April 21, 2026 – Oregon’s community colleges are moving quickly to roll out a new pathway to Bachelor’s‑level education degrees, strengthening the state’s ability to grow its own educator workforce. Following the Higher Education Coordinating Commission’s April 9 approval of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Education (BASE), five colleges are approved to offer this degree beginning Fall 2027.
“Support for this new degree is an investment in Oregon’s students, schools, and communities,” said Dr. Abby Lee, Executive Director of the Oregon Community College Association. “We appreciate HECC’s confidence in community colleges to help meet Oregon’s critical educator workforce needs.”
Oregon faces an acute and growing educator shortage, with more than 3,000 licensed teacher vacancies projected within five years. The most critical gaps are in special education, bilingual education, and rural classrooms. Today, about 2,000 teachers are working under emergency or restricted licenses, according to the state’s 2024 Educator Equity Report. This shows clear demand for additional educational pathways.
The five community colleges approved to offer the BASE degree – Chemeketa, Columbia Gorge, Linn-Benton, Rogue, and Treasure Valley – have formed an innovative statewide consortium to deliver the degree.
The group completed a rigorous, data-driven Statement of Need process that included labor market analysis, employer demand, and extensive engagement with school districts, Education Service Districts, and community partners. Programs are aligned with standards from the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation.
The consortium model supports a coordinated and cost‑effective rollout by reducing duplication and using shared curriculum, instructional design, and statewide resources. Colleges will rely on existing infrastructure, online and hybrid delivery, and credit for prior learning to keep costs low and expand access.
The BASE degree adds to Oregon’s existing university transfer pathways and educator preparation programs. It also strengthens the overall ecosystem by creating an additional route for students who are often underserved by traditional models, including working adults, bilingual instructional assistants, and rural residents, while continuing to support and complement university-based programs.
“The BASE degree is designed to complement, not compete with, existing university programs by creating additional on‑ramps into teaching,” Lee added. “Community colleges remain deeply committed to partnerships with universities and expanding traditional transfer pathways, ensuring students have multiple, high‑quality routes into the teaching profession.”
As part of HECC’s approval, enrollment in the BASE degree will be capped at 30 students in the first year and 50 students per year statewide during the program’s following three years to support quality and sustainable growth. The HECC received letters of support from 15 school districts and Education Service Districts backing the proposal.
“Community colleges have built strong ‘Grow Your Own’ partnerships with local school districts and ESDs,” Lee said. “These programs prepare educators within their communities, improving retention and strengthening the long-term stability of Oregon’s classrooms.”
By offering flexible, place‑based pathways, the program is designed to ease barriers such as cost, relocation, and finding options that work for students’ real schedules and responsibilities.
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.
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