Establishing District Equity Committees for Senate Bill 732
In 2021, the Oregon Legislature passed
Senate Bill 732 amending Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 328.542 and 329.095 and requiring each school district to establish what the law calls an Educational Equity Advisory Committee, which this guidance will refer to as a District Equity Committee (DEC). All districts are required to have a District Equity Committee
established by September 15th, 2025 and will report on this requirement via the Division 22 Assurances process (OAR 581-022-2307).
DECs are intended to advise school boards and superintendents on the educational impacts of policy decisions, the larger district-wide climate, issues impacting underserved student groups, and additional topics necessary to fully elevate student experience. DECs are a powerful mechanism to engage community voice and advance equity in Oregon’s school districts.
District Equity Committees Updates
Key Updates from HB 2453 (Updated August 2025)
With the recent passage of
House Bill 2453 there are important changes to how District Equity Committees operate.
Advisory Role: Committees now advise the
superintendent, not the school board.
Public Meeting Law: Committees are
no longer subject to public meeting requirements
Membership Selection: The superintendent now selects committee members;
board approval is no longer required
Small School Accommodation: District Equity Committees in Regional Partnership
If your district has 1650 ADMw or fewer, you
may choose to establish your committee in partnership with other districts and/or ESD. All districts who choose this regional partnership option must notify ODE via this
Smartsheet form.
Establishing and Sustaining District Equity Committees Guidance
The Establishing and Sustaining District Equity Committees Guidance (updated 2026) brings together into one place the law’s requirements, the recommendations enshrined in law, the administrative rules, and the Oregon Department of Education’s guidance on implementation.
Resources
District Equity Committee Implementation Self-Assessment Tool (Updated 2026)
This self-assessment tool helps districts navigate different aspects of the development and sustaining of their District Equity Committees as an ongoing change process.
District Equity Committees in Regional Partnership (Updated August 2025)
An overview of the accommodation allowing districts with less than 1650 ADMw to establish their district equity committee in partnership with other districts, and/or local ESDs.
Contact Us
To connect more on SB 732: District Equity Committees (EEACs), please reach out to the Office of Education Innovation & Improvement at:
ode.eii@ode.oregon.gov