Gov. Kotek announced she will form a council to develop recommendations to raise the bar on elementary educator preparation for reading and writing instruction

Medford, OR – According to the state officials, Executive Order 23-12 establishes the Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council, which will be appointed and begin work this summer.

State officials also said that Gov. Kotek is directing this council to develop recommendations for strengthening standards that the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission uses to approve elementary educator preparation programs and license elementary educators.

TSPC will use these recommendations to adopt new rules next year.

The Council will be made up of no more than 20 members, including teachers, elementary school leaders, representatives from education preparation programs, early literacy experts, teachers, and bipartisan appointments from the Oregon House and Senate.

Council recommendations to revise educator and school administrator preparation program standards for literacy instruction are due no later than December 15.

These recommendations must align with the Oregon Department of Education’s (ODE) Early Literacy Framework for kindergarten through fifth grade.

Instruction must be grounded in culturally responsive instructional practices, based on research derived from the science of reading and writing, and designed for students with disabilities and students who are emerging bilingual learners.