(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.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(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) Double the 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) Double the 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 a comparison between the 2014-2015 school year or academic year and the 2024-2025 school year or academic year.

(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]

The amendments to 326.500 by section 47, chapter 774, Oregon Laws 2015, become operative July 1, 2025. See section 48, chapter 774, Oregon Laws 2015. The text that is operative on and after July 1, 2025, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

(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.

[Formerly 343.950; 1973 c.708 § 1; renumbered 343.960]

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The State Board of Education may acquire intellectual property of any kind, whether patentable or copyrightable or not, including patents, copyrights, inventions, discoveries, processes and ideas. Such property may be acquired:

(1) By gift.

(2) By outright purchase with money in the Board of Education Invention Fund or otherwise made available for such purpose.

(3) By assignment pursuant to a contract whereby the board undertakes to aid in the development of the assigned property and to pay the assignor a share of any money received on account of its ownership or management thereof. [Formerly 326.102]

(1) The State Board of Education may manage, develop or dispose of property acquired under ORS § 326.520 in any manner deemed by the board to be in the public interest. The board may contract with any person regarding such management, development or disposition.

(2) The board may determine the terms and conditions of any transaction authorized by ORS § 326.520 to 326.540 and need not require competitive bids in connection therewith. No formal publicity or advertising is required regarding property for the development of which the board wishes to contract, but the board shall make reasonable efforts to disseminate pertinent information in appropriate research and industrial circles.

(3) If the board deems it inadvisable to proceed with the development or management of property acquired under ORS § 326.520, it may reassign such property to the person from whom it was acquired upon being compensated for any expenditure made on account of such property. [Formerly 326.104]