Oregon Code § 336.851·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Creation; purposes; rules.
(1) Oregon Digital Learning is created within the Department of Education. The
purposes of Oregon Digital Learning are to provide:
(a) Online
courses to kindergarten through grade 12 public school students; and
(b) Professional
development related to online learning to kindergarten through grade 12 public
school teachers.
(2)(a) Oregon
Digital Learning shall provide online courses to students that meet academic
content standards as defined in ORS 329.007 and that meet other criteria
adopted by the State Board of Education. Any person who teaches an online
course to students must be properly licensed as required by ORS 342.173 for a
person employed by a school district or education service district or properly
registered as required by ORS 338.135 for a person employed by a public charter
school. All school districts and public charter schools may allow students to
access the online courses offered to students by Oregon Digital Learning.
(b) Oregon
Digital Learning shall provide professional development to support school
districts that provide online learning, including professional development that
will help school districts to identify and support students who would benefit
from online learning opportunities.
(3) The
Superintendent of Public Instruction may contract with:
(a) Education
service districts, school districts, public charter schools, community
colleges, public universities listed in ORS 352.002 or any other public entity
to provide online courses to students through Oregon Digital Learning.
(b) Any public or
private entity to provide professional development through Oregon Digital
Learning.
(4) Statutes and
rules that apply to other school districts do not apply to Oregon Digital
Learning except as provided under this section or by rule of the State Board of
Education. Oregon Digital Learning is not considered a school district for
purposes of apportionment of the State School Fund and the department may not
receive a direct apportionment under ORS 327.008 from the State School Fund for
Oregon Digital Learning.
(5) The board may
adopt the rules necessary for the administration of Oregon Digital Learning and
shall adopt rules to establish:
(a) The procedure
and criteria to be used for the selection of online courses to be offered to
students through Oregon Digital Learning;
(b) The
qualifications of students who may access online courses through Oregon Digital
Learning;
(c) The number of
credits for which students may access online courses through Oregon Digital
Learning; and
(d) The
student-to-teacher ratio for online courses offered through Oregon Digital
Learning. [Formerly 329.840; 2019 c.383 §1]