ORS 348.398 Establishment of program; stipends; eligibility; rules

The Department of Education shall establish a program to increase the number of licensed speech-language pathologists and certified speech-language pathology assistants employed in the education service districts and school districts of this state.

Through the program, the department shall distribute moneys to education service districts and school districts to provide:

Stipends to licensed speech-language pathologists or certified speech-language pathology assistants who are participants in the program; and

Stipends to licensed speech-language pathologists who provide supervision and mentoring to participants in the program.

To be eligible to participate in the program established by the Department of Education under this section and to receive a stipend under subsection (2)(a) of this section, a licensed speech-language pathologist or a certified speech-language pathology assistant must:

Agree to be employed for a minimum of two years as a speech-language pathologist or a speech-language pathology assistant by an education service district or a school district that is willing to sponsor the pathologist or assistant for purposes of the program;

Agree to work under the supervision and mentorship of a licensed speech-language pathologist employed by an education service district or a school district; and

Meet any other requirements established by the State Board of Education by rule.

The State Board of Education shall establish by rule the amount of stipends allowed under subsection (2) of this section and a method for distributing to education service districts and school districts moneys to be used for stipends.

The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the administration of this section.