Bill Text: OR SB222 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to accelerated college credit programs; and declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-3)

Status: (Passed) 2013-08-21 - Effective date, August 14, 2013. [SB222 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-SB222-Introduced.html

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     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 990

                         Senate Bill 222

Sponsored by Senator HASS, Representatives DEMBROW, READ;
  Senators BEYER, STARR, STEINER HAYWARD, Representatives BENTZ,
  GELSER, JOHNSON (Presession filed.)

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Expands purposes for which grants awarded for accelerated
college credit programs may be used.
  Allows community colleges to award scholarships to students who
are participating in accelerated college credit program.
  Establishes requirement that, beginning July 1, 2019, students
must have six credits that qualify for credit at post-secondary
institution in order to receive high school diploma.
  Directs Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to adopt
rules to take into consideration teaching experience gained by
teachers through accelerated college credit programs for purposes
of issuing or renewing licenses and endorsements.
  Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of
Education for purpose of funding grant program.
  Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2013.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to accelerated college credit programs; creating new
  provisions; amending ORS 329.451, 340.300, 340.320 and 341.485;
  appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.
  Whereas Oregon has embraced the goal of having, by 2025, at
least 40 percent of adult Oregonians earn a bachelor's degree or
higher, at least 40 percent of adult Oregonians earn an
associate's degree or post-secondary credential, and the
remaining 20 percent or less of all adult Oregonians earn a high
school diploma, an extended diploma, a modified diploma or the
equivalent of a high school diploma; and
  Whereas studies show that students who earn college credit
while in high school enroll in post-secondary institutions at
higher rates than their peers; and
  Whereas studies show that students who earn college credit
while in high school succeed in post-secondary institutions at
higher rates than their peers; and
  Whereas studies show that students who earn college credit
while in high school earn higher grade point averages at
post-secondary institutions than their peers; and
  Whereas the Oregon Education Investment Board, through the
achievement compact process, encourages the acquisition of
college credits while in high school; and

  Whereas Oregon students are increasingly burdened with debt
from loans for post-secondary institutions; and
  Whereas reducing the time needed to earn a degree can make
attending a post-secondary institution more affordable for
students and their families; and
  Whereas there is a shortage of qualified teachers to provide
instruction in accelerated college credit programs; now,
therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 340.300 is amended to read:
  340.300. (1) As used in this section, 'accelerated college
credit programs'   { - includes - }   { + means + } dual credit
programs, two-plus-two programs, advanced placement
programs { + , + }   { - and - } International Baccalaureate
programs { + , early college programs, the Expanded Options
Program and any other programs through which high school students
may earn college credit or become eligible to earn college
credit + }.
  (2) Each school district shall:
  (a) Provide students in grades 9 through 12 with accelerated
college credit programs including, but not limited to,
accelerated college credit programs related to English,
mathematics and science; or
  (b) Ensure that students in grades 9 through 12 have online
access to accelerated college credit programs including, but not
limited to, accelerated college credit programs related to
English, mathematics and science.
  SECTION 2. ORS 340.320 is amended to read:
  340.320. (1) As used in this section, 'accelerated college
credit programs'   { - includes - }   { + means + } dual credit
programs, two-plus-two programs, advanced placement
programs { + , + }   { - and - } International Baccalaureate
programs { + , early college programs, the Expanded Options
Program and any other programs through which high school students
may earn college credit or become eligible to earn college
credit + }.
  (2) The Department of Education shall administer a grant
program that provides grants for the purposes of:
  (a) Providing education or training to teachers who will
provide or are providing instruction in accelerated college
credit programs;
   { +  (b) Recruiting and retaining teachers, including faculty
from community colleges and public universities, who will provide
or are providing instruction in accelerated college credit
programs;
  (c) Developing and maintaining partnerships between teachers at
high schools and faculty from community colleges and public
universities for the purpose of providing instruction in
accelerated college credit programs;
  (d) Providing professional development for teachers and faculty
who provide instruction in accelerated college credit
programs; + }
    { - (b) - }   { + (e) + } Assisting students in paying for
 { + tuition, + } books, materials and other costs, other than
test fees, related to accelerated college credit programs;
 { - and - }
    { - (c) - }   { + (f) + } Providing classroom supplies for
accelerated college credit programs  { - . - }  { + ; and
  (g) Providing technical expertise or supplies to increase the
accessibility of college credit programs. + }
  (3) Any school district, community college district or
 { - state institution of higher education - }   { + public
universities + } in this state may individually or jointly apply
for a grant under this section.

  (4) If a grant is awarded for the purpose of providing
education or training to teachers who will provide or are
providing instruction in an accelerated college credit program:
  (a) The amount of the grant may not exceed one-third of the
total cost of the education or training; and
  (b) The department may award the grant on the condition that
the teacher, school district, community college district and
  { - state institution of higher education - }   { + public
university + } pay the balance of the cost of the education or
training in a proportion agreed to by the teacher, districts and
 { - institution - }  { +  university + }.
  (5) For the purposes described in subsection (2) of this
section, the department may:
  (a) Accept contributions of funds and assistance from the
United States Government and its agencies or from any other
source, public or private, and agree to conditions placed on the
funds not inconsistent with the purposes of subsection (2) of
this section; and
  (b) Enter into agreements with school districts, community
college districts and   { - state institutions of higher
education - }  { +  public universities + } related to the
funding to provide education or training to teachers who will
provide or are providing instruction in an accelerated college
credit program.
  (6) All funds received by the department under this section
shall be paid into the Accelerated College Credit Account
established under ORS 340.330 to be used for the purposes
described in subsection (2) of this section.
  SECTION 3. ORS 341.485 is amended to read:
  341.485. (1) In addition to any other scholarships provided by
law, the board { +  of education of a community college
district + } may award tuition and fee-exempting scholarships in
the college to students { +  who are:
  (a) + } Applying for enrollment   { - or who are - }  { + ;
  (b) + } Enrolled in the college  { - . - }  { + ; or
  (c) Participating in an accelerated college credit program
described in ORS 340.300. + }
  (2)  { + For students who are not participating in an
accelerated college credit program, + } scholarships shall be
awarded on the basis of the student's:
  (a) Demonstrated ability to profit either from career and
technical education or from college transfer courses; and
  (b) Need for financial assistance.
  (3) In addition to the qualifications specified in subsection
(2) of this section, the board awarding the scholarship may
prescribe qualifications that are of such nature that
scholarships awarded under this section will benefit both the
student and the people of this state.
  SECTION 4. ORS 329.451 is amended to read:
  329.451. (1)(a) At or before grade 12, a school district or
public charter school shall award a high school diploma to a
student who completes the requirements established by subsection
(2) of this section.
  (b) A school district or public charter school shall award a
modified diploma to a student who satisfies the requirements
established by subsection (6) of this section, an extended
diploma to a student who satisfies the requirements established
by subsection (7) of this section or an alternative certificate
to a student who satisfies the requirements established by
subsection (8) of this section.
  (c) A school district or public charter school may not deny a
student who has the documented history described in subsection
(6)(b) or (7)(b) and (c) of this section the opportunity to
pursue a diploma with more stringent requirements than a modified
diploma or an extended diploma for the sole reason that the
student has the documented history.
  (d) A school district or public charter school may award a
modified diploma or extended diploma to a student only upon
receiving consent as provided by subsection (5) of this section.
  (2) In order to receive a high school diploma from a school
district or public charter school, a student must satisfy the
requirements established by the State Board of Education and the
school district or public charter school and, while in grades 9
through 12, must complete at least:
  (a) Twenty-four total credits { + , six credits of which must
qualify for college credit at a post-secondary institution + };
  (b) Three credits of mathematics; and
  (c) Four credits of English.
  (3) A student may satisfy the requirements of subsection (2) of
this section in less than four years. If a student satisfies the
requirements of subsection (2) of this section and a school
district or public charter school has received consent as
provided by subsection (5) of this section, the school district
or public charter school shall award a high school diploma to the
student.
  (4) If a school district or public charter school has received
consent as provided by subsection (5) of this section, the school
district or public charter school may advance the student to the
next grade level if the student has satisfied the requirements
for the student's current grade level.
  (5)(a) For the purpose of receiving consent as provided by
subsections (1)(d), (3) and (4) of this section, consent shall be
provided by:
  (A) The parent or guardian of the student, if the student:
  (i) Is under 18 years of age and is not emancipated pursuant to
ORS 419B.550 to 419B.558; or
  (ii) Has been determined not to have the ability to give
informed consent regarding the student's education pursuant to a
protective proceeding under ORS chapter 125; or
  (B) The student, if the student is 18 years of age or older or
is emancipated pursuant to ORS 419B.550 to 419B.558.
  (b) For the purpose of awarding a modified diploma or extended
diploma as provided by subsection (1)(d) of this section or of
awarding a high school diploma as provided by subsection (3) of
this section, consent must be received during the school year for
which the diploma will be awarded.
  (6) A school district or public charter school shall award a
modified diploma only to students who have demonstrated the
inability to meet the full set of academic content standards for
a high school diploma with reasonable modifications and
accommodations. To be eligible for a modified diploma, a student
must:
  (a) Satisfy the requirements for a modified diploma established
by the State Board of Education; and
  (b) Have a documented history of an inability to maintain grade
level achievement due to significant learning and instructional
barriers or have a documented history of a medical condition that
creates a barrier to achievement.
  (7) A school district or public charter school shall award an
extended diploma only to students who have demonstrated the
inability to meet the full set of academic content standards for
a high school diploma with reasonable modifications and
accommodations. To be eligible for an extended diploma, a student
must:
  (a) While in grade nine through completion of high school,
complete 12 credits, which may not include more than six credits
earned in a self-contained special education classroom and shall
include:
  (A) Two credits of mathematics;
  (B) Two credits of English;
  (C) Two credits of science;
  (D) Three credits of history, geography, economics or civics;
  (E) One credit of health;
  (F) One credit of physical education; and
  (G) One credit of the arts or a second language;
  (b) Have a documented history of an inability to maintain grade
level achievement due to significant learning and instructional
barriers or have a documented history of a medical condition that
creates a barrier to achievement; and
  (c)(A) Participate in an alternate assessment beginning no
later than grade six and lasting for two or more assessment
cycles; or
  (B) Have a serious illness or injury that occurs after grade
eight, that changes the student's ability to participate in grade
level activities and that results in the student participating in
alternate assessments.
  (8) A school district or public charter school shall award an
alternative certificate to a student who does not satisfy the
requirements for a high school diploma, a modified diploma or an
extended diploma if the student meets requirements established by
the board of the school district or public charter school.
  (9) A student shall have the opportunity to satisfy the
requirements of subsection (6), (7) or (8) of this section by the
later of:
  (a) Four years after starting grade nine; or
  (b) The student reaching the age of 21 years, if the student is
entitled to a public education until the age of 21 years under
state or federal law.
  (10)(a) A student may satisfy the requirements described in
subsection (6), (7) or (8) of this section in less than four
years if consent is provided in the manner described in
subsection (5)(a) of this section.
  (b) The consent provided under this subsection must be written
and must clearly state that the parent, guardian or student is
waiving the time allowed under subsection (9) of this section. A
consent may not be used to allow a student to satisfy the
requirements of subsection (6), (7) or (8) of this section in
less than three years.
  (c) A copy of all consents provided under this subsection for
students in a school district must be forwarded to the district
superintendent.
  (d) Each school district must provide to the Superintendent of
Public Instruction information about the number of consents
provided during a school year.
  (11)(a) A student who receives a modified diploma, an extended
diploma or an alternative certificate shall:
  (A) Have the option of participating in a high school
graduation ceremony with the class of the student; and
  (B) Have access to instructional hours, hours of transition
services and hours of other services that are designed to:
  (i) Meet the unique needs of the student; and
  (ii) When added together, provide a total number of hours of
instruction and services to the student that equals at least the
total number of instructional hours that is required to be
provided to students who are attending a public high school.
  (b)(A) The number of instructional hours, hours of transition
services and hours of other services that are appropriate for a
student shall be determined by the student's individualized
education program team. Based on the student's needs and
performance level, the student's individualized education program
team may decide that the student will not access the total number
of hours of instruction and services to which the student has
access under paragraph (a)(B) of this subsection.
  (B) A school district may not unilaterally decrease the total
number of hours of instruction and services to which the student
has access under paragraph (a)(B) of this subsection, regardless
of the age of the student.

  (c) If a student's individualized education program team
decides that the student will not access the total number of
hours of instruction and services to which the student has access
under paragraph (a)(B) of this subsection, the school district
shall annually:
  (A) Provide the following information in writing to the parent
or guardian of the student:
  (i) The school district's duty to comply with the requirements
of paragraph (a)(B) of this subsection; and
  (ii) The prohibition against a school district's unilaterally
decreasing the total number of hours of instruction and services
to which the student has access.
  (B) Obtain a signed acknowledgment from the parent or guardian
of the student that the parent or guardian received the
information described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
  (C) Include in the individualized education program for the
student a written statement that explains the reasons the student
is not accessing the total number of hours of instruction and
services to which the student has access under paragraph (a)(B)
of this subsection.
  (d) For purposes of paragraph (a)(B) of this subsection,
transition services and other services designed to meet the
unique needs of the student may be provided to the student
through an interagency agreement entered into by the school
district if the individualized education program developed for
the student indicates that the services may be provided by
another agency. A school district that enters into an interagency
agreement as allowed under this paragraph retains the
responsibility for ensuring that the student has access to the
number of service hours required to be provided to the student
under this subsection. An agency is not required to change any
eligibility criteria or enrollment standards prior to entering
into an interagency agreement as provided by this paragraph.
  (12) A school district or public charter school shall:
  (a) Ensure that students have on-site access to the appropriate
resources to achieve a high school diploma, a modified diploma,
an extended diploma or an alternative certificate at each high
school in the school district or at the public charter school.
  (b) Provide literacy instruction to all students until
graduation.
  (c) Beginning in grade five, annually provide information to
the parents or guardians of a student taking an alternate
assessment of the availability of a modified diploma, an extended
diploma and an alternative certificate and the requirements for
the diplomas and certificate.
  SECTION 5.  { + (1) The amendments to ORS 329.451 by section 4
of this 2013 Act become operative July 1, 2019.
  (2) The amendments to ORS 329.451 by section 4 of this 2013 Act
first apply to students graduating on or after July 1, 2019. + }
  SECTION 6.  { + Section 7 of this 2013 Act is added to and made
a part of ORS chapter 342. + }
  SECTION 7.  { + (1) As used in this section, 'accelerated
college credit programs' has the meaning given that term in ORS
340.300.
  (2) The Teacher Standards and Practices Commission shall adopt
rules that, for purposes of issuing or renewing licenses and
endorsements, take into consideration experience gained by
teachers in relation to accelerated college credit programs,
including teaching experience and experience from teaching
partnerships. + }
  SECTION 8.  { + In addition to and not in lieu of any other
appropriation, there is appropriated to the Department of
Education, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2013, out of the
General Fund, the amount of $_______, which shall be deposited in
the Accelerated College Credit Account established under ORS
340.330. + }
  SECTION 9.  { + This 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect July 1,
2013. + }
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