Audit: Teacher licensing board taking too long to resolve cases

The Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission needs to improve its work environment and increase accountability to address substantial delays in its core services for teachers and other educators, according to an audit released Thursday by Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins.

The audit was prepared in response to House Bill 3339 from the 2015 legislative session.

TSPC, an independent agency governed by a 17-member commission, licenses about 19,000 Oregon educators a year, approves educator preparation programs at Oregon colleges, and investigates about 300 complaints against educators annually.

“TSPC is a small agency, but it plays a crucial role in Oregon’s K-12 education system,” Atkins said. “Our auditors found that TSPC lacks clear expectations and accountability for its performance at all levels. The Commissioners, management and staff all need to work together to improve performance.”

The agency has made recent improvements, the audit found, but still faces substantial backlogs in teacher licensing and investigations that have persisted for years.

Applicants who filed for licenses in July 2015 faced a four-month wait. Investigations of alleged educator misconduct averaged more than 14 months in 2015, weakening evidence and reducing investigative depth. Response times to emails from educators have improved, but still average more than a week.

The agency has just 26 employees, and cuts to management and staff during the recession contributed to the problems. A complicated, paper-based licensing system also contributed, as did an inadequate agency web site that does not provide answers to basic licensing questions.

Evaluations are sporadic, including the commission’s evaluation of the executive director. Performance tracking is limited, and management’s focus on work process improvement is minimal. Tensions between management and staff have also been substantial, affecting agency performance.

“The agency has to improve communication, develop performance standards, and provide timely feedback on employee progress,” Atkins said. “These are basic building blocks for a successful organization. I encourage the Legislature to review this audit closely and work with the agency on follow-up, including continuing evaluation of the resources needed to get this job done.”

In 2015, the Oregon Legislature approved license fee increases – the first in 10 years. The increase allowed TSPC to hire more staff and helped the agency replace the outdated licensing system, so applicants can file applications and pay online. The commission also finished a three-year process of simplifying license requirements.

TSPC’s more stable financial footing and improved staffing should allow it to focus on building a more productive workplace, one of its most significant tasks going forward, the auditors concluded.