Or. Admin. R. 584-220-0035 - Biology

(1) Purpose: A Biology endorsement indicates that an educator is qualified to teach prekindergarten through grade 12 assignments in Biology as provided by the TSPC Licensure Guide for Biology.

(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 for Conditional Assignment.

(3) Adding to existing Preliminary Teaching License: A Biology endorsement may be added to an existing Preliminary Teaching license by demonstrating content knowledge and completing Biology pedagogy requirements as defined in this rule. To be eligible to add a Biology endorsement to an existing Preliminary Teaching License, an applicant must:

(a) Meet one of the following content knowledge requirements:

(A) Provide documentation of a passing score on the Commission-approved subject mastery test for Biology; or

(B) Complete Commission-approved coursework of at least forty-five quarter or thirty semester hours designed to develop competency in Biology that includes:

(i) At least twenty-seven quarter or eighteen semester hours in biology science, including:

(a) Classical and molecular genetics;

(b) Evolution;

(c) General microbiology; and

(d) Ecology; and

(ii) At least eighteen quarter or twelve semester hours in physical and earth science.

(C) At least fifty percent (50%) of the Biology coursework must have been completed within five years prior to the date of application for the endorsement.

(b) Meet one of the following Biology pedagogy requirements:

(A) Admission to and completion of a Commission-approved Biology preparation program; or

(B) Complete a Biology 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 biology 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 biology courses;

(ii) The practicum was supervised by a teacher holding a Professional, Teacher Leader or Legacy Teaching license with a biology endorsement;

(iii) The applicant has obtained the required pedagogy skills to teach biology.

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, biology 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 supervised teaching experience with at least 60 clock hours of biology 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 Biology to Other Licenses: To be eligible to add a Biology endorsement to an existing Professional, Teacher Leader or Legacy teaching license, an applicant must:

(a) Meet one of the following content knowledge requirements:

(A) Provide documentation of a passing score on the Commission-approved subject mastery test for Biology; or

(B) Complete Commission-approved coursework of at least forty-five quarter or thirty semester hours designed to develop competency in Biology that includes:

(i) At least twenty-seven quarter or eighteen semester hours in biology science, including:

(a) Classical and molecular genetics;

(b) Evolution;

(c) General microbiology; and

(d) Ecology; and

(ii) At least eighteen quarter or twelve semester hours in physical and earth science,

(C) At least fifty percent (50%) of the Biology coursework must have been completed within five years prior to the date of application for the endorsement.

(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.

Notes

Or. Admin. R. 584-220-0035

TSPC 12-2015, f. 11-13-15, cert. ef. 1/1/2016; TSPC 1-2016, f. & cert. ef. 2/10/2016

Stat. Auth.: ORS 342

Stats. Implemented: ORS 342.120 - 342.430, 342.455 - 342.495 & 342.553