This bill merges the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) within the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). The proposed cost would be $1.9 million dollars above the cost of what it would take to continue to operate TSPC as a stand-alone agency. There are duplication of work by TSPC and ODE.  The merging of the agencies could potentially hinder the upgrade to the application system that is underway. Misconduct investigations conducted by TSPC and ODE are not being completed in a
timely manner due to insufficient staffing at both agencies, and a merger would cause both agencies to fall further behind.

DOE seems to be a political spin off that answers to no one except the current political
party in control. They should answer in part to the parents. This bill does not balance  or centralize for efficiency or quality safeguards but is a model of governance that aligns with socialist values of control, equity, and allows for the deterioration of standards. Our children deserve better.

SUBMIT TESTIMONY UNTIL 3PM FEB. 17

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