The working definition of a private school is a private elementary or secondary school operated by a person or by a private agency, offering education in kindergarten or grades 1 through 12. 

Yes, the Early Learning Division of the Oregon Department of Education, in most circumstances, has jurisdiction over pre-kindergarten programs.

Yes, ORS 339.030 (1) (a) exempts all children between the ages of 6 and 18 years of age if they are being taught in a private or parochial school in the courses of study usually taught in kindergarten through grade 12 in the public schools and in attendance for a period equivalent to that required of children attending public schools in the 1994-1995 school year.

No, a private school does not receive state school funds. There may be very limited circumstances in which private schools are included in a legislative initiative and/or program.

No, there are no state programs in Oregon that offer public funding for private school tuition. The only exception is when a student with a disability is placed in a non-public school by a public school district.

Private schools do not need to register with the Oregon Department of Education unless they are contracting with a public school district to provide services. Specific registration information for private alternative schools can be found on ODE’s Alternative Education webpage.

No. ODE has no statutory authority to regulate or monitor private schools.

A private school is a business or nonprofit entity that is required to comply with requirements imposed by the jurisdiction, county, city, or other locality in which it is located. This includes zoning, health and safety codes, mandatory reporting, fire codes, student records, or other local ordinances. This list is not exhaustive. Please check with local, county and state resources.

The Oregon School Facilities Management Association is a resource that promotes and develops the highest degree of professionalism in the planning, safety, and operations of school facilities designed to insure student success through safe, healthy, effective learning environments.

ODE does not approve private schools. A private school must meet all state and local health, safety, fire, and building codes.

Please download the Do the Drill document, which includes useful information specifically relating to building and fire safety.

Yes, please feel free to visit the following websites for additional useful resources:

• National Association of Independent Schools
• Council for American Private Education
• Office of Non-Public Education

Private schools are exempt from Oregon’s compulsory attendance laws. However, a private school should ensure students’ attendance is equivalent to that required of public school students. Private schools should also ensure their students acquire the same knowledge as that acquired in courses of study taught in kindergarten through grade 12 in the public schools (ORS 339.030).

There is no requirement that private school teachers obtain or maintain a valid teaching license. Each school develops their own policy on teacher qualifications.

A private school is not required to fingerprint and conduct criminal background checks on teachers and staff. However, a private school may request the Oregon Department of Education to fingerprint and conduct a criminal background check on any teacher or staff member who has direct, unsupervised contact with students. Although fingerprinting and background checks are not required, it is highly recommended that any teacher and/or staff who has direct, unsupervised contact with students should be fingerprinted and have a criminal background check. (ORS 326.603 (2)(b)). Each private school may have its own fingerprinting process: Field print Fingerprinting is one resource many schools and districts use.

Most districts have policies on private school participation in school activities. In addition, Oregon School Activities Association has very specific rules about the participation of private school students in public high school activities.

• Private school is an elementary or secondary school operated by a person or by a private agency offering education in prekindergarten, or grades 1 through 12.
• Private alternative school is a school or separate class group designed to best serve students’ educational needs and interests and assist students in achieving the academic standards of the school district and the state.

Yes, a student may attend a private school outside of his/her resident district.

Most districts have policies on non-public school students taking classes at a public school. In many cases, this is based on space availability. The district may charge a tuition fee.

hool is not required to participate in statewide testing. However, many private school do use some form of summative testing (SAT 10, Iowa Basic, MAPS, NAEP etc.).

Public schools are not required to accept credits from private schools. Public school districts have the responsibility to evaluate the appropriate placement for a student.

Private high schools have the authority to set their own graduation requirements and grant their own diplomas. However, many private high schools include the state minimum graduation requirements in order to ensure that students transitioning to or from public schools have less disruption in their progress toward graduation. Many private high schools are accredited to ensure a smoother transition into post-secondary institutions. For additional information, please visit ODE’s Oregon Diploma webpage.

For graduation information, please visit ODE’s Oregon Diploma webpage.

Private schools are not required to follow the instructional time rules; however, it is recommended that the private school’s educational program be on par in terms of hours and curriculum

A private school does not need to be accredited. However, a majority of Oregon’s private high schools choose to go through the accreditation process. Accreditation serves as a consumer protection purpose. It provides assurance that the school or program has been evaluated and has met accepted operational and program standards . Although there are no guarantees, most colleges and universities accept transcripts from high schools that are fully accredited.  

Private schools are not required to follow specific policies for K-3, although it is recommended that each private school review Oregon’s Policies posted on the Education Commission website which includes entrance age, assessments, instruction time etc.

A private school is not responsible for providing transportation. Please see ODE’s Pupil Transportation webpage and ORS 332.415 for additional information on student transportation and vehicle safety.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and state law permit some special education and related services may be available for children with disabilities enrolled by their parents in nonprofit private elementary and secondary schools, including religious schools. These special education services, referred to as equitable services, differ from those available in public schools. Please refer to ODE’s Special Education for Private School Students webpage for additional information on this topic.

Private schools are completely independent of ODE. Anyone interested in employment in private school should contact each private school directly about available teaching positions.

ODE has no authority over private schools. Private schools usually have a complaint procedure policy in the parent/student handbook. Depending on the nature of the complaint, the following resources may be helpful:

• Child endangerment/abuse reporting
• Oregon’s Better Business Bureau

A private school may require that all students are immunized as a condition of attendance; however, a private school may not allow non-immunized students to attend the school unless they meet a medical or non-medical exemption. As a condition of attending school, students must provide evidence of immunization or a medical or non-medical exemption.

Yes, all laws and rules regarding student records apply to private schools. ORS 326.565-575 requires student records be sent out within 10 days of the request. Student records may not be withheld if the student/family owe tuition or fees.

• The best way to obtain school records is to begin with the district in which the private school was located and give them as much information that is available (year, location, affiliation etc.). In some cases, student records are retained at the Education Service District in which the school was located. Please refer to Wikipedia’s Oregon Education Service Districts (ESDs) for specific information.
• If the private school was part of a religious or secular organization’s school system, such as Catholic, Lutheran or Jewish schools, student records from the private school may be available through the organization's headquarters or regional office.
• Parents who are concerned about the continuing availability of private school records should ask the private school their child attends what plan the school has for storing records in the event the school closes.

There is nothing in statute or rule that requires a private school to have a closure policy/procedure. However, it is highly recommended that each school have a closure process in place that includes retention of student records, tuition reimbursement, if applicable, and any other record keeping required at the local or state level.

• Upon school closure, it is important to arrange with the local school district, ESD or private school organization (i.e. Archdiocese of Portland) for the retention of all student records.
• Please refer to ODE’s FAQ's about Student Records document for additional information on student records.

No, ODE does not collect or store any private school student records, transcripts or diplomas.