ORS 327.372: Funding for activities related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and to career and technical education; report.

(1) Activities related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and activities related to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs shall be funded as provided by this section. (2) The Department of Education shall distribute moneys available to the department for the purpose of this section as follows: (a) Forty percent for activities related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education that are described in subsection (3) of this section. Moneys shall be distributed by the department under this paragraph based on recommendations of the STEM Investment Council. (b) Sixty percent for activities related to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs and that are described in subsection (4) of this section. Moneys shall be distributed by the department under this paragraph based on recommendations of the committee established under ORS 344.075. (3) Moneys distributed as provided by subsection (2)(a) of this section to fund activities related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education shall be used to: (a) Sustain a network of entities that are designated by regional partners to: (A) Sustain and expand education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and (B) Coordinate efforts described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph with regional partners that support career and technical education and with local workforce development boards. (b) Award grants to an entity that is part of the network described in paragraph (a) of this subsection to: (A) Expand the implementation of effective programs related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics; (B) Propose innovative approaches or programs related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics; or (C) Provide professional development related to teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics. (c) Provide funding to recruit, retain and support underserved students, as defined by the State Board of Education by rule, for programs that: (A) Are offered by entities that are part of the network described in paragraph (a) of this subsection in collaboration with community colleges and public universities; (B) Can lead to high wage and high demand jobs related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and (C) Are in alignment with regional labor market needs, with the needs of regional partners who represent industry and with regional career and technical education programs. (d) Fund any other activities related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education that are identified by the STEM Investment Council. (4) Moneys distributed as provided by subsection (2)(b) of this section to fund activities related to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs shall be used for: (a) Programs that expose students to career and technical education programs that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs. (b) Career and Technical Education Revitalization grants awarded under ORS 344.075. (c) Student leadership organizations related to career and technical education programs that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs. (d) Distribution to school districts to support career and technical education programs in the school district that are approved by the Department of Education as being high quality and that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs. Moneys must be distributed to each school and public charter school in the school district based on the number of students enrolled at the school with the following characteristics: (A) Students who are enrolled in and earned three or more credits for courses that are part of a career and technical education program that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs and that are approved by the Department of Education. (B) Students who acquire an industry credential that can lead to a high wage and high demand job and that is approved by the Department of Education. (C) Students described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph who are historically underserved, as defined by the State Board of Education by rule. (e) Administration of grants for the purpose of expanding teacher training programs and opportunities related to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs. (f) Administration of a pilot program to increase students’ exposure and access to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs. (g) Funding any other activities related to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs and that are identified by the committee established under ORS 344.075. (5) Except as otherwise provided, moneys distributed under subsections (3) and (4) of this section shall be distributed to school districts, education service districts, public schools, public charter schools, community colleges, public universities or statewide nonprofit organizations promoting student leadership in career and technical education or any combination thereof or in partnership with youth job development organizations, as defined in ORS 344.415, other nonprofit organizations or other entities identified by the State Board of Education by rule. (6) From the moneys available under subsection (2) of this section, the Department of Education, the STEM Investment Council and the committee established under ORS 344.075 combined may retain no more than a total of five percent of all moneys distributed for a fiscal year for administrative expenses incurred under this section. (7) The Department of Education, in collaboration with the STEM Investment Council and the committee established under ORS 344.075, shall submit a biennial report to the Legislative Assembly related to distributions made under this section. The report must include metrics that identify how distributions made under this section are contributing to the development of a skilled workforce that is able to secure high wage and high demand jobs. [2015 c.763 §1; 2015 c.763 §2; 2017 c.184 §§1,2; 2025 c.386 §1]