ORS 342.177: Hearing and decision on charges; notice; penalties; rules.
Edition: 2025 EditionEffective: 2026-01-01Last verified: 2026-09-07
(1)(a) Hearings under ORS 339.390 and 342.176 shall be conducted by an administrative law judge assigned from the Office of Administrative Hearings established under ORS 183.605. (b) Any hearing conducted under this section shall be private unless the person against whom the charge is made requests a public hearing. Students attending school in the employing district may not attend any hearing except as witnesses duly subpoenaed to testify with respect to the charges made. Students attending a public charter school that employs the person may not attend any hearing except as witnesses duly subpoenaed to testify with respect to the charges made. The person charged shall have the right to be represented by counsel and to present evidence and argument. The evidence must be confined to the charges. (2) The Teacher Standards and Practices Commission or the person charged may have subpoenas issued to compel attendance at the hearing. The person charged may have subpoenas issued by an attorney of record subscribed by the signature of the attorney or by the executive director of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. Witnesses appearing pursuant to subpoena, other than the parties or officers or employees of the commission, shall receive fees and mileage as prescribed by law for witnesses in ORS 44.415 (2). The commission or the person charged shall have the right to compel the attendance and obedience of witnesses in the same manner as provided under ORS 183.440 (2). (3) If the decision of the commission is that the charge described in ORS 342.175 (1) has been proven, the commission may take any or all of the following disciplinary action against the person charged: (a) Issue a public reprimand. (b) Place the person on probation for a period not to exceed four years and subject to such conditions as the commission considers necessary. (c) Suspend the license or registration of the teacher or administrator for a period not to exceed one year. (d) Revoke the license or registration of the teacher or administrator. (e) Revoke the right to apply for a license or registration. (f) Impose a civil penalty pursuant to subsection (6) of this section. (4) If the decision of the commission is that the charge is not proven, the commission shall order the charges dismissed. (5) The commission shall notify in writing the person charged and the employing district or public charter school of the decision. (6)(a) The commission shall adopt rules establishing the monetary amount of a civil penalty that may be imposed under this section. The maximum monetary amount of a civil penalty for a single violation may not exceed $1,000. (b) All moneys recovered from imposition of civil penalties under this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission Account. (c) The commission may adopt rules necessary for the administration and enforcement of this subsection. [1965 c.100 §363; 1965 c.535 §11; 1973 c.228 §2; 1979 c.226 §3; 1989 c.149 §2; 1991 c.662 §3; 1997 c.165 §3; 1999 c.849 §§69,70; 2003 c.75 §33; 2005 c.444 §1; 2007 c.575 §14; 2009 c.706 §3; 2015 c.245 §13; 2019 c.618 §26; 2025 c.172 §3] 342.177. (1)(a) Hearings under ORS 339.390 and 342.176 shall be conducted by an administrative law judge assigned from the Office of Administrative Hearings established under ORS 183.605. (b) Any hearing conducted under this section shall be private unless the person against whom the charge is made requests a public hearing. Students attending school in the employing district may not attend any hearing except as witnesses duly subpoenaed to testify with respect to the charges made. Students attending a public charter school that employs the person may not attend any hearing except as witnesses duly subpoenaed to testify with respect to the charges made. The person charged shall have the right to be represented by counsel and to present evidence and argument. The evidence must be confined to the charges. (2) The Teacher Standards and Practices Commission or the person charged may have subpoenas issued to compel attendance at the hearing. The person charged may have subpoenas issued by an attorney of record subscribed by the signature of the attorney or by the executive director of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. Witnesses appearing pursuant to subpoena, other than the parties or officers or employees of the commission, shall receive fees and mileage as prescribed by law for witnesses in ORS 44.415 (2). The commission or the person charged shall have the right to compel the attendance and obedience of witnesses in the same manner as provided under ORS 183.440 (2). (3) The commission shall render its decision at its next regular meeting following the hearing. If the decision of the commission is that the charge described in ORS 342.175 (1) has been proven, the commission may take any or all of the following disciplinary action against the person charged: (a) Issue a public reprimand. (b) Place the person on probation for a period not to exceed four years and subject to such conditions as the commission considers necessary. (c) Suspend the license or registration of the teacher or administrator for a period not to exceed one year. (d) Revoke the license or registration of the teacher or administrator. (e) Revoke the right to apply for a license or registration. (4) If the decision of the commission is that the charge is not proven, the commission shall order the charges dismissed. (5) The commission shall notify in writing the person charged and the employing district or public charter school of the decision.
Official history and status
History: Note: The amendments to 342.177 by section 3, chapter 172, Oregon Laws 2025, become operative July 1, 2026, and apply to conduct occurring on or after July 1, 2026. See sections 4 and 5, chapter 172, Oregon Laws 2025. The text that is operative until July 1, 2026, is set forth for the user’s convenience.
Administrative rules citing this section
- OAR 584-005-0005: Definitions — implements
- OAR 584-019-0003: Notice of Opportunity for Hearing and Hearing Procedures — implements
- OAR 584-019-0010: Discovery and Subpoenas — implements
- OAR 584-019-0015: Evidence — implements
- OAR 584-019-0025: Mutual Disclosure Prior to Contested Case Hearings — implements
- OAR 584-019-0040: Commission Final Orders in Contested Cases — implements
- OAR 584-020-0000: Application of Rules — implements
- OAR 584-021-0120: Requirements for Applying for Initial School Nurse Certification — implements
- OAR 584-021-0165: Verifying Knowledge of Laws Prohibiting Discrimination — implements
- OAR 584-023-0005: Registry of Charter School Teachers — implements
- OAR 584-023-0030: Registry of Charter School Administrators — implements
- OAR 584-050-0002: Exercise of Commission Authority — implements
- OAR 584-050-0016: Reinstatement of Suspended License, Registration, or Right to Apply for a License or Registration — implements
- OAR 584-050-0030: Serving Without Proper Licensure — implements
- OAR 584-050-0035: Requirements for Licenses, Registrations or Certifications While Employed — implements
- OAR 584-050-0040: Expiration and Continued Use of Expired Licenses and Registrations — implements
- OAR 584-050-0125: Letters of Informal Reproval — implements
- OAR 584-200-0010: Definitions for Licensure, Certification and Registration — implements
- OAR 584-200-0020: Personnel Required to Hold Licenses or Charter School Registrations — implements
- OAR 584-200-0030: Application Processing Requirements and Procedures — implements
- OAR 584-200-0040: Expedited Service for Licensure, Registration and Certificate Applications — implements
- OAR 584-200-0050: Fees — implements
- OAR 584-200-0060: Addresses and Uses of Addresses — implements
- OAR 584-200-0070: Name Changes — implements
- OAR 584-200-0080: Preparation in Another Jurisdiction — implements
- OAR 584-200-0090: Preparation in Another Country — implements
- OAR 584-200-0100: Waiver of Licensure Requirements by the Commission — implements
- OAR 584-200-0110: Disbursements of the National Board Certification Fund — implements
- OAR 584-210-0010: Purpose of Oregon Teaching Licenses — implements
- OAR 584-210-0020: Scope and Responsibilities of Teachers of Record — implements
- OAR 584-210-0040: Professional Teaching License — implements
- OAR 584-210-0140: Substitute Teaching License — implements
- OAR 584-210-0160: License for Conditional Assignment — implements
- OAR 584-210-0180: Online Teaching — implements
- OAR 584-210-0190: Reinstatement of Teaching Licenses — implements
- OAR 584-220-0020: Advanced Mathematics — implements
- OAR 584-220-0025: Agricultural Science — implements
- OAR 584-220-0030: Art — implements
- OAR 584-220-0035: Biology — implements
- OAR 584-220-0040: Business: Generalist — implements
- OAR 584-220-0045: Business: Marketing — implements
- OAR 584-220-0050: Career Trades: Generalist — implements
- OAR 584-220-0055: Chemistry — implements
- OAR 584-220-0060: Drama — implements
- OAR 584-220-0065: Elementary — Multiple Subjects — implements
- OAR 584-220-0070: English Language Arts — implements
- OAR 584-220-0075: English to Speakers of Other Languages — implements
- OAR 584-220-0080: Family and Consumer Science — implements
- OAR 584-220-0085: Foundational English Language Arts — implements
- OAR 584-220-0090: Foundational Mathematics — implements
- OAR 584-220-0095: Foundational Science — implements
- OAR 584-220-0100: Foundational Social Studies — implements
- OAR 584-220-0105: Health — implements
- OAR 584-220-0110: Integrated Science — implements
- OAR 584-220-0145: Library Media — implements
- OAR 584-220-0150: Music — implements
- OAR 584-220-0155: Physical Education — implements
- OAR 584-220-0160: Physics — implements
- OAR 584-220-0165: Reading Intervention — implements
- OAR 584-220-0175: Speech (Forensics) — implements
- OAR 584-220-0180: Special Education: Generalist — implements
- OAR 584-220-0185: Special Education: Early Intervention and Early Childhood — implements
- OAR 584-220-0190: Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing — implements
- OAR 584-220-0195: Special Education: Visually Impaired — implements
- OAR 584-220-0200: World Language: Chinese — implements
- OAR 584-220-0205: World Language: French — implements
- OAR 584-220-0210: World Language: German — implements
- OAR 584-220-0215: World Language: Japanese — implements
- OAR 584-220-0220: World Language: Latin — implements
- OAR 584-220-0230: World Language: Spanish — implements
- OAR 584-225-0010: Specializations: General Provisions — implements
- OAR 584-225-0030: American Sign Language Specialization — implements
- OAR 584-225-0040: Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialization — implements
- OAR 584-225-0050: Bilingual Specialization — implements
- OAR 584-225-0070: Early Childhood Education Specialization — implements
- OAR 584-225-0090: Mathematics Instructional Leader: PreK-8 Specialization — implements
- OAR 584-225-0095: Mathematics Instructional Leader: 6-12 Specialization — implements
- OAR 584-225-0100: Talented and Gifted Specialization — implements
- OAR 584-230-0010: Definitions — implements
- OAR 584-230-0020: Preliminary CTE Teaching License — implements
- OAR 584-230-0045: Five-Year CTE Teaching License — implements
- OAR 584-230-0050: CTE Endorsements — implements
- OAR 584-230-0060: CTE Instructor Appraisal Committees — implements
- OAR 584-230-0070: CTE Professional Development Plan — implements
- OAR 584-230-0110: Reinstatement of CTE Teaching Licenses — implements
- OAR 584-235-0010: Scope and Responsibilities of School Administrators — implements
- OAR 584-235-0020: Principal License — implements
- OAR 584-235-0030: Professional Administrator License — implements
- OAR 584-235-0050: Reciprocal Administrator License — implements
- OAR 584-235-0090: Restricted Administrator License — implements
- OAR 584-235-0100: License for Conditional Assignment – Professional Administrator License — implements
- OAR 584-255-0020: Standards for Professional Development — implements
- OAR 584-400-0010: State Approval Processes: Purpose and Scope — implements
- OAR 584-400-0015: Unit Standards — implements
- OAR 584-400-0050: State Approval: Closure of the Unit — implements
- OAR 584-400-0055: Denial of Approval of Unit and Programs — implements
- OAR 584-400-0070: State Recognition: Continuing Programs (Program Review Process) — implements
- OAR 584-400-0080: Unit or Program Modifications — implements
- OAR 584-400-0090: Elimination of Programs — implements
- OAR 584-400-0100: Annual Reports — implements
- OAR 584-400-0170: Experimental Programs — implements
- OAR 584-400-0180: Waiver of Program Requirements — implements
- OAR 584-400-0190: Waiver of State Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0020: Preliminary Teaching License: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0030: Professional Teaching License: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0040: Teacher Leader: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0050: Preliminary CTE License: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0360: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0365: Drama: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0415: Library Media: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0440: Reading Interventionist: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0460: Special Education: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0465: Special Education - Early Intervention and Early Childhood: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0475: Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0600: American Sign Language Specialization: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0610: Adaptive Physical Education Specialization: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0620: Early Childhood Education Specialization: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0630: Dual Language Specialization: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0640: Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialization: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0650: Mathematics Instructional Leader: PreK-8 Specialization: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0655: Mathematics Instructional Leader: 6-12 Specialization: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-420-0660: Talented and Gifted Specialization: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-430-0100: Principal License: Program Standards — implements
- OAR 584-430-0200: Professional Administrator License: Program Standards — implements
This rule cites
- ORS 339.390 — resolved
- 342.176 — resolved
- ORS 183.605 — resolved
- ORS 44.415 — resolved
- ORS 183.440 — resolved
- ORS 342.175 — resolved
Cited by
- ORS 40.245: Rule 504-3. School employee-student privilege.
- ORS 339.390: Investigations by Teacher Standards and Practices Commission of persons who are commission licensees; timeline; findings; rules.
- ORS 342.143: Issuance of licenses and registrations.
- ORS 342.175: Grounds for discipline; reinstatement.
- ORS 342.176: Complaint process; preliminary investigation; materials confidential; notice.
- OAR 584-050-0020: Discipline for Resignation in Violation of Contract
Official source: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors342.html