Statewide Effort Aims to Grow Oregon’s Rural Teacher Pipeline
JACKSON and JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (April 23, 2026) – Rogue Community College (RCC) reached a milestone in its ongoing work to develop a Bachelor of Applied Science in Education (BASE). On April 9, Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission granted state approval for the BASE degree, taking RCC one step closer to being able to offer this program.
Next steps include seeking approval from RCC’s accrediting body, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), as well as gaining approval from Oregon’s Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) and the nationally recognized Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
RCC, Treasure Valley, Chemeketa, Columbia Gorge and Linn-Benton community colleges are joining the consortium work for this new degree. The five colleges completed a rigorous, data-driven Statement of Need process that included labor market analysis, an assessment of employer demand and extensive engagement with school districts, Education Service Districts and community partners. Proposed programs at each consortium college are aligned with standards from the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation.
Oregon projects more than 3,000 licensed teacher vacancies within five years, with the most critical gaps in special education, bilingual education and rural classrooms. About 2,000 teachers statewide are working under emergency or restricted licenses, according to the state’s 2024 Educator Equity Report.
“The shortage of qualified K-12 teachers in Southern Oregon has reached the point of crisis. We’re honored to work with our partners in K-12 and at Southern Oregon University to provide another local pathway option based on the request of district leaders,” said RCC President Randy Weber.
The partnership between RCC and the consortium colleges illustrates how the proposed program is designed to reach students across Oregon’s most geographically remote regions while meeting local K-12 partner needs. The consortium colleges represent many corners and communities of the state, connected by a shared mission to train educators where they live and where schools need them most.
The consortium model reduces duplication and controls costs through shared curriculum, instructional design, and statewide resources. Colleges will rely on existing infrastructure, online and hybrid delivery, and credit for prior learning to keep tuition affordable. That flexibility is especially important for students in rural areas where distance, work schedules and family obligations have historically made traditional educator preparation programs difficult to access.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our community. By creating an additional local pathway into teaching, we can even better support aspiring educators right here at home while building a strong, sustainable pipeline to meet the needs of our schools for years to come,” said Superintendent of Medford School District Jeanne Grazioli.
The BASE degree advances Oregon’s equity goals by expanding access for bilingual, first-generation, and rural students who have been historically underrepresented in educator preparation. According to the state’s 2024 Educator Equity Report, only 14 to 15 percent of Oregon’s educators identify as racially or ethnically diverse, compared to 42 percent of K-12 students. Increasing representation is linked to stronger student outcomes and engagement.