(1) As used in this section, ‘American Indian tribe’ means an Indian tribe as that term is defined in ORS § 97.740.

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(2) The Legislative Assembly declares that teaching American Indian languages is essential to the proper education of American Indian children.

(3) The Teacher Standards and Practices Commission shall establish an American Indian languages teaching license.

(4) Each American Indian tribe may develop a written and oral test that must be successfully completed by an applicant for an American Indian languages teaching license in order to determine whether the applicant is qualified to teach the tribe’s native language. When developing the test, the tribe shall determine:

(a) Which dialects will be used on the test;

(b) Whether the tribe will standardize the tribe’s writing system; and

(c) How the teaching methods will be evaluated in the classroom.

(5) The test shall be administered at an appropriate location that does not create hardship for the tribal members administering the test.

(6) The commission may not require an applicant to hold a specific academic degree, to complete a specific amount of education or to complete an educator preparation program to receive an American Indian languages teaching license.

(7)(a) An American Indian languages teaching license qualifies the holder to accept a teaching position in a school district, public charter school, education service district, community college or public university listed in ORS § 352.002.

(b) A holder of an American Indian languages teaching license who does not also have a teaching license issued under ORS § 342.125 may not teach in a school district or education service district any subject other than the American Indian language the holder of the license is approved to teach by the tribe.

(c) A holder of an American Indian languages teaching license who does not also have a teaching license or registration issued under ORS § 342.125 may not teach in a public charter school any subject other than the American Indian language the holder of the license is approved to teach by the tribe.

(8)(a) As used in this subsection, ‘technical assistance program’ means a program provided to an American Indian languages teacher by a licensed teacher with three or more years of teaching experience. A technical assistance program may include direct classroom observation and consultation, assistance in instructional planning and preparation, support in implementation and delivery of classroom instruction, and other assistance intended to enhance the professional performance and development of the American Indian languages teacher.

(b) The holder of an American Indian languages teaching license who does not also have an administrative license, teaching license or registration issued under ORS § 342.125 and who is employed by a school district, public charter school or education service district shall participate in a technical assistance program with a person holding a teaching license issued by the commission under ORS § 342.125. The technical assistance program shall meet the guidelines specified in ORS § 329.815 (2) to (4).

(9) An American Indian languages teaching license shall be valid for a term established by the commission and may be renewed upon application from the holder of the license. [2001 c.653 § 2; 2007 c.71 § 94; 2007 c.863 § 9; 2011 c.637 § 125; 2015 c.245 § 7; 2015 c.647 § 13]

[1961 c.439 § 6; 1965 c.100 § 356; repealed by 1965 c.550 § 6]