Oregon Bill Defines ‘Merit’ As Those Who Have Received ‘Anti-Bias’ Training; Teachers Without Merit May Be Laid Off

A new bill introduced in the Oregon state legislature mandates that schools use a merit-based system when making staff reductions, unless the merit-based system interferes with the school’s “diversity ratio.” 

According to the bill text, any school district that plans on making a reduction in education staff positions must retain teachers with “less seniority” if that teacher has more “merit” and “if retention of [the] teacher is necessary to maintain [the] school district’s diversity ratio.”