Get involved with the Oregon Department of Education’s Administrative Rules
This website serves as the central resource for accessing and understanding the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) developed by the Oregon Department of Education. Here, you may receive notices regarding rulemaking with the Oregon Department of Education.
What is an Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR)?
Oregon law defines "rule" as "any agency directive, standard, regulation or statement of general applicability that implements, interprets or prescribes law or policy, or describes the procedure or practice requirements of any agency." ORS 183.310(9). In practice, rules define terms, provide direction, create consistency, set processes, and overall describe how certain things need to happen.
Agencies may adopt, amend, repeal or renumber rules, permanently or temporarily (up to 180 days), using the procedures outlined in the Oregon Attorney General's Administrative Law Manual. The Secretary of State’s Administrative Rules Unit assists agencies with the notification, filing and publication requirements of the administrative rules process. Every administrative rule uses the same numbering sequence of a three-digit agency chapter number followed by a three-digit division number and ending with a four-digit rule number (000-000-0000). The first three digits are the rule chapters. The Oregon Department of Education & Rulemaking
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has three rule chapters to implement rulemaking. Those chapters are the State Board of Education within Chapter 581, the Youth Development Council within Chapter 423, and the Fair Dismissal and Appeals Board within Chapter 586. All ODE rules are posted on the Secretary of State's Administrative Rules web page within 30 days after adoption. To easily find links to all of ODE’s rules, visit our Oregon Administrative Rules Page.
In Oregon, all permanent rule revisions require ODE to first issue a notice of intended rulemaking and invite members of the public to provide comments. ODE accepts those comments through monthly OAR Public Hearings. ODE uses a service called GovDelivery to share our rulemaking notices and public comment opportunities. Sign up to receive rulemaking notices.
ODE staff review all comments received while preparing their recommendations for the State Board of Education, the Youth Development Council, or the Fair Dismissals Appeals Board. These groups may also offer their own opportunities for public comment. Additional information about specific processes for each Division is outlined below.
State Board of Education
The State Board of Education (SBE) is responsible for setting educational policies and standards for Oregon’s public school districts and adopting Oregon’s general K-12 administrative rules. The SBE meets monthly, with exceptions in July, August, and November. The SBE uses a website called BoardBook to host its meeting-related materials, including meeting agendas, previously adopted rules, public comments received, and meeting recordings. You can find more information about the SBE their website.
To view proposed, adopted, amended, repealed, or suspended rules with the SBE, please visit the SBE Oregon Administrative Rules Page. From there, you can learn how to get involved with the rulemaking process. Youth Development Council
The Youth Development Council (YDC) aligns systems and invests in communities to ensure equitable and effective services for youth ages 6 through 24. Throughout Oregon and Tribal Nations, the YDC supports educational and career success, disrupts youth crime and violence, and affirms youth strengths and safety.
The Youth Development Council (YDC) reviews and approves rulemaking for the Youth Development Division. The YDC’s meeting location, prior public comments on rules and other topics, and meeting agendas, which include rule presentations, are located on the Youth Development Division website.
To view proposed, adopted, amended, repealed, or suspended rules with the YDC, please visit the YDC Oregon Administrative Rules Page. From there, you can learn how to get involved with the rulemaking process. Fair Dismissal Appeals Board
The Fair Dismissal Appeals Board (FDAB) hears appeals of teacher and administrator dismissals and provides a uniform statewide system of pre- and post-determination due process for teachers and administrators. It also provides uniform standards for dismissals. FDAB’s meeting location, prior public comments on rules and other topics, and meeting agendas, which include rule presentations
To view proposed, adopted, amended, repealed, or suspended rules with the FDAB, please visit the FDAB Oregon Administrative Rules Page. From there, you can learn how to get involved with the rulemaking process.