Starting a Private School in Oregon
Regulations, Resources, & Support
Oregon State Regulations
General Regulations
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There are no accreditation requirements and only residential schools are required to be licensed. Private alternative schools, a special type of private school in Oregon, must be both approved and registered in order to receive funding.
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The Oregon Department of Education has assembled a page of detailed requirements for private schools.
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The US Office of Innovation & Improvement has assembled a summary of regulations for private schools operating in Oregon.
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There are few homeschool restrictions, but all homeschool students must take periodic comprehensive exams to ensure they are making academic progress.
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The Oregon DOE has no published requirements for school insurance -- consult a professional for guidance in this area.
State Funding Sources & Support
Oregon does not provide funding for private education except in the case of "private alternative schools," which is a special type of private school that must be approved and registered with the state. These specific schools can receive public school funding.
Curriculum Requirements
Students are expected to have a course of study similar to what is usually taught in the public school. Private alternative schools have additional curriculum requirements aimed at assisting at-risk students.
Teacher Certification & Hiring
Teachers are not required to be certified.
Food Services / Lunch
In Oregon, school lunch requirements, including funding for schools offering the National School Lunch Program, are managed by the Department of Education.
Length of School Year
Students must attend school an equivalent amount of time as public school.
Recordkeeping & Reports
Healthy & Safety Requirements
Transportation
All children attending private or parochial schools under the compulsory school attendance laws are entitled to transportation along or near the designated routes when the district provides transportation for public school students.
Testing
Students enrolled in private alternative schools must take the statewide assessment developed by the Oregon Department of Education.
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Oregon State Resources
State & Regional Associations
Government Websites
Helping Educators Do the Work That Matters
Quick Guide Nav
We gathered so much information that we had to break it down into 10 chapters. This free information is well-researched- we even hunted down the rules and regulations for each state! If you're thinking about starting a private school, you will find this guide very handy!
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