Oregon LGBT History Education Law (2019)

CHAPTER 202

AN ACT HB 2023

Relating to inclusive education; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 329.045 and 337.260.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 329.045 is amended to read:

329.045. (1)(a) In order to achieve the goals contained in ORS 329.025, the State Board of Education shall regularly and periodically review and revise its Common Curriculum Goals, performance indicators and diploma requirements.
(b) The review and revision conducted under this section shall:
(A) Include Essential Learning Skills and rigorous academic content standards in mathematics, science, English, history, geography, economics, civics, physical education, health, the arts and world languages.
(B) Ensure that the academic content standards for history, geography, economics and civics include sufficient instruction on the histories, contributions and perspectives of individuals who:
(i) Are Native American;
(ii) Are of African, Asian, Pacific Island,
Chicano, Latino or Middle Eastern descent;
(iii) Are women;
(iv) Have disabilities;
(v) Are immigrants or refugees; or
(vi) Are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

[(B)] (C) Involve teachers and other educators, parents of students and other citizens and shall provide ample opportunity for public comment.

[(C)] (D) Encourage increased learning time. As used in this subparagraph, “increased learning time” means a schedule that encompasses a longer school day, week or year for the purpose of increasing the total number of school hours available to provide:
(i) Students with instruction in core academic subjects, including mathematics, science, English, history, geography, economics, civics, the arts and world languages;
(ii) Students with instruction in subjects other than the subjects identified in sub-subparagraph (i) of this subparagraph, including health and physical education;
(iii) Students with the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities that contribute to a wellrounded education, including learning opportunities that may be based on service, experience or work and that may be provided through partnerships with
other organizations; and
(iv) Teachers with the opportunity to collaborate, plan and engage in professional development within and across grades and subjects.
(c) Nothing in this subsection prevents a school district or public charter school from maintaining control over course content, format, materials and teaching methods.
(2) The State Board of Education shall continually review and revise all adopted academic content standards necessary for students to successfully transition to the next phase of their education.
(3)(a) School districts and public charter schools must offer students instruction in mathematics, science, English, history, geography, economics, civics, physical education, health, the arts and world languages.
(b) Instruction required under paragraph (a) of this subsection must:
(A) Meet the academic content standardsadopted by the State Board of Education; and
(B) Meet the requirements adopted by the State
Board of Education and the board of the school district or public charter school.
(4) School districts and public charter schools are encouraged to offer students courses or other educational opportunities in civics and financial literacy to allow every student who wants to receive instruction in civics and financial literacy to be able to receive the instruction.

SECTION 2. (1) The amendments to ORS 329.045 by section 1 of this 2019 Act become operative on September 30, 2026.
(2) Notwithstanding the operative date set forth in subsection (1) of this section, the State Board of Education, no later than September 30, 2024, shall:
(a) Review existing academic content standards to determine if the academic content
standards comply with the requirements of ORS 329.045 (1)(b)(B), as amended by section 1 of this 2019 Act; and
(b) If applicable, adopt or revise any academic content standards as necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of ORS 329.045 (1)(b)(B), as amended by section 1 of this 2019 Act.
(3)(a) A school district must first offer instruction that meets the academic content standards of ORS 329.045 (1)(b)(B), as amended by section 1 of this 2019 Act, no later than the 2026-2027 school year.
(b) Nothing in paragraph (a) of this subsection prevents a school district from first offering instruction that meets the academic content standards of ORS 329.045, as amended by section 1 of this 2019 Act, at any time from the beginning of the social sciences instructional materials cycle adopted by the State Board of Education until the school year set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

SECTION 3. ORS 337.260 is amended to read: 337.260. Every district school board, the State Board of Education and every committee or officer responsible for the adoption of textbooks and other instructional materials for use in the public schools shall adopt textbooks and other instructional materials on American history and government [which] that adequately stress the services rendered by those who achieved our national independence, who established our form of constitutional
government and who preserved our federal union.

[Respect for all people, regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, or disability, and their contributions to our history and system of government shall be reflected in the textbooks adopted by the State
Board of Education.]

Textbooks and other instructional materials shall adequately address the roles in and contributions to the economic, political and social development of Oregon and the United States by men and women who:
(1) Are Native American;
(2) Are of European, African, Asian, Pacific Island, Chicano, Latino or Middle Eastern descent;
(3) Have disabilities;
(4) Are immigrants or refugees; or
(5) Are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

SECTION 4. The amendments to ORS 337.260 by section 3 of this 2019 Act become operative on September 30, 2026.

SECTION 5. During the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years, the Department of Education shall provide professional development to teachers and administrators relating to academic content standards adopted pursuant to ORS 329.045 (1)(b)(B), as amended by section 1 of this 2019 Act, and to the selection of textbooks under ORS 337.260, as amended by section 3 of this 2019 Act. The department may contract
for the provision of professional development required by this section.

Approved by the Governor June 4, 2019
Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 4, 2019
Effective date January 1, 2020