ORS 342.176
Complaint process

  • preliminary investigation
  • materials confidential
  • notice

(1)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A person may file a complaint with the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission regarding a commission licensee. If a complaint concerns an allegation of sexual conduct that may have been committed by a commission licensee, the complaint process provided by this section does not apply and the commission shall investigate the complaint as provided by ORS 339.390 (Investigations by Teacher Standards and Practices Commission of persons who are commission licensees).

(b)

Prior to beginning an investigation based on a complaint filed under paragraph (a) of this subsection, the commission may require verification that attempts were made to resolve the complaint through the complaint process of the school district that employs the person against whom the complaint was filed.

(c)

After receiving sufficient verification as provided by paragraph (b) of this subsection, the commission shall promptly undertake an investigation upon receipt of a complaint or information that may constitute grounds for:

(A)

Refusal to issue a license or registration, as provided under ORS 342.143 (Issuance of licenses and registrations);

(B)

Suspension or revocation of a license or registration, discipline of a commission licensee, or suspension or revocation of the right to apply for a license or registration, as provided under ORS 342.175 (Grounds for discipline); or

(C)

Discipline for failure to provide appropriate notice prior to resignation, as provided under ORS 342.553 (Discipline for resigning without providing required notice).

(2)

The commission may appoint an investigator and shall furnish the investigator with appropriate professional and other special assistance reasonably required to conduct the investigation, and the investigator is empowered to issue subpoenas to require the attendance of witnesses or the production of documents over the signature of the executive director of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, subpoena witnesses over the signature of the executive director, swear witnesses and compel obedience in the same manner as provided under ORS 183.440 (Subpoenas in contested cases) (2).

(3)

Following completion of the investigation, the executive director or the executive director’s designee shall report in writing any findings and recommendations to:

(a)

The commission, meeting in executive session, at its next regular meeting following completion of the investigation; and

(b)

The person against whom the charge is made, following consideration by the commission.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the documents and materials used in the investigation undertaken as provided by this section and the report related to the investigation are confidential and not subject to public inspection unless the commission makes a final determination to:

(A)

Refuse to issue a license or registration, as provided under ORS 342.143 (Issuance of licenses and registrations);

(B)

Suspend or revoke a license or registration, discipline a commission licensee, or suspend or revoke the right to apply for a license or registration, as provided under ORS 342.175 (Grounds for discipline); or

(C)

Discipline a person for failure to provide appropriate notice prior to resignation, as provided under ORS 342.553 (Discipline for resigning without providing required notice).

(b)

Records made available to the commission under ORS 419B.035 (Confidentiality of records) (1)(h) shall be kept confidential.

(5)

If the commission finds from the report that there is sufficient cause to justify holding a hearing under ORS 342.177 (Hearing and decision on charges), the commission shall notify in writing:

(a)

The person charged, enclosing a statement of the charges and a notice of opportunity for hearing;

(b)

The complainant; and

(c)

The employing district or public charter school, if any.

(6)

If the commission finds from the report that there is not sufficient cause to justify holding a hearing under ORS 342.177 (Hearing and decision on charges), the commission shall notify in writing:

(a)

The person charged;

(b)

The complainant; and

(c)

The employing district or public charter school, if any.

(7)

Notwithstanding ORS 192.660 (Executive sessions permitted on certain matters) (6), the commission may make its findings under this section in executive session. However, the provisions of ORS 192.660 (Executive sessions permitted on certain matters) (4) apply to the sessions. [1979 c.226 §2; 1987 c.503 §2; 1989 c.149 §1; 1991 c.662 §2; 1997 c.165 §2; 1997 c.594 §2; 2003 c.524 §5; 2007 c.575 §13; 2009 c.393 §2; 2009 c.706 §2; 2015 c.245 §12; 2017 c.406 §3; 2019 c.618 §25; 2021 c.151 §3]

Source: Section 342.176 — Complaint process; preliminary investigation; materials confidential; notice, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors342.­html.

342.120
Definitions for chapter
342.121
Teacher and administrator licensing
342.122
National Board Certification Fund
342.123
Knowledge of civil rights laws and ethical standards required
342.125
Types of licenses
342.127
Fees
342.130
Certain existing certificates and licenses not invalidated
342.136
Preliminary teaching license, personnel service license and administrative license
342.137
Distinguished teacher leader license
342.138
Professional teaching license, professional personnel service license and professional administrative license
342.143
Issuance of licenses and registrations
342.144
American Indian languages teaching license
342.147
Approval of educator preparation providers and educator preparation programs
342.153
Proficiency in Braille required for teaching license to provide education to blind students
342.165
Commission rules
342.173
Effect of employing certain persons
342.175
Grounds for discipline
342.176
Complaint process
342.177
Hearing and decision on charges
342.180
Appeal
342.183
Letters of informal reproval
342.192
Licensing requirements for out-of-state applicants
342.195
Teaching licenses based on experience in certain federal programs
342.200
Administrative licenses based on professional skills and experience
342.202
Administrator comprehensive leadership development system
342.203
Publication of list of teachers, administrators and teacher candidates subjected to discipline
342.208
Model career pathways for instructional assistants to become licensed teachers
342.223
Criminal records check
342.350
Commission established
342.360
Members
342.380
Organization
342.390
Meetings
342.410
Executive director
342.420
Member’s salary
342.425
Annual report on duties, powers and functions of commission
342.430
Teacher Standards and Practices Commission Account
342.433
Definitions for ORS 342.433 to 342.449
342.437
Goal
342.443
Reports of longitudinal data
342.447
Plans for recruitment, admission, retention and graduation of diverse educators
342.448
Reports related to implementation of Educators Equity Act
342.449
Short title
342.455
Definition of “school nurse.”
342.465
Rules
342.475
School nurses
342.485
Commission to consult with and advise Oregon State Board of Nursing on school nursing
342.495
Holder of school nurse certificate qualified to conduct and coordinate health services program
342.513
Renewal or nonrenewal of contracts for following year
342.521
Contracts with teachers for return of part of salary prohibited
342.545
Termination of teacher’s contract
342.549
Administrator contracts
342.553
Discipline for resigning without providing required notice
342.608
Working hours for licensed personnel
342.610
Minimum salary for substitute teachers
342.664
Required ratio of pupils to staff holders of first aid cards
342.700
Policy on sexual harassment
342.704
Adoption of policies on sexual harassment required
342.708
ORS 342.700 and 342.704 not limitation on or prerequisite for other rights and remedies
342.721
Definitions for ORS 342.723 and 342.726
342.723
Prohibitions on school district employees
342.726
Curricula to include information on steroids and performance-enhancing substances
342.805
Short title
342.815
Definitions for ORS 342.805 to 342.937
342.835
Probationary teacher
342.840
Determination of length of service for probationary teacher
342.845
Contract teacher
342.850
Teacher evaluation
342.856
Core teaching standards
342.865
Grounds for dismissal or contract nonextension of contract teacher
342.875
Suspension
342.895
Contract teachers
342.905
Appeal procedure
342.910
Waiver of contract grievance claim if appeal of dismissal decision filed
342.930
Fair Dismissal Appeals Board
342.934
Procedure for reduction of teacher staff due to funding or administrative decision
342.937
Reimbursement for teacher dismissal costs
342.940
Educator Advancement Council
342.943
System of educator networks
342.953
Educator Advancement Fund
342.961
Internal investigations of employee misconduct or wrongdoing
342.965
Interchange of teachers
342.971
Educator Preparation Improvement Fund
342.974
Oregon Education Support Professional of the Year Program
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