determining maximum class sizes, particularly within the confines of budgetary limitations.

(d) Cultural and historical appropriateness.

(e) The incorporation of best practices for teaching students.

(5) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

(6) Official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of the members of the task force.

(7) The task force shall elect one of its members to serve as chairperson.

(8) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appointment to become immediately effective.

(9) The task force shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of the task force.

(10) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the task force.

(11) The task force shall submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, and may include recommendations for legislation, to the interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to education no later than September 15, 2016.

(12) The Legislative Administration Committee shall provide staff support to the task force.

(13) Members of the task force who are not members of the Legislative Assembly are not entitled to compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred by them in the performance of their official duties in the manner and amounts provided for in ORS 292.495. Claims for expenses incurred in performing functions of the task force shall be paid out of funds appropriated to the Legislative Administration Committee for purposes of the task force.

(14) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the task force in the performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish such information and advice as the members of the task force consider necessary to perform their duties. [2015 c.728 §1]

Sec. 2. Repeal. Section 1 of this 2015 Act is repealed on December 31, 2016. [2015 c.728 §2]

Note: Section 1, chapter 567, Oregon Laws 2015, provides:

Sec. 1. Report on best practices to reduce dropout rates. (1) The Department of Education shall produce a report that describes the best practices used by school districts in this state to reduce dropout rates, including strategies or activities used to increase high school graduation rates or to reduce chronic absenteeism. The department shall make the report available to the public on the department’s website.

(2) For the purpose of producing the report described in subsection (1) of this section, the department shall request school districts to submit to the department a description of the practices used by the school districts to reduce dropout rates, including strategies or activities used to increase high school graduation rates or to reduce chronic absenteeism. Responses by school districts to the request made under this subsection are voluntary.

(3)(a) No later than December 31, 2015, a school district that chooses to provide information in response to the request described in subsection (2) of this section must submit the information to the department.

(b) No later than February 1, 2016, the department shall submit the report described in subsection (1) of this section to the interim legislative committees on education and make the report available to the public on the department’s website.

[2015 c.567 §1]