Secondary Teacher Preparation in Science:
Oregon

Analysis of Oregon's policies

Oregon offers a secondary endorsement in integrated science, which appears to be the equivalent of the general science endorsement found in other states. Teachers with this license are not limited to teaching general science but rather can teach any of the topical areas.

Middle school science teachers in Oregon have the option of a middle level endorsement. Candidates must either complete a subject major or pass the ORELA "Middle Grades General Science" test. Oregon also allows middle school teachers to teach on a generalist 3-8 license (see Goal 1-E).

Unfortunately, the state allows "alternative assessment," in which candidates who have twice failed the content test can petition for a waiver of the subject-matter requirement.

Citation

Oregon Administrative Rules 584-017-0130, 584-060-0012 Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments www.orela.nesinc.com Testing Requirements www.ets.org

Recommendations for Oregon

Require secondary science teachers to pass tests of content knowledge for each science discipline they intend to teach.
States that allow general science certifications—and require only a general content test—are not ensuring that these secondary teachers possess adequate subject-specific content knowledge. Oregon's required assessment combines all subject areas (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics) and does not report separate scores for each subject area. Therefore, candidates could answer many—perhaps all—chemistry questions, for example, incorrectly, yet still be licensed to teach chemistry to high school students. The state should also reconsider its waiver for subject-matter testing.

Require middle school science teachers to pass a test of content knowledge that ensures sufficient knowledge of science.
Although coursework plays a key role in teachers' acquisition of content knowledge, program completion should not replace the requirement of an assessment, which is the only way to ensure that teachers possess adequate knowledge of the subject area. While a major is generally indicative of background in a particular subject area, only a subject-matter test ensures that candidates know the specific content they will need to teach. The state should also reconsider its waiver for subject-matter testing.

State response to our analysis

Oregon asserted that it does not allow candidates holding an Integrated Science endorsement to teach all science levels, only those at the most basic level. The state requires separate licensure to teach biology, chemistry and physics above the beginning level. Further, Oregon noted that it is in the active process of adopting a new Integrated Science test, which will be implemented in September 2011. 

Last word

NCTQ is unable to find policy that prevents teachers with an integrated science endorsement from teaching beyond basic level courses. But even if this were the case, all students, not just those in advanced courses, need teachers with appropriate and sufficient content knowledge. Oregon should articulate specific policy ensuring that all science teachers are required to pass a subject-specific content test for each area they plan to teach.