Reductions in Force: Oregon

Analysis of Oregon's policies

In Oregon, the factors used to determine which teachers are laid off during a reduction in force consider a teacher's seniority and licensure status. In addition to considering licensure and seniority, a district can "determine competence and merit of teachers." Districts are permitted—but not required—to retain a teacher with less seniority than another if the less senior teacher is deemed to have "more competence or merit." Further, school districts cannot waive the right to consider "competence" in making layoff decisions during a reduction in force.

Citation

Oregon Revised Statute 342.934

Recommendations for Oregon

Require that districts consider classroom performance as a factor in determining which teachers are laid off during reductions in force.
Oregon can still leave districts flexibility in determining layoff policies, but it should do so within a framework that ensures that classroom performance is considered.

Ensure that seniority is not the only factor used to determine which teachers are laid off.
Unlike other states, Oregon does not require that seniority be the sole factor in deciding who is laid off during a reduction in force. However, the policy currently in place is problematic in that it does not require that competence and merit are considered. The state should ensure that what matters most—a teacher's effectiveness—is given due weight in determining which teachers are laid off.

State response to our analysis

Oregon recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.