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State of Oregon's Special Education Stipend through Oregon Department of Education (ODE)
January 11, 2025Overview
The Legislature allocated funding to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) for providing one-time payments to Oregon’s special education staff in the 2024-25 school year. The purpose of these funds are to recognize the critical services staff provide to students served by Oregon’s public special education programs, as well as to support retention of qualified special education professionals.
The source of this funding is the state of Oregon’s General Fund. directed ODE to request funding in the interim Legislative Session, eventually allocated through , for $8.9 million to provide stipends to licensed educators and classified school employees working in special education during the 2024-2025 school year. The definitions of special education staff found in inform ODE’s understanding of the types of qualifying staff under the law. On October 17, 2024, the State Board of Education adopted administrative rules to implement the stipend program ().
Stipend Amount
At this time the amount of the stipend is unknown. The amount each employee receives is dependent on the number of qualifying employees across the state of Oregon. The total amount allocated to this program will be split equally between all qualifying employees - regardless of position, location, or FTE amount - this means half time employees will receive the same stipend amount as full time employees.Timeline
January 13
District qualifying staff list due to ODE
January 31
ODE releases stipend amount, per eligible employee
By May 30
District claims funds
May
Review qualifying employee list for final stipend award (note, per the ODE rules, if employee is on leave more than half the SY or has resigned, their stipend award has to be returned)
June 30
Stipends are issued on last paycheck of the school year and will be paid as a separate line item.
Note: ½ûÂþÌìÌà will withhold any income tax or other amounts as required by law, including any mandatory contributions under PERS or OPSRP.Qualifying Employees
It is important to note that just because a job title is listed below does not mean all employees are eligible. Employees must be in both the job title and the corresponding department or school as of 12/2/2024 to be eligible. Per ODE requirements, in order to remain eligible to receive the stipend at the end of the school year, employees must still be employed, working in a qualifying position/department/school and cannot have been on leave for more than half of the school year.
As stated above, per the ODE requirements, all qualifying employees will receive the same stipend amount, it is not prorated based on position, location, or FTE amount.
CRIS = Columbia Regional Inclusive Services which includes Blind and Visually Impaired, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Autism Services
CTP = Community Transition Program
SPED = Special EducationJob Title
Department/School
Employee Group
Audiologist
CRIS
PAT
Autism Specialist
CRIS and SPED
PAT
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
CRIS, SPED, and Pioneer
PAT
Counselor
Pioneer
PAT
Qualified Mental Health Provider (QMHP)
CRIS, SPED, and Pioneer
PAT
School Psychologists (including LT)
SPED, Student Success & Health
PAT
Social Worker
CTP, CRIS, and Pioneer
PAT
Speech Language Pathologist
CRIS, Early Learners, SPED
PAT
Student Management Specialist
Pioneer
PAT
Teacher-SPED
CRIS, SPED, Pioneer, CTP
PAT
Teacher-Science
Pioneer
PAT
Teacher-Art
Pioneer
PAT
Teacher Librarian
Pioneer
PAT
TOSA-SPED; TOSA-Comprehensive School Psych
CRIS, SPED, Student Success & Health
PAT
Vocational Transition Specialist
CTP
PAT
Substitute Educators
Educators who worked 50% of all eligible jobs between the start of school and 12/2/2024, of which 75% of the jobs taken were SPED are eligible
To continue to be eligible, these substitute educators will need to work at least one SPED job per week for the remainder of the school yearPAT
Administrative Assistant
CRIS
PFSP
Assistive Tech Practitioner
SPED
PFSP
Certified Nursing Assistant
SPED
PFSP
Chief Clerk
SPED
PFSP
Equipment Tech/Clerk
CRIS
PFSP
HS Career Coordinator
SPED
PFSP
Low Incident Disabilities Specialist
CRIS
PFSP
Occupational Therapist (OT)
CRIS, SPED
PFSP
Paraeducator - Pioneer
Pioneer
PFSP
Paraeducator
CRIS, SPED
PFSP
Physical Therapist (PT)
SPED
PFSP
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
SPED, Pioneer
PFSP
School Admin Assistant I
CTP and Pioneer
PFSP
Sign Language Interpreter (SLI)
CRIS
PFSP
SPED Assistant Trainer
CRIS
PFSP
SPED Compliance Clerk
SPED
PFSP
Sr Admin Secretary II
SPED
PFSP
Therapeutic Intervention Coach - Pioneer (TIC)
Pioneer
PFSP
Therapeutic Intervention Coach (TIC)
SPED
PFSP
Training Coord/Tech Specialist
Pioneer
PFSP
Bus Driver
Bus drivers who transport SPED students
ATU
Custodian
Pioneer
SEIU
Nutrition Services Assistant
Pioneer
SEIU
Academic Program Admin
CRIS
Licensed Admin
Academic Assistant Director
SPED
Licensed Admin
Academic Director
SPED
Licensed Admin
Assistant Principal-Special Programs
Pioneer
Licensed Admin
Principal-Special Programs
CTP, Pioneer
Licensed Admin
Substitute Paraeducators
Substitute paraeducators who have taken a minimum of 10 jobs by 12/2 and to continue to qualify will need to take approximately one job per week
Non-Represented
Business Operations Analyst II
SPED
Non-Represented
Engagement Specialist
SPED
Non-Represented
IT Tech Support Rep III
CRIS
Non-Represented
SIS Support Rep III
SPED
Non-Represented
SPED ODE Stipend FAQs
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Q: How was it determined what positions were eligible?
A: The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) developed the requirements for employee eligibility. The definitions of special education staff found in inform ODE’s understanding of the types of qualifying staff under the law. On October 17, 2024, the State Board of Education adopted administrative rules to implement the stipend program ().
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Q: How will I know if I am eligible for the stipend?
A: Review the employee job and department/school list above to determine if you are eligible for the stipend.
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Employees must have been employed and working in the eligible position/department/school as of December 2, 2024; and
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Remain in an eligible position/department/school through the school year; and
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Remain employed through the date the stipend is issued; and
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Work more than 50% of the school year.
Note - Employees who resign or are on leave for half the school year or more are not eligible to receive the stipend and ½ûÂþÌìÌà is required to return your stipend amount to ODE.
If you are unsure if your position is eligible based on the information above, please contact HR at hronline@pps.net or call 503-916-3544. -
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Q: How much will my stipend be?
A: The stipend amount is unknown at this time as the total funds will be split evenly over all qualifying employees in the state of Oregon. Once ODE announces the stipend amount, we will update the website and FAQs. The stipend will be the same amount for all eligible employees regardless of title, location, or FTE amount (i.e. full-time and part-time employees will receive the same stipend amount).
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Q: Will my stipend be taxed?
A: ½ûÂþÌìÌà will withhold any income tax or other amounts as required by law, including any mandatory contributions under PERS or OPSRP.
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Q: When will I receive my stipend?
A: If you remain eligible for the stipend in May 2025, you will receive the stipend amount on your June paycheck.
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Q: ½ûÂþÌìÌà is in a budget deficit, where are these funds coming from?
A: The Legislature allocated funding to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) for providing one-time payments to Oregon’s special education staff in the 2024-25 school year. The purpose of these funds are to recognize the critical services staff provide to students served by Oregon’s public special education programs, as well as to support retention of qualified special education professionals.
The source of this funding is the state of Oregon’s General Fund. directed ODE to request funding in the interim Legislative Session, eventually allocated through , for $8.9 million to provide stipends to licensed educators and classified school employees working in special education during the 2024-2025 school year.
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Q: I regularly work with students who have 504 plans, am I eligible?
A: Students who have 504 plans may or may not also be identified to receive Special Education Services. Eligibility is based on supports to students identified as receiving Special Education Services such as those with an Individualized Education Plan ( IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Working with students on 504 plans would not meet the eligibility requirements.