71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 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 4109
 
                         Senate Bill 950
 
Sponsored by Senator HARTUNG
 
 
                             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.
 
  Directs State Board of Education to adopt rules setting
recommended maximum number of children with disabilities who may
be served by single licensed special education teacher in school
district. Directs school districts to report to Department of
Education number of children with disabilities being served by
each licensed special education teacher in school district.
Requires school district to include explanation if number of
children served by teacher exceeds recommended maximum number.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to special education.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + Section 2 of this 2001 Act is added to and made
a part of ORS chapter 343. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + (1) The State Board of Education shall
establish by rule a recommended maximum number of children with
disabilities who may be served by a single licensed special
education teacher in a school district. The recommended maximum
number may not exceed:
  (a) Thirty-seven students for a teacher who serves students in
grades 6 through 12.
  (b) Twenty-six students for a teacher who serves students in
kindergarten through grade 5.
  (2) Not later than January 1 of each year, each school district
shall report to the Department of Education the number of
children with disabilities who are being served as of December 1
of the preceding year by each licensed special education teacher
in the school district. The report required under this subsection
may be included in any other material required by rule to be
submitted by school districts to the Department of Education.
  (3) If the report required under subsection (2) of this section
indicates that the number of children with disabilities who are
being served by any licensed special education teacher in the
school district exceeds the recommended maximum number adopted by
the State Board of Education under subsection (1) of this
section, the school district shall include with the report a
statement explaining the reasons the number of children with
disabilities being serviced exceeds the recommended maximum
number.
  (4) For purposes of this section, a licensed special education
teacher shall be considered to serve a child with a disability if
the teacher is responsible for the direct or indirect
implementation of the child's individualized education program.
  (5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules specifying:
  (a) Uniform reporting requirements under this section for all
school districts; and
  (b) The requirements for qualification as a licensed special
education teacher under this section. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + Section 2 of this 2001 Act first applies to the
2002-2003 school year. + }
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