OAR 584-220-0170: Social Studies

(1) Purpose: A Social Studies endorsement indicates that an educator is qualified to teach prekindergarten through grade 12 assignments in Social Studies as provided by the TSPC course catalogue for Social Studies. (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 OAR 584-210-0170, Atypical Assignments and OAR 584-210-0160, License on Conditional Assignment. (3) Adding to Existing Preliminary Teaching License: A Social Studies endorsement may be added to an existing Preliminary Teaching license by demonstrating content knowledge and completing Social Studies pedagogy requirements as defined in this rule. To be eligible to add a Social Studies endorsement to an existing Preliminary Teaching License, an applicant must: (a) Meet one of the following Social Studies content knowledge requirements: (A) Provide documentation of a passing score on the Commission-approved subject mastery test for Social Studies; or (B) Complete Commission-approved coursework of at least 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) designed to develop competence in Social Studies demonstrating a breadth of study in the following subjects: (i) World history; (ii) Geography; (iii) Political science; (iv) Economics (v) U.S. history ; and (vi) Ethnic Studies. (C) Ethnic Studies coursework may be substituted to satisfy the Social Studies competency requirements in subsection (B) of this rule, as acceptable to the Commission. (D) At least fifty percent (50%) of the Social Studies coursework must have been completed within five years prior to the date of application for the endorsement. (b) Meet one of the following Social Studies pedagogy requirements: (A) Admission to and completion of a Commission-approved Social Studies preparation program; (B) Complete a Social Studies 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 Social Studies 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 Social Studies courses; (ii) The practicum was supervised by a teacher holding a Professional, Teacher Leader or Legacy Teaching license with a Social Studies endorsement. If the school or school district is unable to provide a teacher with a Social Studies endorsement, the school or school district may permit a teacher holding a Professional, Teacher Leader or Legacy Teaching license with an alternate endorsement to supervise the practicum, as approved by the Director of Licensure. The reason for using a supervisor with an alternate endorsement must be noted on the verification statement for the practicum; and (iii) The applicant has obtained the required pedagogy skills to teach Social Studies. NOTE: The district must indicate in the statement that the supervisory teacher supports the verification of applicant skill level. (D) At the Executive Director’s or Licensure Director’s discretion, other Social Studies 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 teaching experience with at least 60 clock hours of Social Studies 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 licensure renewal does not require an additional application fee. (4) Adding to Other Existing Licenses: To be eligible to add a Social Studies endorsement to a 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 Social Studies; or (B) Complete Commission-approved coursework of at least 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) designed to develop competence in Social Studies demonstrating a breadth of study in the following subjects: (i) World history; (ii) Geography; (iii) Political science; (iv) Economics; (v) U.S. history ; and (vi) Ethnic Studies. (C) Ethnic Studies coursework may be substituted to satisfy the Social Studies competency requirements in subsection (B) of this rule, as acceptable to the Commission. (D) At least fifty percent (50%) of the Social Studies 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 licensure renewal does not require an additional application fee.