Or. Admin. Code § 584-200-0125 - [Effective until 4/29/2025] Oregon Licensure Expense Reimbursement Program

(1) Pursuant to ORS 342.437, the Commission may disburse moneys to increase the percentage of licensed linguistically diverse educators employed and retained in this state through reimbursement from the TSPC General Program Fund to applicants for reimbursement of the direct costs of seeking and obtaining Oregon teacher, administrator, and personnel service licensure or renewal, as well as assessment fees leading to licensure, registration, or certification.

(2) Eligible Recipients: To be eligible for reimbursement of licensure expenses, a teacher, administrator, or personnel service license applicant must meet one of the following criteria:

(a) Enhance Oregon access to linguistic inclusion through:

(A) Fluency in a language that aligns with a TSPC-approved World Language endorsement as demonstrated by an Oregon Seal of Biliteracy or other evidence as approved by TSPC; or

(B) Holding or having applied for an Oregon American Indian Languages Teaching License; or

(C) Holding or having applied for an Oregon English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) endorsement; or

(D) Holding or having applied for an Oregon World Language endorsement; or

(E) Holding or having applied for an Oregon American Sign Language, Bilingual, or Dual Language Specialization; or

(F) Holding a degree or minor in a subject area that aligns with a TSPC-approved World Language Endorsement, and

(b) Have applied for or been issued a teacher, administrator or personnel service license, registration, certificate, or to add an endorsement or specialization or renewal under ORS 342.125, ORS 342.144, or ORS 342.475 on or after July 1 of the current biennium.

NOTE: Eligible teachers, administrators and personnel service licensees may be reimbursed for eligible expenses that occurred prior to July 1 of the current biennium, if the licensure or renewal associated with the expenses was granted on or after July 1 of the current biennium.

NOTE: An application for a Clinical Practices Clearance is not an application for a license and does not qualify as an eligible expense until an application for licensure has been approved.

(3) Eligible Reimbursement Costs: For each reimbursement application, the applicant may receive a reimbursement subject to the approval of the Executive Director for the following actual, direct, and eligible expenses incurred for TSPC licensure or renewal and assessment leading to licensure:

(a) The total license application fees for TSPC licensure, license endorsement, license specialization, and renewal, including fingerprint costs assessed through the e-Licensing Portal.

(b) The charges for fingerprinting through Fieldprint or other approved vendor.

(c) The total expenses for assessment costs associated with the approved license, see section (4) below. Pre-paid assessment fees provided by TSPC under section (5) of this rule may not be included in the licensee reimbursement application.

(d) Expenses to obtain a transcript and other official documents required by TSPC for licensure, including foreign transcript evaluation.

(e) Reasonable tuition for tutoring or remedial courses not otherwise eligible for financial aid that are necessary to achieve teacher, administrator, or personnel service candidacy for licensure, as determined by the educator preparation program.

(f) Travel expenses: IRS-reimbursable mileage costs from residence to testing center and back.

(g) Other expenses as approved by Executive Director.

(4) Assessment Costs: To be eligible for reimbursement of the direct costs of an assessment leading to licensure, the applicant must provide evidence acceptable to the Commission that the assessment was approved by the Commission or NASDTEC jurisdiction.

(5) Pre-Paid Fees: Assessment reimbursement may be provided through an arrangement between TSPC and testing providers, such as assessment vouchers or direct billing. TSPC may provide testing vouchers or other prepaid resources to TSPC-approved EPPs for distribution.

(6) Ineligible Expenses: An applicant may not be reimbursed for all Teacher Licensure expenses. Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

(a) Returned check fees;

(b) Any fees refunded or waived by TSPC, ETS, Pearson, EPPs, School Districts, and ESDs;

(c) Any expenses not actually incurred by the applicant or reimbursed by any other entity; and

(d) Any expenses reimbursed or covered by another entity.

(7) Documentation of Expenses: Claimed expenses will not be reimbursed without adequate documentation, such as appropriate receipts, as approved by the Executive Director.

Notes

Or. Admin. Code § 584-200-0125

TSPC 19-2024, temporary adopt filed 10/21/2024, effective 11/1/2024 through 4/29/2025

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 342.437 & ORS 342.165

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 342.437 & ORS 342.127