Chapter 639 Oregon Laws 2011

AN ACT

SB 254

Relating to college credits; creating new provisions; amending ORS 340.083 and 341.450; repealing sections 3 and 4, chapter 456, Oregon Laws 2011 (Enrolled House Bill 3106); appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, “accelerated college credit programs” includes dual credit programs, two-plus-two programs, advanced placement programs and International Baccalaureate programs.

(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) Assisting students in paying for books, materials and other costs, other than test fees, related to accelerated college credit programs; and

(c) Providing classroom supplies for accelerated college credit programs.

(3) Any school district, community college district or state institution of higher education 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 pay the balance of the cost of the education or training in a proportion agreed to by the teacher, districts and institution.

(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 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 section 8 of this 2011 Act to be used for the purposes described in subsection (2) of this section.

SECTION 2. (1) The Joint Boards of Education shall develop statewide standards for dual credit programs to be implemented by public high schools, community colleges and state institutions of higher education within the Oregon University System. The standards must establish the manner by which:

(a) A student may, upon completion of a course, earn course credit both for high school and for a community college or state institution of higher education within the Oregon University System; and

(b) Teachers of courses that are part of a dual credit program will work together to determine the quality of the program and to ensure the alignment of the content, objectives and outcomes of individual courses.

(2) Each public high school, community college and state institution of higher education within the Oregon University System that provides a dual credit program must implement the statewide standards developed under subsection (1) of this section.

(3) Each school district, community college and state institution of higher education within the Oregon University System that provides a dual credit program shall submit an annual report to the Joint Boards of Education on the academic performance of students enrolled in a dual credit program. The Joint Boards of Education shall establish the required contents of the report, which must provide sufficient information to allow the Joint Boards of Education to determine the quality of the dual credit program.

SECTION 3. Section 2 (2) and (3) of this 2011 Act first applies to the 2013-2014 school year.

SECTION 4. (1) As used in this section, “accelerated college credit programs” includes dual credit programs, two-plus-two programs, advanced placement programs and International Baccalaureate programs.

(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 5. ORS 341.450 is amended to read:

341.450. Every community college district shall encourage high school students to start early on a college education by implementing [two-plus-two programs and other related programs] a dual credit program, a two-plus-two program or another accelerated college credit program. Each community college district shall make at least one such program available to each interested school district that is within the boundaries of the community college district.

SECTION 6. Section 4 of this 2011 Act and the amendments to ORS 341.450 by section 5 of this 2011 Act:

(1) Become operative July 1, 2014.

(2) First apply to the 2014-2015 school year.

SECTION 7. ORS 340.083 is amended to read:

340.083. (1) A school district may request a waiver from the Department of Education of the requirements of this chapter. The department shall grant the waiver if:

(a) Compliance with the requirements of this chapter would adversely impact the finances of the school district; or

(b) The school district offers [dual credit technical preparation programs, such as two-plus-two programs, advanced placement or International Baccalaureate programs and other accelerated college credit programs] a dual credit program, a two-plus-two program, an advanced placement program, an International Baccalaureate program or any other accelerated college credit program.

(2) The duration of a waiver granted based on subsection (1)(a) of this section shall be no more than two school years.

(3) The duration of a waiver granted under subsection (1)(b) of this section shall be the length of the program that was the basis for the waiver.

(4) There is no limit on the number of times a school district may apply for and be granted a waiver under this section.

SECTION 7a. Section 3, chapter 456, Oregon Laws 2011 (Enrolled House Bill 3106) (amending ORS 340.083), is repealed and ORS 340.083, as amended by section 7 of this 2011 Act, is amended to read:

340.083. (1) A school district may request a waiver from the Department of Education of the requirements of this chapter. The department shall grant the waiver if:

(a) Compliance with the requirements of this chapter would adversely impact the finances of the school district; or

(b) The school district does all of the following:

(A) Offers a dual credit program, a two-plus-two program, an advanced placement program, an International Baccalaureate program or any other accelerated college credit program[.];

(B) Ensures that at-risk students who participate in the accelerated college credit programs are not required to make any payments for participation in the programs; and

(C) Has a process for participation in the programs that allows:

(i) All at-risk students who are eligible students to participate in the programs;

(ii) At-risk students to earn the number of credit hours established by the State Board of Education by rule under ORS 340.080; or

(iii) For an increasing number of at-risk students who are eligible students to participate in the programs each school year based on demand and appropriateness and as provided by a plan developed by the school district.

(2) The duration of a waiver granted based on subsection [(1)(a)] (1) of this section shall be no more than two school years.

[(3) The duration of a waiver granted under subsection (1)(b) of this section shall be the length of the program that was the basis for the waiver.]

[(4)] (3) There is no limit on the number of times a school district may apply for and be granted a waiver under this section.

SECTION 7b. Section 4, chapter 456, Oregon Laws 2011 (Enrolled House Bill 3106), is repealed.

SECTION 7c. The amendments to ORS 340.083 by section 7a of this 2011 Act become operative on January 1, 2012, and first apply to waivers granted on or after January 1, 2012.

SECTION 8. The Accelerated College Credit Account is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned by the Accelerated College Credit Account shall be credited to the account. Moneys in the Accelerated College Credit Account are continuously appropriated to the Department of Education for the purposes described in section 1 (2) of this 2011 Act.

SECTION 9. There is appropriated to the Department of Education, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2011, out of the General Fund, the amount of $250,000 for deposit in the Accelerated College Credit Account established under section 8 of this 2011 Act to be used for the purposes described in section 1 (2) of this 2011 Act.

SECTION 10. This 2011 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2011 Act takes effect July 1, 2011.

Approved by the Governor July 20, 2011

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 20, 2011

Effective date July 20, 2011

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