As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) ‘Administrator’ includes but is not limited to all superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals and academic program directors in public schools or education service districts who have direct responsibility for supervision or evaluation of licensed teachers and who are compensated for their services from public funds.

(2) ‘Administrative license’ means a license issued under ORS § 342.125 (3)(f) or (g).

(3) ‘Approved educator preparation program’ means a licensure program that:

(a) Prepares persons to become educators in any grade from preprimary through grade 12;

(b) Is offered by an approved educator preparation provider; and

(c) Meets the standards of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, as provided by ORS § 342.147.

(4) ‘Approved educator preparation provider’ means a sponsor or provider of an educator preparation program that meets the standards of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, as provided by ORS § 342.147.

(5) ‘Commission licensee’ means a person whom the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission has the authority to investigate or discipline because the person:

(a) Is enrolled in an approved educator preparation program;

(b) Is an applicant for a Teacher Standards and Practices Commission license or registration;

(c) Holds a license or registration issued by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission; or

(d) Has held a license or registration issued by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission at any time during the previous five years.

(6) ‘Instruction’ includes preparation of curriculum, assessment and direction of learning in class, in small groups, in individual situations, online, in the library and in guidance and counseling, but does not include the provision of related services, as defined in ORS § 343.035, to a child identified as a child with a disability pursuant to ORS § 343.146 to 343.183 when provided in accordance with ORS § 343.221.

(7) ‘Instructional assistant’ means a classified school employee who does not require a license to teach, who is employed by a school district or education service district and whose assignment consists of and is limited to assisting a licensed teacher in accordance with rules established by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.

(8) ‘Teacher’ includes all licensed employees in the public schools or employed by an education service district who have direct responsibility for instruction or coordination of educational programs and who are compensated for their services from public funds. ‘Teacher’ does not include a school nurse as defined in ORS § 342.455 or an instructional assistant.

(9) ‘Teaching license’ means a license issued under ORS § 342.125 or 342.144.

(10) ‘Underrepresented person’ means:

(a) A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa, but who is not Hispanic;

(b) A person of Hispanic culture or origin;

(c) A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent or the Pacific Islands; or

(d) An American Indian or Alaska Native having origins in any of the original peoples of North America. [1961 c.439 § 1; 1965 c.100 § 348; 1965 c.550 § 1; 1973 c.270 § 2; 1975 c.278 § 1; 1981 c.393 § 1; 1981 c.469 § 5; 1989 c.125 § 1; 1993 c.45 § 149; 2001 c.653 § 4; 2007 c.70 § 100; 2011 c.609 § 4; 2015 c.647 6,36; 2018 c.72 § 2; 2021 c.97 § 33; 2021 c.151 § 1; 2021 c.518 § 12]

LICENSING AND REGISTRATION OF TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS

(Generally)