1. (1) A certified ONB program must employ at least one individual who meets the qualifications of director as outlined in (5) below. The director is responsible for:
   (a) Maintaining compliance with all certified ONB program rules and all conditions placed on the certification;
   (b) Developing and implementing the ONB program’s operational and personnel policies;
   (c) Supervising the personnel, volunteers, and other individuals providing services in the ONB program;
   (d) Overseeing the training and professional development of staff including setting educational goals, observation and mentoring;
   (e) Implementing program development;
   (f) Developing a curriculum philosophy, communicating the philosophy to all ONB program staff and parents, and training staff to ensure the philosophy serves all children in the ONB program;
   (g) Leading the development of benefit-risk assessments, and associated risk management policies and procedures, pursuant to OAR 414-320-0215, ONB Benefit Risk Assessments;
   (h) Overseeing parent communication and family engagement and sharing community resources with families including resources for children with specific needs; and
   (i) Managing administrative functions, including, but not limited to: maintaining records; financial management; budgeting; maintenance of grounds and any buildings used by the ONB program; meal planning and preparation; and transportation, if provided.
   (2) The director must be on site at least half of the weekly operating hours or 40 hours per week, whichever is less, as documented by the certified ONB program. The director may only be responsible for one ONB program.
   (3) A director may serve as a teacher, if qualified, and have regular teaching duties when 20 or fewer children  are on site.
   (4) A certified ONB program must have the director or a substitute director on the premises during all hours of operation.
   (5) A certified ONB program director must:
   (a) Be at least 21 years of age;
   (b) Meet the initial (see OAR 414-320-0370) and annual training (see OAR 414-320-0380) requirements;
   (c) Have completed 20 hours or 2 college quarter credits of nature-based education training approved by DELC;
   (d) 250 hours of work experience in an outdoor education environment; and
   (e) Have attained one of these options:
   (A) Achieved at least Step 9 in the Oregon Registry;
   (B) For a single certified ONB program that has a licensed capacity of 20 or fewer, 1 year as a provider at a Certified Family Child Care home; or
   (C) Have verifiable knowledge of management and supervision of adults and verifiable knowledge of child development for the primary ages served by the certified ONB program, evidenced by a combination of professional references, education, experience, or training as follows:
   (i) Management and supervision:
   (I) Seven (7) quarter credit hours in business administration or management at a college or university;
   (II) Seventy (70) training hours in program management with an emphasis on the following subjects: financial management and budgeting; policy development; staff management, evaluation and training; record keeping; or
   (III) Six hundred (600) hours of documented experience where there was an opportunity to participate in the following activities: financial management and budgeting, policy development, record keeping, staff management, evaluation and training.
   (ii) Child development:
   (I) Seven (7) quarter credit hours at a college or university in two of the following Core Knowledge Categories (CKC): Human Growth and Development (HGD), Learning Environments and Curriculum (LEC), Understanding and Guiding Behavior (UGB), Special Needs (SN), or Observation and Assessment (OA);
   (II) Seventy (70) community based training clock hours in two of the following Core Knowledge Categories (CKC): Human Growth and Development (HGD), Learning Environments and Curriculum (LEC), Understanding and Guiding Behavior (UGB), Special Needs (SN), or Observation and Assessment (OA), relevant to the ages of the children served by the ONB program; or
   (III) Six hundred (600) additional hours of qualifying teaching experience with children the same age as those served by the certified ONB program; or
   (iii) Participate in a plan, approved by DELC, to substitute for a missing component (either management and supervision of adults OR knowledge of child development). The plan must address how the director will attain the required training, education, or experience in the missing component and how the program will operate until the director has met the missing component.
   (6) A certified ONB program's substitute director must meet teacher qualifications, understand the director’s responsibilities, be familiar with the certification requirements, have access to all records, and be authorized and able to correct deficiencies.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 329A.260

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 329A.280

History

DELC 2-2025, adopt filed 03/26/2025, effective 07/01/2025