PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon state agency responsible for investigating educator abuse and misconduct is facing a backlog of hundreds of cases, with some investigations taking months — or even years — to resolve.

The delays are costing school districts millions of dollars and, in some cases, leaving students at risk or waiting for justice.

Oregon's Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC), which investigates teacher abuse allegations, is currently managing 635 cases with four full-time investigators, funded entirely by teacher licensure fees.

"When there is a delay in the amount of time that an investigation takes, that is expensive for the district and also tolling on the potential victims and the educator," said Heidi Sipe, Umatilla School District superintendent and a form

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