§ 326.145 — Establishment of youth advisory group; membership; duties; meetings

Oregon § 326.145

• Jurisdiction: Oregon
• Vol.: 9
• Title 30: Education and Culture
• Ch.: 326

Text

(1) A youth advisory group is established for the purposes of this section.
(2)(a) The Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with current members of the youth advisory group, shall select members of the youth advisory group as provided by this subsection. The term of office of each member is one year.
(b) The majority of the members of the youth advisory group must be youth between the ages of 14 and 18 years of age during their term of service on the youth advisory group. The youth members of the youth advisory group must include two youth from each education service district identified in ORS 334.013.
(c) When selecting the members of the youth advisory group, the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction shall:
(A) Consult with the Youth Development Division, the Oregon Health Authority and the Racial Justice Council to select members of the youth advisory group who are one or more of the following:
(i) Youth and staff representing tribal youth councils;
(ii) Youth and staff representing youth and student leadership organizations;
(iii) Youth and staff representing alternative education pathways;
(iv) Youth from immigrant and refugee communities;
(v) Individuals representing culturally and ethnically specific community-based organizations, including organizations that assist immigrant and refugee communities;
(vi) Individuals who are administrators, teachers and other school staff who support youth and student leadership in public schools, including education service districts, school districts, schools and youth reengagement programs;
(vii) Youth who serve as advisors to the State Board of Education or serve on Department of Education work groups related to student success initiatives;
(viii) Youth who serve on the Youth Development Council or who participate in Youth Development Division programs;
(ix) Youth who serve on Oregon Health Authority work groups;
(x) Youth who serve on Racial Justice Council work groups; and
(xi) Additional members identified and recommended by the youth advisory group.
(B) Consult with the Youth Development Division to select members of the youth advisory group who are youth who have been reengaged and to select program staff who support the statewide youth reengagement system developed and administered by the division under ORS 417.859 or who otherwise provide education opportunities to youth or support the educational success of youth.
(d) In addition to the members of the youth advisory group described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, the youth advisory group may include any other members identified and recommended by the youth advisory group and selected by the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(e) The Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction may provide for alternate members for the youth members of the youth advisory group described in paragraph (b) of this subsection.
(f)(A) When making selections under this subsection, the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction must ensure that:
(i) At least 70 percent of the members of the youth advisory group have lived experiences with, or a demonstrated understanding of, issues facing persons who are from racial or ethnic communities that historically have been, or currently are, underrepresented or underserved;
(ii) At least 50 percent of the youth members of the youth advisory group from each of the regions identified in paragraph (b) of this subsection have lived experiences with, or a demonstrated understanding of, issues facing persons who are from racial or ethnic communities that historically have been, or currently are, underrepresented or underserved; and
(iii) The youth members of the youth advisory group must include youth who:
(I) Have lived experiences with, or a demonstrated understanding of, issues facing persons who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit, intersex, asexual, nonbinary or another minority gender identity or sexual orientation;
(II) Are English language learners;
(III) Are identified as being a child with a disability, as defined in ORS 343.035;
(IV) Are navigating poverty;
(V) Are a foster child or have a parent involved in the criminal justice system; or
(VI) Have experienced disproportionate results in education due to historical practices, as identified by the State Board of Education by rule.
(B) For the purpose of this paragraph, racial or ethnic communities that historically have been, or currently are, underrepresented or underserved include communities for which a statewide education plan has been developed and implemented.
(g) A member of the youth advisory group may be selected for up to two terms. If there is a vacancy for any cause, the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with other members of the youth advisory group, shall make a selection to become immediately effective for the unexpired term.
(3) The Department of Education shall ensure that each youth member of the youth advisory group:
(a) Receives sufficient support to enable participation in youth advisory group meetings, including:
(A) Reimbursement for actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of official duties in the manner and amounts provided in ORS 292.495; and
(B) Funding for any expenses not otherwise reimbursed under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; and
(b) Has resources available to reimburse any adult who provides transportation or other supports in helping the youth member to participate in the youth advisory group.
(4) The youth advisory group, with support from the Department of Education, shall take into consideration racial equity and justice and align with other statewide efforts for racial equity and justice when performing the following duties:
(a) Developing the youth advisory group’s goals, success criteria and progress measures related to youth and student leadership and engagement in the policymaking process in this state. When performing the duties described in this paragraph, the youth advisory group may modify the youth advisory group’s decision-making process, scope of work, work plans and meeting structures, and the roles and responsibilities of youth advisory group members.
(b) Examining current Department of Education, Youth Development Division and Oregon Health Authority initiatives and practices related to youth and student leadership and engagement in the policymaking process and making recommendations on how to elevate and support youth and student leadership and youth-led and student-led accountability in the policymaking process at the state and local level. When performing the duties described in this paragraph, the youth advisory group must give careful consideration to youth and student leadership and to engagement by youth described in subsection (2)(f)(A)(ii) and (iii) of this section. The youth advisory group may recommend methods for evaluating current initiatives, practices and progress relating to youth and student leadership and engagement at the state level.
(c) Connecting with youth and student leaders and exploring youth and student leadership networks, including culturally and ethnically specific, community-based models and Youth Development Division programs, to identify best practices in youth-led and student-led accountability in this state and on a national level. Based on the performance of the duties described in this paragraph, the youth advisory group shall make recommendations to the State Board of Education, the Youth Development Council, the Legislative Assembly and the Governor on how to support youth and student leadership networks on a regional level for the purposes of connecting youths with youth organizations, connecting students with student organizations, elevating youth and student leadership and voice and supporting youth-led and student-led accountability, with special consideration given to youth described in subsection (2)(f)(A)(ii) and (iii) of this section.
(d) Helping the Department of Education, the Youth Development Division and the Oregon Health Authority with the surveys that are administered to youth and students by assisting with reviews of the findings and making recommendations on the content and administration of the surveys.
(e) Evaluating current processes in this state to identify best practices for youth and students reporting a bias incident as defined in ORS 147.380 or a hate or bias crime. Based on the performance of the duty described in this paragraph, the youth advisory group shall make recommendations for providing support to youth and students who have experienced bias incidents or hate or bias crimes.
(f) Reporting on the youth advisory group’s work, progress and recommendations to the Legislative Assembly and the Governor every two years and providing interim updates to youth and student leadership networks and organizations, education service districts, school districts and local entities that serve youth and students.
(5)(a) The youth advisory group shall meet at least six times each year on the dates determined by a majority of the members of the youth advisory group. The youth advisory group shall also meet at other times specified or requested by a majority of the members of the youth advisory group.
(b) The youth advisory group shall meet in the place and manner determined by a majority of the members of the youth advisory group. All or part of the members of the youth advisory group may attend the meetings electronically, unless otherwise provided by a majority of the members of the youth advisory group.
(6) The Department of Education shall:
(a) Provide staff support to the youth advisory group; and
(b) Support youth advisory group members in participating in the youth advisory group.

Legislative History

2024 c.95 §4; 2024 c.95 §6