ORS 326.500: STEM Investment Council; purpose; council director; annual report.

(1) The STEM Investment Council is established. The council shall function under the joint direction and control of the State Board of Education and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. (2)(a) The council is established for the purpose of assisting the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission in jointly developing and overseeing a long-term strategy that advances the following educational goals related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics: (A) Having a specified percentage of students in 4th and 8th grades who are proficient or advanced in mathematics and science, as determined using a nationally representative assessment of students’ knowledge in mathematics and science; and (B) Having a specified number of students who earn a post-secondary degree requiring proficiency in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. (b) Achievement of the goals described in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be determined based on percentages and numbers determined by the council. (3) To advance the educational goals described in subsection (2) of this section, the council shall make recommendations to: (a) The Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding the administration of the STEM Investment Grant Program established in ORS 327.380; (b) The Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding the distribution of moneys under ORS 327.372; and (c) The Superintendent of Public Instruction and the executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission regarding other investments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics that are made or overseen by the State Board of Education or the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. (4) The council consists of nine members from the private sector who are jointly appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and serve at the pleasure of the superintendent and the executive director. (5) To aid and advise the council in the performance of the council’s duties, the council: (a) Shall recruit educators and administrators from kindergarten through grade 12 and from post-secondary education to be nonvoting advisory members of the council; (b) May recruit nonvoting advisory members to the council who are in addition to the members identified in paragraph (a) of this subsection; and (c) May establish advisory and technical committees that the council considers necessary. (6)(a) The Superintendent of Public Instruction and the executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall jointly appoint a council director. The council director shall serve at the pleasure of the superintendent and the executive director. (b) Except as otherwise directed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, the activities of the council shall be directed and supervised by the council director. (7) Members of the council are not entitled to compensation or reimbursement for expenses and serve as volunteers of the council. (8) The council shall submit an annual report to the State Board of Education, Higher Education Coordinating Commission and the Legislative Assembly on the progress made toward achieving the goals described in subsection (2) of this section and the distribution of funds under the STEM Investment Grant Program. [2013 c.739 §1; 2013 c.736 §§4,6; 2015 c.366 §§74,75; 2015 c.763 §§5,6,7; 2015 c.767 §245; 2015 c.774 §§16,46,47]