Section 344.059 - Advancement of policy on career and technical education by Department of EducationThe Department of Education shall advance the policy on career and technical education described in ORS 344.055 by:
(1) Administering the distribution of grants or entering into contracts for the purpose of expanding teacher training programs related to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs. Grants awarded, or contracts entered into, under this subsection may be funded with moneys available under ORS 327.372 and must: (a) Not exceed $250,000 per grant or contract;(b) Be awarded to, or be entered with, an educator preparation program or an educator preparation provider, regardless of whether courses are offered in a traditional setting, by an alternative delivery method or by an alternative time frame;(c) Be awarded or entered into for an educator preparation program that has a plan for recruiting students to the program;(d) Be used to develop and provide coursework that:(A) Qualifies for credit or as professional development and that satisfies licensure or endorsement requirements; and(B) Is provided in a broad group of instructional areas that are grouped to give context for academic, technical and career learning; and(e) To the extent practicable, align with grant distribution requirements of the Career and Technical Education Revitalization Grant Program described in ORS 344.075.(2) Developing and supporting the infrastructure for an online system that is accessible statewide and that delivers courses and professional development to teachers of career and technical education. For the purpose of this subsection, the department may retain up to eight percent of the moneys available to the department under this section.(3) Collaborating with the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to: (a) Enable experts in trade or industry to become teachers of career and technical education;(b) Coordinate communications about career and technical education, including communications: (A) Intended to identify potential teachers of career and technical education from trade or industry;(B) With experts in trades or industry about the requirements for transitioning from employment in a trade or an industry to teaching; and(C) With educator preparation programs and educator preparation providers about teaching opportunities related to career and technical education; and(c) Review statutes and rules for necessary changes and to review and recommend alternative methods to increase available funding options.(4) Developing and maintaining the website described in ORS 344.141.