OAR 581-021-0003: Course Requirements for Personal Financial Education and Higher Education and Career Path Skills

(1) Courses that include Personal Financial Education and Higher Education and Career Path Skills content standards shall be taught by a licensed or registered educator. Licensed educators shall possess a valid license issued by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission in at least one of the following areas: (a) Teaching Licenses as found in Atypical Assignments OAR 584-210-0170; (b) School Counselor License as found in OAR 584-245-0110; (c) Administrative License as found in OAR 584-235-0030; (d) Restricted CTE Teaching License as found in OAR 584-230-0040; (2) Districts shall award 0.5 credit in Personal Financial Education for courses that address all of the State Board Adopted Content Standards for the subject in accordance with OAR 581-022-2025 Credit Options. (a) Districts may award credit in more than one content area for a Personal Financial Education course that integrates other content standards. (b) Districts may offer these courses as part of a college-credit granting opportunity. (3) Districts shall award 0.5 credit in Higher Education and Career Path Skills for courses that address all of the State Board Adopted Content Standards for the subject in accordance with OAR 581-022-2025 Credit Options. (a) Districts may award credit in more than one content area for a Higher Education and Career Path Skills course that integrates other content standards. (b) Districts may offer these courses as part of a college-credit granting opportunity. (4) A district or public charter school may request a waiver of the credit requirements described in ORS 329.251 (2)(a)(D) and (E) by demonstrating, to the satisfaction of the Oregon Department of Education that the district or school is unable to provide courses necessary for students to satisfy the credit requirements due to a lack of educators qualified to provide the courses. If approved, this waiver is for students who will be awarded a high school diploma on or after January 1, 2027 and before January 1, 2028. (a) If a district seeks to request a waiver, it shall submit an application to the Department which includes: (A) The reason for seeking a waiver; (B) The subject(s) for which the waiver is sought; (C) The projected dates for implementation of required courses; and (D) Local school board approval of the application and the date of such approval. (b) Waivers may be approved at the Oregon Department of Education’s discretion. Denied waivers may be appealed to the State Board of Education. (c) Waivers must be submitted to the Oregon Department of Education no later than July 1, 2026. (d) No waivers shall be granted for students graduating on or after January 1, 2028.