584-220-0095
Foundational Science
(1) Purpose: A Foundational Science endorsement indicates that an educator is qualified to teach prekindergarten through grade 12 assignments in Foundational Science as provided by the TSPC Licensure Guide for Foundational Science.
(2) An educator is not authorized to teach in the endorsed area unless and until the endorsement is officially added to the license, except as provided in OAR 584-210-0170, Atypical Assignments and OAR 584-210-0160, License on Conditional Assignment.
(3) Adding to Existing Preliminary Teaching License: A Foundational Science endorsement may be added to an existing Preliminary Teaching license by demonstrating content knowledge and completing Foundational Science pedagogy requirements as defined in this rule. To be eligible to add a Foundational Science endorsement to an existing Preliminary Teaching License, an applicant must:
(a) Provide documentation of a passing score on the Commission-approved subject mastery test for Foundational Science; and
(b) Meet one of the following Foundational Science pedagogy requirements:
(A) Admission to and completion of a Commission-approved Foundational Science preparation program; or
(B) Complete a Foundational Science pedagogy course of at least three quarter or two semester hours acceptable to the Commission. The course must include the word pedagogy or methods in the course title or must be acceptable to the Commission upon evaluation of course syllabi or other evidence; or
(C) Complete a supervised practicum in a Foundational Science assignment in a public school setting. To verify the practicum, a school district must submit a PEER form and a statement verifying that:
(i) The applicant completed at least 60 hours of a supervised practicum in Foundational Science courses;
(ii) The practicum was supervised by a teacher holding a Professional, Teacher Leader or Legacy Teaching license with a Foundational or full Science endorsement;
(iii) The applicant has obtained the required pedagogy skills to teach Foundational Science.
Note: The district must indicate in the statement that the supervisory teacher supports the verification of applicant skill level.
(iv) At the Executive Director’s or Licensure Director’s discretion, other Foundational Science teaching experience such as teaching in at a post-secondary institution or in a private school setting may qualify to satisfy the practicum experience. In these settings, verification from the employer of satisfactory completion of the teaching experience with at least 60 clock hours of Foundational Science instruction is required to qualify as a suitable practicum to add the endorsement.
(c) Submit a complete and correct application to obtain the endorsement in the form and manner required by the Commission, including payment of all required fees as provided in OAR 584-200-0050.
Note: Adding the endorsement at the time of renewal will not require an additional cost to add the licensure renewal process.
(4) Adding Foundational Science Endorsement to Other Licenses: To be eligible to add a Foundational Science endorsement to an existing Professional, Teacher Leader or Legacy teaching license, an applicant must:
(a) Provide documentation of a passing score on the Commission-approved subject mastery test for Foundational Science; and
(b) Submit a complete and correct application to obtain the endorsement in the form and manner required by the Commission, including payment of all required fees as provided in OAR 584-200-0050.
Note: Adding the endorsement at the time of renewal will not require an additional cost to add the licensure renewal process.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 342
Stats. Implemented: ORS 342.120 – 342.430, 342.455 – 342.495 & 342.553
Hist.: TSPC 12-2015, f. 11-13-15, cert. ef. 1-1-16; TSPC 1-2016, f. & cert. ef. 2-10-16