[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6314981,"mediaKeyId","2381636-e43f62af8167c2d1ea955d077a8d5bcd","parentId",2381636,"title","Substitute teachers press for state office, benefits and training as committee hears two bills","audioSeconds",976,"startMs",3374250,"endMs",4351104,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381636-e43f62af8167c2d1ea955d077a8d5bcd&start=3374&end=4351","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381636-e43f62af8167c2d1ea955d077a8d5bcd/thumbnail_3374250.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6314981/Oregon/Substitute-teachers-press-for-state-office-benefits-and-training-as-committee-hears-two-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314981-299e88f797c45ebdfb1e76b6cf1e1003/orig.mp4?Expires=1770916509&Signature=fBR~qkgiXYJWgJCFbMAw8-m2P~Hu3hzsT4lJAm7QgG8nWhTpU~8S5LMDG5qW4Hf84tFkbuouZ4ZXOuWIeMBAw6FNbjqsBx5nM-JKAN8Rpv3FPCArEQPW1BPBg4dTvdX4eaIGTWynLoxO73NYNVaEcXS4m~TOiVCGPteuePBIB9TnWe0Nw1PeynxZ5E2-L9AU-O5wWvOjKtmpgEZQDNhvioUTkSgnIEeWm4OXLfVGBDNH~ZC2hOadH7swIytv0ttqJ3TIrmRBm-FxvWNM9HYqLHvUWO7PZo3wRrlJbO5AWITaOjEegYvbih1JgRykzNNLrTYEGzY6-3gKGWOEp1ROvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","article","Substitute teachers, education associations and local officials told the Oregon Senate Education Committee on Feb. 24 that substitute teaching has grown into a large, often precarious workforce and urged the committee to pass two related bills to improve training, benefits and transparency.

Senate Bill 3 22 would create an Office of Substitute Teachers within the Oregon Department of Education, require an online professional‑development contract for substitutes, establish substitute teacher licenses and permit a pathway from restricted to regular substitute licensure, create a process for substitutes who work half time or more to enroll in health‑care plans, and declare an emergency effective July 1, 2025. The bill includes multiple sections the substitute teachers’ task force recommended, witnesses said.

Debbie Ferry, representing the Oregon Substitute Teachers Association, said SB 3 22 is “about fiscal accountability and transparency” and argued the provisions are interdependent. “These 5 proposals were voted for in favor by a quorum of task force members,” Ferry said, urging funding for an office to coordinate handbooks, training and due process so substitutes are not terminated for procedural missteps.

Leslie Paulson, president of the Oregon Substitute Teachers Association, told the committee that students need stability in the classroom. “Students deserve better,” she said, citing classroom management challenges and the “9‑day boogie” of restricted license substitutes rotating through the same long‑term jobs.

Ross Swartzendruber, a substitute teacher in Salem‑Keizer, described the gig‑economy aspect of current substitute staffing systems and said districts rely on algorithms and third‑party apps to fill assignments. “We are part of the gig economy now,” he said, and asked the committee to elevate substitutes’ status by creating a state office where substitutes can go for support.

Steve Frank, appearing remotely for the Oregon Substitute Teachers Association (ASTA), and other witnesses supported SB 3 22 and stressed the need for training, health‑plan access and a path to regular substitute licensure that does not require a traditional teacher‑preparation program.

School district and association representatives voiced mixed views on Senate Bill 3 23, which would require school districts and education service districts to conduct and post a cost analysis of contracts for substitute teacher services before entering, renewing or extending those contracts, and would require submission of the contract and analysis to ODE. The bill would also require public discussion at a regular board meeting and an annual ODE report on implementation.

Stacy Michaelson of the Oregon School Boards Association and Morgan Allen of COSA said much of the activity SB 3 23 would require is already covered by public contracting law and local board processes; they urged caution about adding duplicate reporting requirements. Michaelson said existing statutes and recorded board meetings already provide public access to contract discussions.

But witnesses who oppose third‑party outsourcing argued districts lack clear, comparable cost data. Debbie Ferry and other witnesses said staffing‑agency models can cost districts more than in‑house substitutes because the district pays a staffing fee on the entire substitute pool while retirement and benefits attach to a small share who meet hours thresholds. Ferry summarized: “The staffing agency gets paid on every substitute teacher based on gross payroll. 24 to 26% goes to the staffing fee… Only 8 to 10% of the pool work the hours enough to get retirement and other benefits.”

The committee’s members asked questions about cost, scope and implementation. Senator Osterholm, co‑chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for Education, said she was concerned about the unknown fiscal impact and told witnesses she would need more detailed cost estimates as the bills move forward. Chair Frederick and other committee members encouraged witnesses to provide documentation for OLIS to expedite review.

No formal votes were taken on SB 3 22 or SB 3 23 during the Feb. 24 hearings; both were closed for testimony and may return for work sessions later in the session.

The committee’s record and the witnesses’ written testimony are posted to OLIS.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee On Education 02/24/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","At a Feb. 24 public hearing, substitute teachers, associations and school‑district groups testified on Senate Bill 3 22 and Senate Bill 3 23, urging creation of an Office of Substitute Teachers, paid professional development, clearer licensure pathways and greater fiscal transparency for third‑party staffing contracts.","taxTitle","Education, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17625,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6314987,"Senate Education Committee advances multiple education bills; several sent to Ways and Means",313,425555,739380,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381636-e43f62af8167c2d1ea955d077a8d5bcd&start=425&end=739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381636-e43f62af8167c2d1ea955d077a8d5bcd/thumbnail_425555.jpg","/articles/6314987/Oregon/Senate-Education-Committee-advances-multiple-education-bills-several-sent-to-Ways-and-Means","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314987-af42bbbf124e916cfa2fa55ddcaf99ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1770916509&Signature=lAxLxQGxXxsa0DITul9i61fYPIn6afweoWtlq56XwjxOPJEnouBy5VtydSPaIb2KlMk6TzZlt0YeSdOQejJ5ScWT-nVxHHH4MjN42HshF98bkwK8wtp1kJ7Y~JKWjvqLjo3NPFvHWyVMo3nC2XY9KxeuTt6qEmQPRvDJZKtb2Piw0wtnLnSHX6LERrNs42kZhfsMgU5VSefdxndY5GKyH3aPNtULHUAPeST8g9tsfpUCOWNks5fHTRMQ6hhTd9WU-eqitOCbMbwLLHu1HalCm5~10jDw3edm8rfmdvFBt0P2~Us9CWItWSDezvS4NB-QYHKjFHm~ziMPvkBY7DmN0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oregon State Senate Education Committee on Feb. 24 moved a set of education bills forward, voting to advance measures on robotics credit, after‑school grants, seismic‑plaque funding for schools, and several teacher licensing and administrative changes. Most of the bills were given a “do pass” recommendation and referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for further fiscal review.

The committee approved a due‑pass recommendation for Senate Bill 8 94, which would recognize high school robotics as a pathway eligible for credit similar to other co‑curricular activities. Vice Chair Weber moved the bill to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation and it was referred to Ways and Means. Senator Robinson recorded a “no” on the roll call; senators voting “aye” included Chair Frederick, Vice Chair Weber and Senator Gail Woodard. The motion passed.

The panel also approved a due‑pass recommendation for Senate Bill 8 96, which would create an after‑school learning and enrichment grant program to fund K‑12 after‑school programs and requires the Oregon Department of Education to administer the grants. The bill declares an emergency clause and would take effect July 1, 2025. The committee’s roll call recorded at least one “no” vote from Senator Robinson; the motion carried.

Senate Bill 2 23, establishing a memorial plaque program recognizing Sen. Peter Courtney’s role in securing seismic rehabilitation funding for schools, passed its dash‑5 amendment clarifying plaque funding and placement and was moved with a due‑pass recommendation to Ways and Means by prior reference.

Senate Bill 8 02, changing the timing for when an applicant may be employed as a licensed educator without a license from a purely time‑based rule to one tied to background check completion standards set by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, was moved to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation after roll call. Senator Robinson recorded a “no” vote; others on the roll recorded “aye.”

Senate Bill 8 05, reducing the period the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission may keep a complaint open without local resolution from 12 months to six months, received a due‑pass recommendation and was moved to the floor.

Senate Bill 8 67, which expands penalties available when a public school or program is found to be in violation of anti‑discrimination laws and modifies reimbursement remedies, passed a dash‑1 amendment and was moved to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation; the bill’s subsequent referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means was rescinded.

Votes at a glance (committee action and roll calls as recorded in the Feb. 24 committee session):
- SB 8 94 (robotics credit): Motion to move to floor with due pass and refer to Ways and Means — motion passed (roll call included: Sen. Gail Woodard Aye; Sen. Robinson No; Sen. Sollmer Aye; Vice Chair Weber Aye; Chair Frederick Yes).
- SB 8 96 (after‑school learning grants): Motion to move to floor with due pass and refer to Ways and Means — motion passed (roll call recorded; Sen. Robinson No; other senators recorded Aye).
- SB 2 23 (memorial plaque for seismic fund) dash‑5 amendment and bill as amended: Amendment passed; bill moved to Ways and Means by prior reference (roll calls recorded in session).
- SB 8 02 (employment timing tied to background checks): Motion to move to floor with due pass — motion passed (roll call included Sen. Gelsinger Bluebon Aye; Sen. Robinson No; Sen. Salmon Aye; Vice Chair Weber Aye; Chair Frederick Yes).
- SB 8 05 (TSPC complaint closure timeline): Motion to move to floor with due pass — motion passed (roll call recorded ayes).
- SB 8 67 (anti‑discrimination penalties) dash‑1 amendment: Amendment adopted; bill moved to floor with due pass and referral to Ways and Means rescinded (roll call recorded).

The committee handled the work‑session items in succession and closed the work sessions after each motion. Several motions were made by Vice Chair Weber and called by Chair Frederick; roll‑call votes are recorded in the committee minutes for each item. Most bills advanced will now receive fiscal review in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

The committee closed its work sessions and then moved to two public hearings later in the agenda.","On Feb. 24 the Oregon Senate Education Committee voted to advance a package of education bills — including measures on robotics credit, after‑school grants and substitute teacher rules — sending most to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for fiscal review.","actionData","errors"]

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Substitute teachers press for state office, benefits and training as committee hears two bills

Senate Education Committee advances multiple education bills; several sent to Ways and Means