Public Meeting Agenda: March 19, 2026 at 3:30 PM - Educator Preparation & Pathways Committee Meetings

1. Virtual Meeting Information

Description: Join online meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3896292821
To join by phone only: 1-719-359-4580 | Conference ID: 389 629 2821
SmartPhones: +17193594580,,3896292821#

1.1. The meeting is accessible to persons with disabilities. For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation, please contact Richelle Krotts, Richelle.Krotts@tspc.oregon.gov at least 48 hours before the meeting [ORS 192.630((5)(b)].

2. Educator Preparation & Pathway Committee
Dr. Michelle York, Chair
Dr. Carrie Kondor
Samantha Herron
Dr. Alfonso Garcia Arriola
Vacant

3. Welcome

Speaker(s): Dr. Michelle York, Chair

4. New Program Proposals, Major Modifications, and Waivers

Speaker(s): Dr. Michelle York, Chair

4.1. Major Modification Requests

Description:

EP&PC members will determine whether to:

Approve the requests and forward them to the full Commission for placement on the program consent agenda with a recommendation for approval;
Require additional information from the requestor; or
Disapprove the request.

4.1.1. George Fox University (GFU): Major modification request to the Undergraduate Teacher Education (UGTE) program for preservice candidates to revise coursework and program structure;

Speaker(s): Dr. Bill Rhoades

4.1.2. George Fox University (GFU): Major modification request to the Undergraduate Accelerated Teaching Degree (ATD) program for preservice candidates to restructure the program as a streamlined bachelor’s degree licensure pathway

Speaker(s): Dr. Bill Rhoades

5. Committee Business Items

5.1. ORELA/NES Content Knowledge Assessment Revisions

Speaker(s): Dr. Bill Rhoades

Description:

Commission action is required to adopt content knowledge assessments, approve new versions of exams and passing scores, and to retire the current exams that will be replaced.
For this item, committee members will consider adoption of redeveloped versions of five Pearson ORELA/NES content knowledge assessments provided in the item table.
If approved, these adoptions will become effective September 1, 2026, and the previous versions of redeveloped exams may be accepted to demonstrate content knowledge mastery until September 1, 2027.
Required passing scores for these ORELA/NES exams is at the national benchmark of 220.

Redeveloped ORELA/NES Assessments

Endorsement	Assessment Name	Previous Test Code	Revised Test Code
Advanced Mathematics	Mathematics	304	326
Music	Music	504	513
Physical Education	Physical Education	506	516
Physics	Physics	308	323
Social Studies	Social Science	303	325

Attachments: (5)

5.2. Scheduling EP&PC Meetings

Speaker(s): Dr. Bill Rhoades

Description:
EP&PC meetings typically occur approximately three weeks prior to Commission meetings in order to consider program requests such as new program proposals, major modification requests, and Commission-required waiver requests. At the meeting, EP&PC members will determine if the meeting dates and times listed below are acceptable.

Proposed EP&PC Meeting Dates & Times (approximately three weeks prior to Commission)	Commission Meeting Dates
May 28, 2026, 3:30-5:30 p.m.	June 22-24, 2026
September 24, 2026, 3:30-5:30 p.m.	October 16, 2026
January 14, 2027, 3:30-5:30 p.m.	February 5, 2027
March 18, 2027, 3:30-5:30 p.m.	April 9, 2027

6. Rule Proposals and Revisions: EP&PC Initial Review

6.1. Program Standards Updates to Align with Current Literacy Standards

Speaker(s): Dr. Bill Rhoades

Description:
Updates the following rules to align to current literacy standards and eliminates references to previous reading and dyslexia standards (OAR 584-420-0015 Reading Instruction: Program Standards and OAR 584-420-0016 Dyslexia and other Reading Difficulties: Program Standards).

Planned timeline:

EP&PC: March 19, meeting - Initial discussion;
Rules Advisory Committee (RAC): April 23, 2026
EP&PC: May 28, 2026, meeting (exact meeting date to be determined during this meeting) - Second review of language with RAC feedback;
Commission review: June 22-24, 2026;
Effective date: September 1, 2026.

7. Information Items
The remaining items are included for information only. If EP&PC members wish to discuss any of these matters further, the item(s) can be pulled for discussion at this point in the meeting.

Speaker(s): Dr. Michelle York, Chair

7.1. Early Literacy Implementation Update

Speaker(s): Dr. Bill Rhoades

Description:
Educator Preparation Providers (EPPs) continue to be deeply engaged in the planning and preparation for the implementation of Oregon’s recently adopted early literacy standards. These standards were recommended by the Governor-appointed Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council (ELEPC) and adopted by TSPC in July of 2024. Since our last update:

Winter Presentations: 11 of 14 EPPs have shared their Winter 2026 updated implementation plans and their presentations to TSPC staff in support of those plans. The EP&P team have begun initial reviews of the updated plans and are reviewing each more deeply as they meet with individual EPPs for their winter presentations.
Capacity Building: A number of representatives of our EPPs are working to organize communities of practice to build capacity and support development of specific elements of their program and implementation planning. It was determined that we would extend our monthly Cross EPP sessions to make time for these CoPs and we held our first session on March 4^th. Our EPPs have been leading these strategy/tool sharing sessions as many are launching or piloting aspects of their revisions this winter and spring. Others have been able to share successful strategies and/or tools they have found or developed themselves.
EP&P Recommendations to Commission: TSPC staff will ultimately present to the Commission a recommendation to "approve the staff recommendation that the (named) EPPs are on track for full implementation in the FALL of 2026. A number of plans will be presented at the April Commission and others at the June meeting. Again, full statewide implementation is scheduled to begin in Fall 2026.

We continue to appreciate the efforts of Oregon EPPs to build their capacity to deliver the early literacy standards. As we have stated before, this collaborative. continuous improvement-oriented process will ensure Oregon’s future educators are prepared with strong Science of Reading-aligned literacy practices to support all students in becoming proficient readers.

7.2. Future Meetings

Speaker(s): Dr. Michelle York, Chair

Description:

To be determined at this meeting

8. Adjournment

Speaker(s): Dr. Michelle York, Chair

March 19, 2026 at 3:30 PM - Educator Preparation & Pathways Committee Meetings

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