Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 6

Repealed by Laws 1949, p. 607, art. 20, § 9. §70-6-1. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-1a. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-2. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-3. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-4. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-5. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-6. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-7. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-8. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-9. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-10. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-11. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-12. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-13. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-14. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-15. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-16. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-17. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-18. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-19. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-20. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-21. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-22. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-23. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-24. Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-101. Teachers - Contract. A. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, no person shall be permitted to teach in any school district of the state without a written contract, except as provided herein for substitute teachers and except teachers of classes in adult education. Except as provided in subsection J of this section, the board of education of each school district, wherein school is expected to be conducted for the ensuing year, shall employ and contract in writing with qualified teachers for and in the name of the district. One copy of the contract shall be filed with the clerk of the board of education and one copy shall be retained by the teacher. B. Except as otherwise provided by subsections J and K of this section and any other law, no board of education shall have authority to enter into any written contract with a teacher who does not hold an Oklahoma criminal history record check as required by Section 6-190 of this title and who does not hold a valid certificate issued or recognized by the State Board of Education authorizing the teacher to teach the grades or subject matter for which the teacher is employed. Any board of education paying or authorizing the payment of the salary of any teacher not holding a certificate, as required herein, shall be adjudged to be guilty of a fraudulent expenditure of public funds and members voting for such payment shall be held jointly responsible for the return of the amount of any public monies thus expended, upon suit brought by the district attorney or by any interested citizen in the district where such funds have been expended. C. It shall be the duty of the superintendent of schools under whose supervision teachers have been contracted to teach to certify to the treasurer of the contracting district the names of the teachers holding valid certificates and student teachers with whom contracts have been made and the names of substitute teachers employed in accordance with law. The treasurer shall not register any warrant issued in payment of salary to any teacher whose name is not included in such list and shall be liable on the official bond for the treasurer for the amount of any warrant registered in violation of the provisions of this section. D. Whenever any person shall enter into a contract with any school district in Oklahoma to teach in such school district the contract shall be binding on the teacher and on the board of education until the teacher legally has been discharged from the teaching position or released by the board of education from the contract. Except as provided in Section 5-106A of this title, until such teacher has been thus discharged or released, the teacher shall not have authority to enter into a contract with any other board of education in Oklahoma for the same time covered by the original contract. If upon written complaint by the board of education in a district any teacher is reported to have failed to obey the terms of the contract previously made and to have entered into a contract with another board of education without having been released from the former contract except as provided in Section 5-106A of this title, the teacher, upon being found guilty of such charge at a hearing held before the State Board of Education, shall have such teacher’s certificate suspended for the remainder of the term for which the contract was made. E. A board of education shall have authority to enter into written contracts with teachers for the ensuing fiscal year prior to the beginning of such year. If, prior to the first Monday in June, a board of education has not entered into a written contract with a regularly employed teacher or notified the teacher in writing by registered or certified mail that a recommendation has been made not to reemploy the teacher for the ensuing fiscal year, and if, by fifteen (15) days after the first Monday in June, such teacher has not notified the board of education in writing by registered or certified mail that such teacher does not desire to be reemployed in such school district for the ensuing year, such teacher shall be considered as employed on a continuing contract basis and on the same salary schedule used for other teachers in the school district for the ensuing fiscal year, and such employment and continuing contract shall be binding on the teacher and on the school district. F. Whenever a school district is engaged in contract negotiations with teachers employed by that school district after the school year has begun and the teachers are employed on a continuing contract basis, the school district shall, beginning at the first of the school year, pay the teachers any state-mandated salary increases and salary schedule increases to which each teacher is otherwise entitled. G. No school district or any member of the board of education of a district shall be liable for the payment of compensation to a teacher or administrator under the provisions of any contract for the ensuing year, if it becomes necessary to close the school because of insufficient attendance, disorganization, annexation, consolidation, or by dispensing with the school according to law, provided, such cause is known or action is taken prior to July 1 of such ensuing year. H. No school district or any member of a board of education shall be liable for the payment of compensation to any teacher or administrator for the unexpired term of any contract if the school building to which the teacher or administrator has been assigned is destroyed by accident, storm, fire, or otherwise and it becomes necessary to close the school because of inability to secure a suitable building or buildings for continuation of school. Teachers and administrators shall be entitled to pay for any time lost when school is closed on account of epidemics or otherwise when an order for such closing has been issued by a health officer authorized by law to issue the order. I. A teacher may contract with more than one school district for the same school year as provided in Section 5-106A of this title. J. A board of education shall have authority to enter into written contracts for the ensuing fiscal year prior to the beginning of the year with persons who are not certified to teach by the State Board of Education as long as the person is actively in the process of securing certification. The person shall not be allowed to teach in a classroom until the person has met or completed all of the requirements for certification as provided for in Section 6-190 of this title. If the person has not obtained valid certification by the first day of the ensuing school year, the contract shall be terminated. K. A board of education of a school district shall have the authority to enter into written contracts for employment for the ensuing fiscal year with persons who are student teachers as defined in Section 1-116 of this title while such persons are still student teachers. A student teacher shall not be allowed to teach in a classroom during the ensuing fiscal year until meeting or completing all of the requirements for certification as provided for in Section 6-190 of this title. If the student teacher has not obtained valid certification by the first day of the ensuing school year, the contract shall be terminated. A board of education of a school district shall have the authority to commit to payment of a stipend or signing bonus to a student teacher as defined in Section 1-116 of this title while that person is still a student teacher, if that person has entered into a written contract for employment for the ensuing fiscal year. A board of education shall make any such student teacher stipend or signing bonus conditional on such person fulfilling the first year of his or her contract for the ensuing fiscal year. Any stipend or signing bonus paid under the terms of this subsection shall not be considered compensation for purposes of teacher retirement or the minimum salary schedule. L. A teacher whose certificate was suspended by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 3-104 of this title and Sections 314 and 314.1 of Title 75 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall be placed on suspension pursuant to the provisions of Section 6-101.29 of this title while proceedings for revocation or other action are pending before the State Board of Education. The provisions of this subsection shall not preclude the initiation of due process procedures in accordance with Section 6-101.20 et. seq of this title. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 6-101, eff. July 2, 1971. Amended by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 67, operative July 1, 1990; Laws 1991, c. 3, § 5, eff. July 1, 1991; Laws 1993, c. 239, § 28, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 2001, c. 242, § 4, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2003, c. 455, § 3, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2005, c. 185, § 1, emerg. eff. May 17, 2005; Laws 2009, c. 270, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2009; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 4, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2016, c. 323, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016; Laws 2020, c. 49, § 2, emerg. eff. May 19, 2020; Laws 2021, c. 343, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021. §70-6-101.1. Annuity contracts, custodial accounts or face amount investment annuity certificates - Teachers or employees. A. A part of the salary, not to exceed the limitations on deferrals provided in Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, payable to a teacher or employee by a school district may, at the election of such teacher or employee, be deferred for the investment in an annuity contract from any insurance company authorized to do business in Oklahoma or by the investment in shares of regulated investment companies to be held in a custodial account as authorized by Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or by the investment in a face amount investment annuity certificate issued by a company authorized to do business in Oklahoma by the district for the teacher or employee, provided that such teacher or employee is eligible to defer a portion of their salary under the terms of the school district's 403(b) plan; and the teacher or employee shall be entitled to have such annuity contract, custodial account or face amount investment annuity certificate continued in force in succeeding years by such school district or any other school district subsequently employing the teacher. Provided, that such amounts contributed or paid by a school district must be made to vendors approved by such school district as eligible to receive the elective deferrals. Provided further, that a school district may revoke a previously approved vendor’s eligibility to receive elective deferrals, thereby prohibiting future contributions or payments to such vendor until it regains its eligibility through subsequent approval from such school district. The amounts so contributed or paid by the school district for the annuity contract, custodial account or face amount investment annuity certificate, or to continue it in force, shall be considered as payment of salary, for the same amounts, to the teacher or employee for State Aid purposes, Teachers' Retirement System purposes, or Social Security purposes, but not for state income tax purposes. Provided that the amount received under such annuity contracts, custodial accounts or face amount investment annuity certificates shall be income subject to state income tax when actually received, unless otherwise exempt from income tax. B. The provisions of subsection A of this section shall also apply to employees of institutions, agencies and boards comprising The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education who are eligible to defer a portion of their salary under the terms of such institution, agency or board's 403(b) plan. Such institutions, agencies and boards may purchase annuity contracts, custodial accounts or face amount investment annuity certificates from vendors approved by such institution, agency or board as eligible to receive such contributions or payments, provided that such vendor is: 1. An insurance company authorized to do business in Oklahoma; 2. A life insurance or annuity company organized and operated, without profit to any private shareholder or individual, exclusively for the purpose of aiding and strengthening educational institutions by issuing insurance and annuity contracts only to or for the benefit of such institutions and individuals engaged in the services of such institutions; or 3. A broker dealer licensed to sell shares of regulated investment companies to be held in custodial accounts as authorized by Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Provided further, that an institution, agency or board may revoke a previously approved vendor’s eligibility to receive elective deferrals, thereby prohibiting future contributions or payments to such vendor until it regains its eligibility through subsequent approval from such institution, agency or board. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 6-102, eff. July 2, 1971. Amended by Laws 1972, c. 64, § 1, emerg. eff. March 28, 1972; Laws 1972, c. 205, § 1, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 1987, c. 62, § 1, emerg. eff. May 4, 1987. Renumbered from Title 70, § 6-102 by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess. c. 2, § 116, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 2008, c. 327, § 1, eff. July 1, 2008. §70-6-101.2. Consultant services - Contracts with retired administrators - Contract requirements. A. No local board of education or administration of a school district or State Board of Education shall enter into a contract for consultant services with any person who has retired as an administrator with any school district for two (2) years after the retirement date of such administrator. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a board of education from employing as a substitute teacher, a person who has retired as an administrator or teacher with a school district within two (2) years after the retirement date of the person. B. In order for a local board of education, administration of a school district or the State Board of Education to enter into a contract with a person for consultant services as authorized by subsection A of this section, the contract shall contain: 1. A specific list of duties to be performed by the person or by any business entity, regardless of form, from which the person who actually performs the services is authorized to derive any economic benefit, whether direct or indirect; 2. A stated purpose for the contract and the specifically identified need for the services to be performed; 3. An estimate of the duration of the contract, including anticipated periods during which the contract may be renewed; 4. A requirement that the person or business entity performing the consultant service provide the office space, supplies, personnel and other items of expense required in order to perform the contract; 5. A requirement that the person or business entity performing the consultant service provide a written description of services performed under the contract no less than one time each quarter of the year during which the contract is in effect; and 6. A specific identification of all persons who are authorized to perform obligations imposed pursuant to the contract upon behalf of the person or business entity providing consultant services. C. No local board of education, administration of a school district or State Board of Education may enter into a contract with a natural person who will be employed for any period of time during which there is in force and effect a contract for consultant services to be performed by that person or by a business entity, regardless of form, from which the person employed is authorized to derive any economic benefit, whether direct or indirect. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a local board of education of a school district from contracting to pay for the attendance of school district employees at classes or workshops conducted by a company that employs one or more of the school district employees to conduct the classes or workshops. Added by Laws 1988, c. 128, § 1, emerg. eff. April 12, 1988. Renumbered from § 6-102.7 of this title by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 116, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1995, c. 295, § 1, eff. July 1, 1995; Laws 2000, c. 40, § 1, eff. July 1, 2000. §70-6-101.3. Definitions. As used in Section 6-101 et seq. of this title: 1. "Administrator" means a duly certified person who devotes a majority of time to service as a superintendent, elementary superintendent, principal, supervisor, vice principal or in any other administrative or supervisory capacity in the school district; 2. "Dismissal" means the discontinuance of the teaching service of an administrator or teacher during the term of a written contract, as provided by law; 3. "Nonreemployment" means the nonrenewal of the contract of an administrator or teacher upon expiration of the contract; 4. "Career teacher" means a teacher who: a. is employed by a school district prior to the 2017- 2018 school year and has completed three (3) or more consecutive complete school years as a teacher in one school district under a written continuing or temporary teaching contract, or b. is employed for the first time by a school district under a written continuing or temporary teaching contract during the 2017-2018 school year and thereafter: (1) has completed three (3) consecutive complete school years as a teacher in one school district under a written continuing or temporary teaching contract and has achieved a district evaluation rating of "superior" as measured pursuant to the TLE as set forth in Section 6-101.16 of this title for at least two (2) of the three (3) school years, (2) has completed four (4) consecutive complete school years as a teacher in one school district under a written continuing or temporary teaching contract, has averaged a district evaluation rating of at least "effective" as measured pursuant to the TLE for the four-year period, and has received district evaluation ratings of at least "effective" for the last two (2) years of the four-year period, or (3) has completed four (4) or more consecutive complete school years in one school district under a written continuing or temporary teaching contract and has not met the requirements of subparagraph a or b of this paragraph, only if the principal of the school at which the teacher is employed submits a petition to the superintendent of the school district requesting that the teacher be granted career status, the superintendent agrees with the petition, and the school district board of education approves the petition. The principal shall specify in the petition the underlying facts supporting the granting of career status to the teacher; 5. "Teacher hearing" means the hearing before a school district board of education after a recommendation for dismissal or nonreemployment of a teacher has been made but before any final action is taken on the recommendation, held for the purpose of affording the teacher all rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Oklahoma under circumstances and for enabling the board to determine whether to approve or disapprove the recommendation; 6. "Probationary teacher" means a teacher who: a. is employed by a school district prior to the 2017- 2018 school year and has completed fewer than three (3) consecutive complete school years as a teacher in one school district under a written teaching contract, or b. is employed for the first time by a school district under a written teaching contract during the 2017-2018 school year and thereafter and has not met the requirements for career teacher as provided in paragraph 4 of this section; 7. "Suspension" or "suspended" means the temporary discontinuance of the services of an administrator or teacher, as provided by law; 8. "Teacher" means a person defined as a teacher in Section 1- 116 of this title; and 9. "District evaluation rating" means the rating issued based on the components of the TLE as set forth in subsection B of Section 6-101.16 of this title. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 68, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1991, c. 16, § 3, eff. July 1, 1991; Laws 2003, c. 434, § 8; Laws 2010, c. 291, § 8, eff. July 1, 2012; Laws 2011, c. 40, § 2; Laws 2013, c. 373, § 1; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 5, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 365, § 1, eff. July 1, 2015; Laws 2016, c. 301, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016; Laws 2016, c. 360, § 2, eff. July 1, 2016. NOTE: Laws 2011, c. 40, § 1 repealed by Laws 2012, c. 11, § 20, emerg. eff. April 4, 2012. §70-6-101.4. Power and duties of district superintendent - Exercise of in elementary school districts. The powers and duties set forth in Section 6-101 et seq. of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes for the superintendent of a school district shall be exercised by the elementary superintendent in elementary school districts. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 69, operative July 1, 1990; Amended by Laws 1991, c. 16, § 4, eff. July 1, 1991. §70-6-101.5. Rights created by this article subject to modification, amendment, termination and repeal. Any rights created by Sections 6-101 et seq. of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes are subject to modification, amendment, termination and repeal by the Legislature. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 70, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-101.6. Categories of employment contracts. A. All contracts for employment of, or related employee information worksheets for, a teacher or administrator by a district board of education shall include the following categories in a clear and concise format: 1. Employee information including: a. employee's name, b. degree(s) employee holds, c. number of years of teaching credit for salary purposes, and d. step placement on salary schedule; 2. Salary information including: a. pay based on state minimum salary schedule, b. district salary supplement, c. extra-duty or extracurricular salary amounts, itemized, d. other salary, e. total salary, f. dollar amount of salary paid in cash, and g. dollar amount of salary paid in fringe benefits, as defined and allowed by Section 18-114.14 of this title, with an itemized list of each benefit and amount paid toward it; and 3. Benefits information including: a. state-paid flexible benefit allowance amount, b. district-paid retirement contributions (over any amount for retirement insurance paid as part of salary and excluding any amounts paid pursuant to Section 17- 108.1 of this title), c. district-paid health insurance (over any amount paid as part of salary), d. other district-paid benefits, such as life, dental, disability, salary protection, vision, cancer, health supplemental insurance (over any amount paid as part of salary), e. other benefits, with an itemized list of each benefit and dollar amount paid toward it (not including any benefits paid as part of salary), and f. total district-paid benefits (not including any benefits paid as part of salary). B. Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, school districts shall annually provide to each teacher and administrator a copy of an employee information worksheet containing information for each teacher or administrator in the categories listed in subsection A of this section prior to the first payroll in November. School districts shall designate one or more persons to review the worksheet with any teacher or administrator upon request to answer any questions. C. The State Department of Education shall require in its annual personnel report the amounts paid in each category set out in subparagraphs a through g of paragraph 2 and subparagraphs a through f of paragraph 3 of subsection A of this section, disaggregated by the categories of administrative personnel and certified teaching personnel. Added by Laws 2003, c. 290, § 1. Amended by Laws 2016, c. 274, § 1; Laws 2016, c. 342, § 1. §70-6-101.6a. Employment contracts - Status of applicant's children. A. No contract for employment of, or related employee information worksheets for, a teacher, administrator or other school district personnel shall inquire of the applicant whether he or she has children or where the applicant plans to enroll his or her children if hired. B. Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, a school district board of education and administrator shall be prohibited from taking into consideration or making a condition of employment the enrollment status of an applicant's children. Added by Laws 2013, c. 9, § 1. §70-6-101.6b. Prohibiting disciplinary action against teachers or support employees for reporting violations of law. A. For purposes of this section: 1. "Teacher" means the term as defined in paragraph 1 of Section 1-116 of this title; and 2. "Support employee" means the term as defined in paragraph 9 of Section 1-116 of this title. B. No school district shall prohibit or take disciplinary action against teachers or support employees for: 1. Disclosing public information to correct what the teacher or support employee reasonably believes evidences a violation of the Oklahoma Constitution or law or a rule promulgated pursuant to law; 2. Reporting a violation of the Oklahoma Constitution or state or federal law; or 3. Taking any of the above actions without giving prior notice to the teacher's or support employee's supervisor or anyone else in the relevant chain of command. C. For the purposes of this section, "reporting" means providing a spoken or written account to a supervising teacher, administrator, school board member, representative from the State Department of Education, law enforcement official, district attorney, and/or parent or legal guardian of a student directly impacted by the actions. D. Each school district shall prominently post or publish a copy of this section of law in locations where it can reasonably be expected to come to the attention of all teachers and support employees. E. Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow a teacher or support employee to violate students' or parents' rights to confidentiality and protection under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Added by Laws 2017, c. 291, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2017. Amended by Laws 2025, c. 53, § 1, eff. July 1, 2025. §70-6-101.7. Repealed by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 8, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 74, which created this section, was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). Now see Title 70, § 6-101.8. §70-6-101.8. Restrictions on attorneys involved in due process hearings. An attorney, representative, or other designee of the school district who has represented or represents a school district or the administration of a school district at a hearing held for the purpose of affording due process rights and requirements for an administrator as provided for in Section 6-101.13 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, a teacher as provided for in Section 6-101.26 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or a support employee as provided for in Section 6-101.46 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes or who has been involved or participated in any prehearing actions of the school district with respect to a recommendation for the termination of employment or nonreemployment of an administrator, teacher, or support employee shall not: 1. Conduct or preside as the hearing officer or judge at a due process hearing or hearings; and 2. Attend, advise at, or in any way influence an executive session of the school district board of education that is held in conjunction with a due process hearing or hearings if the attorney, representative, or other designee of the school district conducted or presided over the due process hearing or hearings as the hearing officer or judge. Added by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 8, § 2, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Text formerly resided under repealed Title 70, § 6-101.7, which was derived from Laws 2009, c. 228, § 74, which was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). §70-6-101.10. Establishment of written policy of evaluation and corresponding professional development. A. Each school district board of education shall maintain and annually review, following consultation with or involvement of representatives selected by local teachers, a written policy of evaluation and corresponding professional development for all teachers and administrators. In those school districts in which there exists a professional negotiations agreement made in accordance with Section 509.1 et seq. of this title, the procedure for evaluating members of the negotiations unit and any standards of performance and conduct proposed for adoption beyond those established by the State Board of Education shall be negotiable items. Nothing in this section shall be construed to annul, modify or to preclude the renewal or continuing of any existing agreement heretofore entered into between any school district and any organizational representative of its employees. Every policy of evaluation adopted by a board of education shall: 1. Be based upon a set of minimum criteria developed by the State Board of Education, which shall be revised and based upon the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE) developed by the State Board of Education as provided in Section 6- 101.16 of this title. The revisions to each policy of evaluation shall be phased in according to the following schedule: a. for the 2014-2015, 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years, the evaluation rating of teachers and administrators shall be based on the qualitative component of the TLE. For the 2016-2017 school year, the State Department of Education shall work with school districts to develop individualized programs of professional development as described in subsection B of this section. However, nothing in this subparagraph shall preclude a school district with an average daily attendance of more than thirty-five thousand (35,000) from continuing to use quantitative components which the district has incorporated at its own expense prior to the 2015-2016 school year into its evaluation system of teachers and administrators, as defined by the district's written policy, b. for evaluations of teachers and administrators conducted during the 2017-2018 school year, and each school year thereafter, school districts shall incorporate and put into operation the qualitative component of the TLE as provided for in subsection B of Section 6-101.16 of this title into the evaluations used in all school sites within the district. For the 2017-2018 school year, and each school year thereafter, teachers and administrators shall receive a district evaluation rating based on the components of the TLE as set forth in subsection B of Section 6- 101.16 of this title. For the 2017-2018 school year, school districts shall incorporate the individualized programs of professional development as described in subsection B of this section on a pilot program basis, and c. for evaluations of teachers and administrators conducted during the 2018-2019 school year, and each school year thereafter, school districts shall fully incorporate and put into operation the individualized programs of professional development as described in subsection B of this section; 2. Be prescribed in writing at the time of adoption and at all times when amendments to the policy are adopted. The original policy and all amendments to the policy shall be promptly made available to all persons subject to the policy; 3. Provide that all evaluations be made in writing and that evaluation documents and responses thereto be maintained in a personnel file for each evaluated person; 4. Provide that every probationary teacher receive formative feedback from the evaluation process at least two times per school year, once during the fall semester and once during the spring semester; 5. Provide that every teacher be evaluated once every year, except for career teachers receiving a district evaluation rating of "superior" or "highly effective" under the TLE who may be evaluated once every three (3) years; and 6. Provide that, except for superintendents of independent and elementary school districts and superintendents of area school districts who shall be evaluated by the school district board of education, all certified personnel shall be evaluated by a principal, assistant principal, designee of the principal, supervisor, content expert, department chair, peer committee or other trained persons or groups of persons designated by the school district board of education. B. 1. Every policy of professional development adopted by a school district board of education shall provide for the development of a focused and individualized program of professional development for the teacher or administrator that is consistent with the qualitative component of the TLE. The policy of professional development shall: a. establish an annual professional growth goal for the teacher or administrator that is developed by the teacher or administrator in collaboration with the evaluator, b. be tailored to address a specific area or criteria identified through the qualitative component of the TLE, c. allow the teacher or administrator to actively engage with learning practices that are evidence-based, researched practices that are correlated with increased student achievement, and d. be supported by resources that are easily available and supplied by the school district and the State Department of Education. 2. School districts shall monitor compliance with each individualized program of professional development implemented pursuant to this subsection. All professional development completed pursuant to an individualized program of professional development shall count toward the total number of points a teacher or administrator is required to complete as established by a school district board of education pursuant to Section 6-194 of this title. The implementation of the individualized program of professional development required by this subsection shall not be construed as increasing the professional development points requirements. 3. Individualized programs of professional development required by this subsection may include but are not limited to the following learning practices: a. presenter-led workshops, b. individual or faculty studies of books, scholarly articles and video productions, c. peer observations, d. committee studies to address student achievement issues, e. work related to a specific subject area or areas associated with obtaining an advanced degree or professional certification, f. action research projects designed to improve student achievement, and g. participation in local, regional or state initiatives associated with the development or implementation of curriculum standards. C. All individuals designated by the school district board of education to conduct the personnel evaluations shall be required to participate in training conducted by the State Department of Education or training provided by the school district using guidelines and materials developed by the State Department of Education prior to conducting evaluations. D. The State Department of Education shall develop and conduct workshops pursuant to statewide criteria which train individuals in conducting evaluations. E. The State Board of Education shall monitor compliance with the provisions of this section by school districts. F. The State Board of Education shall study continued implementation of the TLE to produce a system that promotes reflection and professional growth for teachers and leaders. G. Refusal by a school district to comply with the provisions of this section shall be grounds for withholding State Aid funds until compliance occurs. H. Data collected pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act or the Oklahoma Open Records Act. Added by Laws 1977, c. 262, § 2, emerg. eff. June 17, 1977. Amended by Laws 1985, c. 329, § 16, emerg. eff. July 30, 1985; Laws 1986, c. 259, § 51, operative July 1, 1986; Laws 1987, c. 204, § 118, operative July 1, 1987; Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 71, operative July 1, 1990. Renumbered from § 6-102.2 of this title by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 117, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1991, c. 3, § 7, eff. July 1, 1991; Laws 1993, c. 239, § 29, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 2010, c. 291, § 5, eff. July 1, 2010; Laws 2013, c. 10, § 1, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2013, c. 373, § 2; Laws 2014, c. 331, § 1, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 365, § 2, eff. July 1, 2015; Laws 2016, c. 301, § 2, eff. July 1, 2016. §70-6-101.11. Copy of evaluation to person evaluated - Disclosure at hearings - Confidentiality. Whenever any evaluation is made of a teacher or administrator, a true copy of the evaluation shall be presented to the person evaluated, who shall acknowledge the written evaluation by signing the original. Within two (2) weeks after the evaluation, the person evaluated may respond and said response shall be made part of the record. Except by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, evaluation documents and the responses thereto shall be available only to the evaluated person, the board of education, the administrative staff making the evaluation, the board and administrative staff of any school to which such evaluated person applies for employment and such other persons as are specified by the teacher in writing and shall be subject to disclosure at any hearing involving a teacher or administrator's dismissal or nonrenewal from employment. Data collected pursuant to Section 6- 101.10 shall be available to authorized representatives of the State Department of Education and its contracting designees who must be contractually bound to the Department to maintain confidentiality of all information received from the Department when such evaluation data is used by the Department for data collection/analysis purposes under the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System, and such other persons as are specified by the teacher in writing and shall be subject to disclosure at any hearing involving a teacher or administrator's dismissal or nonrenewal from employment. Added by Laws 1977, c. 262, § 3, emerg. eff. June 17, 1977. Amended by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 72, operative July 1, 1990. Renumbered from Title 70, § 6-102.3 by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess, c. 2, § 117, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 331, § 2, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-101.12. Repealed by Laws 1993, c. 155, § 4, eff. July 1, 1993. §70-6-101.13. Full-time certified administrators - Dismissal or nonreemployment - Due process. A. Whenever the school district board of education or the administration of a school district shall determine that the dismissal or nonreemployment of a full-time certified administrator from the administrative position within the school district should be effected, the administrator shall be entitled to the following due process procedures: 1. A statement shall be submitted to the administrator in writing prior to the dismissal or nonreemployment which states the proposed action, lists the reasons for effecting the action, and notifies the administrator of his or her right to a hearing before the school district board of education prior to the action; and 2. A hearing before the school district board of education shall be granted upon the request of the administrator prior to the dismissal or nonreemployment. A request for a hearing shall be submitted to the board of education not later than ten (10) days after the administrator has been notified of the proposed action. B. Failure of the administrator to request a hearing before the school district board of education within ten (10) days after receiving the written statement shall constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing. No decision of the board of education concerning the dismissal or nonreemployment of a full-time certified administrator shall be effective until the administrator has been afforded due process as specified in this section. The decision of the school district board of education concerning the dismissal or nonreemployment, following the hearing, shall be final. C. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year and thereafter, a principal who has received district evaluation ratings of "ineffective" as measured pursuant to the TLE as set forth in Section 6-101.16 of this title for two (2) consecutive school years may be dismissed or not reemployed by the school district, subject to the due process procedures of this section. Added by Laws 1985, c. 234, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1985. Amended by Laws 1986, c. 290, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1986. Renumbered from § 6-102.4 of this title by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 118, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 2010, c. 291, § 9, eff. July 1, 2012; Laws 2013, c. 373, § 3; Laws 2015, c. 365, § 3, eff. July 1, 2015; Laws 2016, c. 301, § 3, eff. July 1, 2016. §70-6-101.14. Administrators - Suspension. Whenever the local board of education or the administration of a school district has reason to believe that cause exists for the dismissal of an administrator, and when they are of the opinion that the immediate suspension of an administrator would be in the best interests of the children in the district, the local board of education or the superintendent of the school district may suspend the administrator without notice or hearing. However, the suspension of the administrator shall not deprive the administrator of any compensation or other benefits to which he or she would otherwise be entitled under his or her contract or pursuant to law. Within ten (10) days' time after such suspension becomes effective, the local board of education shall initiate proceedings pursuant to Section 6-102.4 of this title to have the administrator dismissed. However, in a case involving a criminal charge or indictment, such suspension may extend to such time as the administrator's case is finally adjudicated at a trial. Provided, however, such extension shall not include any appeal process. Added by Laws 1986, c. 290, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1986. Renumbered from § 6-102.6 by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 118, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1995, c. 8, § 1, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-101.15. Administrators - Conviction of felony - Criminal sexual activity or sexual misconduct. A. An administrator shall be dismissed or not reemployed, unless a presidential or gubernatorial pardon has been issued, if during the term of employment such administrator is convicted in this state, the United States or another state of: 1. Any sex offense subject to the Sex Offenders Registration Act in this state or subject to another state's or the federal sex offender registration provisions; or 2. Any felony offense. B. An administrator may be dismissed, refused employment or not reemployed after a finding that such person has engaged in criminal sexual activity or sexual misconduct that has impeded the effectiveness of the individual's performance of school duties. As used in this subsection: 1. "Criminal sexual activity" means the commission of an act as defined in Section 886 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which is the act of sodomy; and 2. "Sexual misconduct" means the soliciting or imposing of criminal sexual activity. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 74, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 411, § 1, eff. July 1, 1998. §70-6-101.16. Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System. A. By December 15, 2011, the State Board of Education shall adopt a new statewide system of evaluation to be known as the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE). The Board shall work cooperatively with school districts to incorporate the components of the TLE in all school districts by the 2017-2018 school year as provided for in Section 6-101.10 of this title. B. The TLE shall include the following components: 1. Annual evaluations that provide feedback to improve student learning and outcomes, except as provided for in subsection C of this section; 2. A five-tier district evaluation rating system as follows: a. superior, b. highly effective, c. effective, d. needs improvement, and e. ineffective; 3. An evidence-based qualitative assessment tool for the teacher qualitative portion of the TLE that will include observable and measurable characteristics of personnel and classroom practices that are correlated to student performance success, including, but not limited to: a. organizational and classroom management skills, b. ability to provide effective instruction, c. focus on continuous improvement and professional growth, d. interpersonal skills, and e. leadership skills; 4. An evidence-based qualitative assessment tool for the leader qualitative portion of the TLE that will include observable and measurable characteristics of personnel and site management practices that are correlated to student performance success, including, but not limited to: a. organizational and school management, including retention and development of effective teachers and dismissal of ineffective teachers, b. instructional leadership, c. professional growth and responsibility, d. interpersonal skills, e. leadership skills, and f. stakeholder perceptions; 5. An individualized program of professional development for all teachers and administrators as adopted by the school district board of education as set forth in subsection B of Section 6-101.10 of this title; 6. For districts choosing to use, at their own expense, quantitative measures of teachers and leaders as part of the district evaluation rating, such measures shall include a minimum of one reliable, research-based measure as approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection D of this section; and 7. For all district evaluations, student performance, including performance on the statewide criterion-referenced tests if available, shall be discussed with the teacher and may be one of the considerations for the teacher's district evaluation rating. C. Career teachers receiving a district evaluation rating of "superior" or "highly effective" under the TLE may be evaluated once every three (3) years. D. By December 1, 2015, the Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Commission shall recommend to the State Board of Education multiple reliable, research-based measures to provide a quantitative evaluation component for teachers. The State Board of Education shall approve and publish a list of approved measures by February 1, 2016. E. A school district with an average daily attendance of more than thirty-five thousand (35,000) which has incorporated quantitative components of the TLE into its evaluation system of teachers and administrators prior to the 2015-2016 school year may continue using its evaluation system, as defined by the school district's written policies, notwithstanding the provisions of this section and regardless of the State Board of Education's adoption of quantitative components pursuant to this section. F. The State Department of Education shall provide to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Oklahoma Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability timely electronic data linked to teachers and leaders derived from the TLE for purposes of providing a basis for the development of accountability and quality improvements of the teacher preparation system. The data shall be provided in a manner and at such times as agreed upon between the Department, the State Regents and the Commission. G. For purposes of this section, "leader" means a principal, assistant principal or any other school administrator who is responsible for supervising classroom teachers. H. The State Department of Education shall keep all data collected pursuant to the TLE and records of annual evaluations received pursuant to this section confidential. Records created pursuant to this section which identify, in any way, a current or former public employee shall not be subject to disclosure under the Oklahoma Open Records Act. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit disclosure otherwise required by this section; provided, however, any provisions requiring disclosure of TLE records shall be construed narrowly and all individually identifying information shall be removed from such records to the fullest extent possible. Added by Laws 2010, c. 291, § 6, eff. July 1, 2010. Amended by Laws 2011, c. 177, § 1, eff. July 1, 2011; Laws 2013, c. 10, § 2, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2013, c. 373, § 4; Laws 2014, c. 130, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 54, § 29, emerg. eff. April 10, 2015; Laws 2015, c. 365, § 4, eff. July 1, 2015; Laws 2016, c. 301, § 4, eff. July 1, 2016. NOTE: Laws 2014, c. 331, § 3 repealed by Laws 2015, c. 54, § 30, emerg. eff. April 10, 2015. §70-6-101.17. Repealed by Laws 2017, c. 3, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2017. §70-6-101.20. Teacher Due Process Act of 1990 - Short title. Sections 75 through 85 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the "Teacher Due Process Act of 1990". Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 75, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-101.21. Standards of performance and conduct for teachers. A. The State Board of Education shall promulgate standards of performance and conduct for teachers. A copy of such standards, any amendments to such standards and any standards adopted by the board of education of the school district shall be provided by the board of education of each school district to each teacher on or before April 10 of each year. B. The State Board of Education shall include the statutory grounds for dismissal and nonreemployment of career teachers within this standards document. C. Standards which may be adopted by the board of education of a school district shall not conflict with state or federal law or standards promulgated by the State Board of Education. D. In determining whether or not the professional performance of a teacher is adequate, the standards adopted by the State Board of Education shall be considered. Consideration may be given to any written standards of performance which have been adopted by any other education-oriented organization or agency. Professional performance or conduct of a teacher which is in compliance with standards adopted by the State Board of Education or the local board of education pursuant to Section 71 of this act shall not be considered in support of any dismissal or nonreemployment action against the teacher. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 76, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-101.22. Grounds for dismissal or nonreemployment. A. Subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990, a career teacher may be dismissed or not reemployed for: 1. Willful neglect of duty; 2. Repeated negligence in performance of duty; 3. Mental or physical abuse to a child; 4. Knowing and willful failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect; 5. Incompetency; 6. Instructional ineffectiveness; 7. Unsatisfactory teaching performance; 8. Commission of an act of moral turpitude; or 9. Abandonment of contract. B. Subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990, a probationary teacher may be dismissed or not reemployed for cause. C. During the 2017-2018 school year and thereafter: 1. A career teacher who has received a district evaluation rating of “ineffective” as measured pursuant to the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE) for two (2) consecutive school years shall be dismissed or not reemployed on the grounds of instructional ineffectiveness by the school district, subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990. However, the superintendent may recommend and the school district board of education may approve continued employment of the teacher; and 2. A career teacher who has received a district evaluation rating of “needs improvement” or lower as measured pursuant to the TLE for three (3) consecutive school years may be dismissed or not reemployed on the grounds of instructional ineffectiveness by the school district, subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990. D. During the 2017-2018 school year and thereafter: 1. A probationary teacher who has received a district evaluation rating of “ineffective” as measured pursuant to the TLE for two (2) consecutive school years may be dismissed or not reemployed by the school district subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990; and 2. A probationary teacher who has not attained career teacher status within a four-year period may be dismissed or not reemployed by the school district, subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990. E. A teacher shall be dismissed or not reemployed, unless a presidential or gubernatorial pardon has been issued, if during the term of employment the teacher is convicted in this state, the United States, or another state of: 1. Any sex offense subject to the Sex Offenders Registration Act in this state or subject to another state’s or the federal sex offender registration provisions; 2. Knowingly and willfully failing to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child in violation of Section 1-2-101 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes; or 3. Any felony offense. F. A teacher may be dismissed, refused employment, or not reemployed after a finding that such person has engaged in acts that could form the basis of criminal charges sufficient to result in the denial or revocation of a certificate for a reason set forth in subparagraph a or b of paragraph 6 of Section 3-104 of this title. G. As used in this section, “abandonment of contract” means the failure of a teacher to report at the beginning of the contract term or otherwise perform the duties of a contract of employment when the teacher has accepted other employment or is performing work for another employer that prevents the teacher from fulfilling the obligations of the contract of employment. H. A school district shall notify the State Board of Education within ten (10) days of the dismissal or nonreemployment of a probationary or career teacher for reasons outlined in subsection F of this section. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 77, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 411, § 2, eff. July 1, 1998; Laws 2006, c. 112, § 1, eff. July 1, 2006; Laws 2010, c. 291, § 10, eff. July 1, 2012; Laws 2013, c. 256, § 2, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2013, c. 373, § 5; Laws 2015, c. 365, § 5, eff. July 1, 2015; Laws 2016, c. 301, § 5, eff. July 1, 2016; Laws 2025, c. 101, § 4, eff. July 1, 2025. §70-6-101.23. Application of act - Exemptions. A. The dismissal, suspension and nonreemployment provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990 shall not apply to: 1. Substitute teachers; 2. Adult education teachers; and 3. Teachers who are employed on temporary contracts. B. The dismissal and suspension provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990 shall apply to teachers who are employed on temporary contracts for a complete school year and to teachers who are employed in positions fully funded by federal or private categorical grants, except that such teachers shall be employed only for the duration of the temporary contract or the grant. C. The evaluation provisions in Sections 6-101.10 and 6-101.11 of this title and in the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990 shall apply to teachers who are employed on temporary contracts for a complete school year and to teachers who are employed in positions fully funded by federal or private categorical grants, except that such teachers shall be employed only for the duration of the temporary contract or the grant. D. Teachers other than those specifically excepted in subsection A of this section who are employed on contracts shall be afforded all substantive and procedural rights set forth in the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990 including the dismissal, suspension, and nonreemployment provisions applicable to probationary or career teachers as defined in Section 6-101.3 of this title. E. On and after July 1, 1999, any teacher who has worked a complete school year under a temporary contract in a school district shall be granted a year of service credit toward career status in that district. F. No teacher shall be hired on a temporary contract by a school district for more than four semesters or on multiple temporary contracts by a school district that together are for more than four semesters, except for a: 1. Teacher hired to replace a teacher who is on an approved leave of absence and who is expected to return to employment with the school district; 2. Teacher who is a retired member of the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma; or 3. Teacher who is employed by a school district on an emergency or provisional certificate. G. No teacher shall be offered a temporary contract with a school district without a full written disclosure at the time a position is offered by the administration of the school district which sets forth the terms and conditions of the temporary contract. In the event the school district fails to provide such written disclosure, the teacher shall be considered as employed on a continuing contract basis. H. On and after July 1, 1999, no teacher who is employed on a continuing contract basis by a school district shall be reemployed on a temporary contract in that school district. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 78, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1999, c. 114, § 1, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2000, c. 357, § 1, eff. July 1, 2000; Laws 2009, c. 25, § 1, eff. July 1, 2009; Laws 2010, c. 34, § 1, eff. July 1, 2010; Laws 2013, c. 92, § 1, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2025, c. 54, § 1, eff. July 1, 2025. §70-6-101.24. Poor performance or conduct of teacher - Administrator's duties and responsibilities - Compliance with act required. A. Upon full implementation of the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE) as set forth in Section 6- 101.10 of this title, when a teacher receives a rating as measured pursuant to the TLE as set forth in Section 6-101.16 of this title that may lead to a recommendation for the dismissal or nonreemployment of the teacher or when an administrator identifies poor performance or conduct that the administrator believes may lead to a recommendation for the dismissal or nonreemployment of the teacher, the administrator shall: 1. Admonish the teacher, in writing, and make a reasonable effort to assist the teacher in correcting the poor performance or conduct; and 2. Establish a reasonable time for improvement, not to exceed two (2) months, taking into consideration the rating on the evaluation or the nature and gravity of the performance or conduct. B. If the teacher does not correct the poor performance or conduct cited in the admonition within the time specified, the administrator shall make a recommendation to the superintendent of the school district for the dismissal or nonreemployment of the teacher. C. Whenever a member of the board of education, superintendent, or other administrator identifies poor performance or conduct that may lead to a recommendation for dismissal or nonreemployment of a teacher within the district, the administrator who has responsibility for evaluation of the teacher shall be informed, and that administrator shall comply with the procedures set forth in this section. If the administrator fails or refuses to admonish the teacher within ten (10) days after being so informed by the board, superintendent, or other administrator, such board, superintendent or other administrator shall admonish the teacher pursuant to the provisions of this section. D. Repeated negligence in performance of duty, willful neglect of duty, incompetency, instructional ineffectiveness or unsatisfactory teaching performance, for a career teacher, or any cause related to inadequate teaching performance for a probationary teacher, shall not be a basis for a recommendation to dismiss or not reemploy a teacher unless and until the provisions of this section have been complied with. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 79, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 34, § 1, eff. July 1, 1992; Laws 2010, c. 291, § 11, eff. July 1, 2012; Laws 2013, c. 373, § 6. §70-6-101.25. Recommendation of dismissal or not to reemploy to be in writing - Basis or grounds. A. Whenever a superintendent decides to recommend that a teacher or administrator employed within the school district be dismissed or not reemployed, the superintendent shall state the recommendation in writing, setting forth the basis for the recommendation, and shall submit such recommendation to the board of education. If the teacher subject to such recommendation is a career teacher, the recommendation shall specify the statutory grounds for which the recommendation is based. If the teacher subject to such recommendation is a probationary teacher, the recommendation shall specify the cause for which the recommendation is based. The superintendent shall also specify the underlying facts supporting the recommendation. B. 1. If the recommendation includes grounds that could form the basis of criminal charges sufficient to result in the denial or revocation of a certificate for a reason set forth in subparagraph a of paragraph 6 of subsection A of Section 3-104 of this title, or if the recommendation includes a reason set forth in subparagraph a of paragraph 6 of subsection A of Section 3-104 of this title and is based on an agreement between the teacher or administrator and school district to avoid civil litigation or a settlement of a civil action unless the court orders the terms of such settlement to be kept confidential, a copy of the recommendation shall also be forwarded to the State Board of Education when the recommendation is made pursuant to the due process procedures provided for in Section 6-101.26 of this title, regardless of whether the teacher or administrator resigns before or after a termination recommendation is made, provided that the resignation occurs while the teacher or administrator is under investigation for conduct that could form the basis for criminal charges or certificate revocation. A report of such resignation including any investigatory findings to date shall be forwarded to the State Board of Education. Failure to forward a copy of the recommendation to the State Board of Education shall not be the basis for any claim or action against a public school, its board of education, employees, agents, or other representatives. If the school district forwards a copy of the recommendation to the State Board of Education, the school district shall contemporaneously forward a copy to the teacher or administrator subject to such recommendation. The teacher or administrator may provide supplementary information to the State Board of Education. 2. If the investigation into the conduct of the teacher or administrator concludes without findings to support criminal charges, certificate revocation, or termination, the individual’s report shall be expunged from State Board of Education records and written notification of the clearance shall be sent to all affected parties. C. Only school districts may request a copy of the recommendation from the State Board of Education, and only if a teacher or administrator is being considered for new employment or a teacher or administrator is currently employed by the requesting school district. The State Board of Education shall notify the teacher or administrator subject to the recommendation if such a request is made and provide the identity of the school district that made such request. The teacher or administrator subject to the recommendation shall retain the right to provide supplementary information to the State Board of Education to accompany any documents requested. The State Board of Education shall provide the requesting school district documents related to the recommendation as well as any supplementary information provided by the teacher or administrator subject to the recommendation, and copies shall be contemporaneously forwarded to the teacher or administrator subject to the recommendation. Records provided to a requesting school district pursuant to this subsection shall be kept confidential. D. Except as provided for in subsection C of this section, the State Board of Education shall keep recommendations submitted pursuant to subsection B of this section confidential. Records created pursuant to this section shall not be subject to disclosure under the Oklahoma Open Records Act. E. If the State Board of Education or a school district that generated or received documents pursuant to subsection C of this section is served a subpoena requesting disclosure of the documents, the teacher or administrator subject to the recommendation shall immediately be notified and be provided the opportunity to object to the subpoena. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 80, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 2015, c. 366, § 1, eff. July 1, 2015; Laws 2024, c. 5, § 1; Laws 2025, c. 276, § 1, eff. July 1, 2025. §70-6-101.26. Mailing or delivery of recommendation to teacher - Teacher hearing. A. Whenever a board of education receives a recommendation from the superintendent for the dismissal or nonreemployment of a teacher, the board or individual designated by the board shall mail a copy of the recommendation to the teacher by certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested, by personal delivery to the teacher with a signed acknowledgement of receipt, or by delivery by a process server. By the same means, the board shall notify the teacher of the right to a hearing before the board and the date, time and place set by the board for the hearing, which shall be held within the school district not sooner than twenty (20) days or later than sixty (60) days after receipt of notice by the teacher, the date on the personal receipt by hand-delivery to the teacher, or the date of delivery by a process server. The notice shall specify the statutory grounds upon which the recommendation is based upon for a career teacher or shall specify the cause upon which the recommendation is based upon for a probationary teacher. The notice shall also specify the underlying facts supporting the recommendation. At the hearing, the teacher shall be entitled to all rights guaranteed under the circumstances by the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Oklahoma. B. The teacher hearing shall be conducted by the district board according to procedures established by the State Board of Education. C. Only after due consideration of the evidence and testimony presented at the hearing shall the district board decide whether to dismiss or nonreemploy the teacher. The vote of the board shall be made in an open meeting. The board shall also notify the teacher of the decision, including the basis for the decision, by certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested, or substitute process as provided by law. The decision of the board regarding a teacher shall be final and nonappealable. At the hearing the burden of proof shall be upon the superintendent or designee, and the standard of proof shall be by the preponderance of the evidence. The teacher shall receive any compensation or benefits to which the teacher is otherwise entitled until the decision of the board becomes final. If the hearing for a teacher is for nonreemployment, such compensation and benefits may be continued only until the end of the current contract of the teacher. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 81, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 434, § 9; Laws 2006, c. 112, § 2, eff. July 1, 2006; Laws 2010, c. 291, § 12, eff. July 1, 2012; Laws 2011, c. 40, § 4. NOTE: Laws 2011, c. 40, § 3 repealed by Laws 2012, c. 11, § 21, emerg. eff. April 4, 2012. §70-6-101.27. Repealed by Laws 2011, c. 40, §§ 6 and 7. §70-6-101.28. Applicable procedure. The applicable procedure in the event of a recommendation by the superintendent for the dismissal or nonreemployment of a teacher shall be that procedure provided by law on the date such dismissal or nonreemployment is recommended to the local board of education. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 83, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-101.29. Immediate suspension - Compensation and benefits - Hearing for dismissal. Whenever the superintendent of a school district has reason to believe that cause exists for the dismissal of a teacher and is of the opinion that the immediate suspension of the teacher would be in the best interests of the children in the district, the superintendent or the local board of education upon receiving recommendation for suspension from the superintendent may suspend the teacher without notice or hearing. However, the suspension shall not deprive the teacher of any compensation or other benefits to which otherwise entitled. Within ten (10) days' time after the suspension becomes effective, the local board of education shall initiate a hearing for dismissal pursuant to law. However, in a case involving a criminal charge or indictment, the suspension may extend until the case for the teacher is finally adjudicated at trial. The extension shall not include any appeal process. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 84, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 34, § 2, eff. July 1, 1992; Laws 2011, c. 40, § 5. §70-6-101.30. Annexed or consolidated district to give teacher credit for years of service in annexed or consolidated district. A. If a school district is annexed, either voluntarily or involuntarily, by another school district, the annexing district shall give teachers credit for all purposes for years of service performed in the annexed district as though said years of service were actually performed in the annexing district. B. In the event school districts are consolidated, the consolidated school district shall give teachers credit for all purposes for years of service in the school districts which are consolidated as though said years of service were actually performed in the consolidated school district. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 85, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-101.31. Determining retention or reassignment of teachers and administrators. Upon full implementation of the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE) as set forth in Section 6- 101.10 of this title, the primary basis used in determining the retention or reassignment of affected teachers and administrators when a school district implements a reduction-in-force plan shall be the ratings of the teachers and administrators as measured pursuant to the TLE as set forth in Section 6-101.16 of this title. Added by Laws 2010, c. 291, § 14, eff. July 1, 2012. Amended by Laws 2013, c. 373, § 7. §70-6-101.32. Implementation of rules. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules necessary to implement the provisions of this act. Added by Laws 2015, c. 365, § 6, eff. July 1, 2015. §70-6-101.40. Suspension, demotion, termination or nonreemployment for cause of support employee. A support employee who has been employed by a local board of education for more than one (1) year shall be subject to suspension, demotion, termination or nonreemployment only for cause, as designated by the policy of the local board of education, adopted as provided in Section 6-101.43 of this title. This section shall not be construed to prevent layoffs for lack of funds or work. For purposes of this act, "support employee" means a full-time employee of a school district as determined by the standard period of labor which is customarily understood to constitute full-time employment for the type of services performed by the employee who is employed a minimum of one hundred seventy-two (172) days and who provides those services, not performed by professional educators or certified teachers, which are necessary for the efficient and satisfactory functioning of a school district and shall not include adult education instructors or adult coordinators employed by technology center school districts. Added by Laws 1981, c. 122, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Laws 1985, c. 143, § 3, eff. July 1, 1985. Renumbered from § 24-133 of this title by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 119, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 215, § 2, emerg. eff. May 24, 1993; Laws 1993, c. 360, § 8, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 2001, c. 33, § 79, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 6, eff. July 1, 2014. NOTE: Laws 1993, c. 20, § 1 repealed by Laws 1993, c. 360, § 16, emerg. eff. June 10, 1993. §70-6-101.41. School support employees - Conviction of felony - Criminal sexual activity or sexual misconduct. A. A school support employee as defined in Section 6-101.40 of this title shall be dismissed or not reemployed, unless a presidential or gubernatorial pardon has been issued, if during the term of employment such employee is convicted in this state, the United States or another state of: 1. Any sex offense subject to the Sex Offenders Registration Act in this state or subject to another state's or the federal sex offender registration provisions; or 2. Any felony offense. B. A school support employee may be dismissed, refused employment or not reemployed after a finding that such person has engaged in criminal sexual activity or sexual misconduct that has impeded the effectiveness of the individual's performance of school duties. As used in this subsection: 1. "Criminal sexual activity" means the commission of an act as defined in Section 886 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which is the act of sodomy; and 2. "Sexual misconduct" means the soliciting or imposing of criminal sexual activity. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 86, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 411, § 3, eff. July 1, 1998. §70-6-101.42. Wage increase for 2018-19 school year. A. For the 2018-19 school year, each school district shall provide to every support employee a wage increase over the base amount the employee earned during the 2017-18 school year if the support employee is employed by the same school district for the 2018-19 school year in the amount of One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,250.00). The dollar amount of salary increase authorized by this subsection shall be prorated based upon the number of total hours of work performed by a full-time-equivalent support employee. B. The increase prescribed by this section shall be in addition to any other compensation and fringe benefits provided by the district, or mandated by law or collective bargaining agreement, unless the hours or duties of the support employee are reduced proportionately. Added by Laws 2018, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 15, § 1, eff. July 1, 2018. §70-6-101.43. Adoption and publication of disciplinary policy for support personnel - Copies. Each local board of education shall adopt a policy statement defining the causes and procedures for suspension, demotion, termination or nonreemployment of support personnel. Upon adoption of such policy, a copy thereof shall be furnished to each support employee. Added by Laws 1981, c. 122, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Renumbered from § 24-134 by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 119, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 215, § 3, emerg. eff. May 24, 1993. §70-6-101.44. Adoption of policy prerequisite to disciplinary action. Beginning January 1, 1982, no suspension, demotion or termination of a support employee shall be effective or enforceable unless the local school board has adopted a policy as provided in Section 2 of this act. Laws 1981, c. 122, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Renumbered from § 24-135 by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess, c. 2, § 119, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-101.45. Reasonable assurance of employment. A. A school district, no later than ten (10) days after the effective date of the education appropriation bill or June 1, whichever is later, shall give reasonable assurance of employment in writing to any support employee that the school intends to employ for the subsequent school year. B. This section shall not be construed to nullify the provisions of Sections 24-133 through 24-137 of this title or be construed to deprive any employee that the district is considering not employing for the subsequent year of any rights provided in such sections. Added by Laws 1987, c. 101, § 1, emerg. eff. May 22, 1987. Amended by Laws 1989, c. 111, § 1. Renumbered from § 24-135.1 by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess. c. 2, § 119, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-101.46. Procedure for disciplinary action. A. After any suspension or prior to any demotion, termination or nonreemployment, a support employee shall receive notice of the right to a hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the local board of education. All notices shall be by certified mail, with the postmark used to determine the timeliness of the notice. Failure of the employee to request a hearing within ten (10) working days of such notice shall be considered a waiver of the employee's right to a hearing. B. Nonreemployment shall mean nonrenewal of a support employee's contract upon expiration of the contract. C. If an employee is to be suspended for a period to exceed ten (10) days, the superintendent of the district shall initiate proceedings for termination and shall follow the procedures set forth in subsection A of this section. However, in a case involving a criminal charge or indictment, the suspension may be delayed until the employee's case is adjudicated at the trial. Nothing in this act shall prevent the school board from proceeding against the employee during or after the suspension for termination as provided in this act. Added by Laws 1981, c. 122, § 4, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Renumbered from § 24-136 by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 119, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 215, § 4, emerg. eff. May 24, 1993. §70-6-101.47. Hearing. If the employee selects a hearing before the local board of education, the hearing shall be conducted at the next, or next succeeding, regularly scheduled meeting if the request for the hearing was received by the local board of education at least ten (10) days prior to the next, or next succeeding, regularly scheduled meeting. Provided, however, at the request of the employee or at the discretion of the local board of education, the local board shall call a special meeting to conduct the requested hearing, which shall be held no sooner than ten (10) days nor later than thirty (30) days after receipt of the employee's request. The decision of the local board of education at the hearing shall be final. Laws 1981, c. 122, § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Renumbered from § 24-137 by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 119, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-101.48. Employees of business having contract with school - Conviction of sex offense or felony. A. No person or business having a contract with a school or school district to perform work on a full-time or part-time basis that would otherwise be performed by school district employees shall allow any employee to work on school premises if the employee is convicted in this state, the United States or another state of any felony offense unless ten (10) years has elapsed since the date of the criminal conviction or the employee has received a presidential or gubernatorial pardon for the criminal offense. B. Every person or business performing services not subject to subsection A of this section on the property of a school or school district shall at the time of contracting be required to sign a statement declaring that no employee working on school premises under the authority of the business is currently registered or required to register under the provisions of the Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act or the Mary Rippy Violent Crime Offenders Registration Act. Compliance with this statute shall be required of the person or private business, and there shall be no obligation placed upon a school district to ascertain the truthfulness of the affidavit. C. A person or business having a written contract with a school or school district to perform work on a full-time or part-time basis that would otherwise be performed by school district employees may conduct a felony search of the employees of the person or entity who would be assigned that work through a request to the State Board of Education in the same manner as a felony search is afforded school districts by Section 5-142 of this title. Added by Laws 1998, c. 411, § 4, eff. July 1, 1998. Amended by Laws 1999, c. 200, § 2, emerg. eff. May 24, 1999; Laws 2005, c. 205, § 2, eff. July 1, 2005; Laws 2008, c. 347, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2008; Laws 2009, c. 2, § 30, emerg. eff. March 12, 2009. NOTE: Laws 2008, c. 162, § 4 repealed by Laws 2009, c. 2, § 31, emerg. eff. March 12, 2009. §70-6-102. Renumbered as § 6-101.1 of this title by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 116, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-102.1. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-102.2. Renumbered as § 6-101.10 of this title by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 117, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-102.3. Renumbered as § 6-101.11 of this title by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 117, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-102.4. Renumbered as § 6-101.13 of this title by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 118, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-102.6. Renumbered as § 6-101.14 of this title by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 118, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-102.7. Renumbered as § 6-101.2 of this title by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 116, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.1. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.2. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.3. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.4. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.5. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.6. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.7. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.8. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.9. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.10. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.11. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.12. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.13. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.14. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-103.15. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, §122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-104. Sick leave - Emergency leave - Personal business leave - Medical benefits - Service as juror or witness. A. 1. The board of education of each school district in the state shall provide for sick leave for all teachers employed in the district and shall pay such teachers the full amount of their contract salaries during any absence from their regular school duties for a period of time and under such conditions as the board may determine, but not less than the minimum benefits hereafter specified. Payment for sick leave shall be made on the basis of the current salary rate then in effect for the teacher receiving the payment. Unless otherwise provided in Section 6-104.8 of this title, the plan shall provide that a teacher may be absent from his or her duties due to personal accidental injury, illness or pregnancy, or accidental injury or illness in the immediate family without the loss of salary for not to exceed ten (10) days during each school year, except that said absence without loss of salary for teachers employed on an eleven-month contract shall not exceed eleven (11) days during each school year and for those teachers employed on a twelve-month contract shall not exceed twelve (12) days during each school year, if said contract is for the work period, and not merely for pay purposes. The right to such leave shall vest at the beginning of the school year. Each school district shall provide for all teachers a minimum of three (3) days for personal business leave, upon the request of the teacher. Salary deductions for such leave shall not exceed the salary level for substitute teachers. Provided further, that these terms for personal business leave shall not negate any locally negotiated leave policies which exceed the minimum benefits stated above. Each school district may provide not more than five (5) days each year for emergency leave. Each school district will determine the purposes for which emergency leave can be used. Those days shall not be chargeable to sick leave and will be noncumulative. Unused sick leave shall be cumulative up to a total of sixty (60) days, and cumulative sick leave shall be transferable to another school district or to the Oklahoma School for the Blind or the Oklahoma School for the Deaf where the teacher is employed the next succeeding school year, provided that the number of days transferred shall not exceed the maximum days permitted by the receiving school and that such transferred days shall be used first in case of illness and, provided further, that if the receiving school pays teachers for unused sick leave upon retirement or termination of contract, then said payments shall be for only those days accumulated in the receiving school. The school board of the sending district shall certify the exact number of days eligible for transfer. 2. If a teacher is employed at the Oklahoma School for the Blind or the Oklahoma School for the Deaf after July 1, 2017, any unused sick leave up to a total of sixty (60) days that is accumulated at a school district prior to such date shall be transferable. B. The plan of each school district for sick leave benefits may include other terms and conditions, but shall not provide less sick leave benefits than those prescribed herein. Hospital and medical proceeds may not be charged against sick leave benefits, but the proceeds received by the teacher from any insurance provided by the district for loss of compensable time may be charged against sick leave benefits. Provided the board of education may provide all or part of hospital and medical benefits, and sickness, accident, health and life insurance or any of the aforesaid for any or all of its employees. On authorization of the teacher, the district may approve payroll deductions for such teacher's portion of the aforesaid. C. Each school district shall grant a teacher leave for jury service or as a witness subpoenaed in a criminal, civil or juvenile proceeding and shall pay the teacher during such service the full, current contract salary. Provided that the district may deduct any compensation received for serving as a juror or witness from the teacher's salary during such service. D. 1. A school district shall also provide for benefits for personnel other than teachers. Benefits for support personnel employees shall include provisions for paid sick leave of at least one (1) day per month of employment not to exceed the number of hours per day for which they are regularly employed cumulative to a total of sixty (60) days and cumulative sick leave shall be transferable to another school district where the person is employed the next succeeding school year; provided, that the number of days transferred shall not exceed the maximum days permitted by the receiving district and that such transferred days shall be used first in case of illness up to a maximum of ten (10) transferred days per school year unless the local board of education authorizes the use of additional transferred days during the school year in an amount set by the board and, provided further, that if the receiving district pays such person for unused sick leave upon retirement or termination of employment, then said payments shall be for only those days accumulated in the receiving district. The school board of the sending district shall certify the exact number of days eligible for transfer. Each school district shall provide for all support employees, a minimum of three (3) days for personal business leave, upon the request of the support employee. Salary deductions for personal business leave shall not exceed an amount necessary to cover the costs of services provided to the district by the support employee and shall not exceed the salary of the support employee. The terms for personal business leave provided by this subsection shall not negate any locally negotiated leave policies which exceed the minimum benefits stated above. Payment for such leave shall be calculated with regard to the definition of "support employee" provided by Section 6-101.40 of this title. Provided that such benefits shall not exceed those authorized for teachers hereunder. 2. Support employees, as defined by Section 6-101.40 of this title, shall be entitled to pay for any time lost when school is closed on account of epidemics or otherwise when an order for such closing has been issued by a health officer authorized by law to issue the order. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 6-104, eff. July 2, 1971. Amended by Laws 1972, c. 90, § 1; Laws 1975, c. 244, § 1, emerg. eff. June 2, 1975; Laws 1976, c. 286, § 1, operative July 1, 1976; Laws 1977, c. 240, § 1, emerg. eff. June 15, 1977; Laws 1980, c. 263, § 1; Laws 1982, c. 52, § 1; Laws 1985, c. 143, § 2, eff. July 1, 1985; Laws 1988, c. 104, § 1, eff. July 1, 1988; Laws 1991, c. 190, § 1, eff. July 1, 1991; Laws 2017, c. 21, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017; Laws 2021, c. 97, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021; Laws 2025, c. 57, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2025. §70-6-104.1. Exhaustion of sick and extended leave - Credit for leave without pay. After exhausting sick leave and extended leave pursuant to Sections 6-104 and 6-104.5 of this title and maternity leave pursuant to Section 1 of this act, a full-time teacher who, with the proper approval of the district board of education, takes not more than ninety (90) school days of leave without pay to care for the teacher’s child during the first year of the child’s life, shall receive full credit for the days on leave without pay as though the teacher had been on leave with pay for purposes of computing experience for the minimum teacher salary schedule. A teacher on leave without pay pursuant to this section who pays the actuarial cost, as determined by the Board of Trustees of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma, shall have the period during which such leave without pay is taken, counted toward retirement service credit as though the teacher had been on leave with pay. The teacher shall notify his or her employer and the System in writing within thirty (30) days from the date he or she returns to service that he or she will pay such actuarial cost. The teacher shall have up to twelve (12) months from the date he or she returns to service to pay such actuarial cost. Added by Laws 1998, c. 402, § 1, eff. July 1, 1998. Amended by Laws 2023, c. 291, § 2, eff. July 1, 2023. §70-6-104.5. Exhausted sick leave - Unused sick leave upon termination. A. If, after exhausting all sick leave pursuant to Section 6- 104 of this title and maternity leave pursuant to Section 1 of this act, a teacher is absent from his or her duties due to personal accidental injury, illness, or pregnancy, the teacher shall receive for a period of not to exceed twenty (20) days his or her full contract salary less the amount: 1. Actually paid a certified substitute teacher for his or her position if a certified substitute teacher is hired; or 2. Normally paid a certified substitute teacher for his or her position if a certified substitute teacher is not hired. B. The district’s plan may provide that the teacher is entitled to payment for accrued but unused sick leave upon termination of employment. Added by Laws 1976, c. 286, § 2, operative July 1, 1976. Amended by Laws 1985, c. 14, § 1, operative July 1, 1985; Laws 2023, c. 291, § 3, eff. July 1, 2023. §70-6-104.6. Leave sharing programs and banks. A. The board of education of each school district may establish a leave sharing program for all district employees. The program shall permit district employees to donate sick leave to a fellow district employee who is pregnant or recovering from childbirth or who is suffering from or has a relative or household member suffering from an extraordinary or severe illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition which has caused or is likely to cause the employee to take leave without pay or to terminate employment. B. As used in this section: 1. “Relative of the employee” means a spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, grandparent, stepparent, or parent of the employee; 2. “Household members” means those persons who reside in the same home, who have reciprocal duties to and do provide financial support for one another. This term shall include foster children and legal wards even if they do not live in the household. The term does not include persons sharing the same general house, when the living style is primarily that of a dormitory or commune; 3. “Severe” or “extraordinary” means serious, extreme, or life- threatening including temporary disability resulting from pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, and recovery therefrom; and 4. “District employee” means a teacher or any full-time employee of the school district. C. A district employee may be eligible to receive shared leave pursuant to the following conditions: 1. The board of education determines that the employee meets the criteria described in this section; and 2. The employee has abided by district policies regarding the use of sick leave. D. A district employee may donate annual leave to another district employee only pursuant to the following conditions: 1. The receiving employee has exhausted, or will exhaust, maternity leave granted pursuant to Section 1 of this act or sick leave earned pursuant to Section 6-104 of this title due to pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth and recovery therefrom, an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition, which is of an extraordinary or severe nature, and involves the employee, a relative of the employee, or household member; 2. The condition has caused, or is likely to cause, the employee to go on leave without pay or to terminate employment; 3. The board of education of the district permits the leave to be shared with an eligible employee; 4. The amount of leave to be donated is within the limits set by the board of education of the district; and 5. District employees may not donate excess sick leave that the donor would not be able to otherwise take. E. The board of education of each school district shall determine the amount of donated leave an employee may receive. F. The board of education shall require the employee to submit, prior to approval or disapproval, a medical certificate from a licensed physician or health care practitioner verifying the severe or extraordinary nature and expected duration of the condition. G. Donated sick leave is transferable between employees of different school districts in the state with the agreement of both boards of education of each school district. H. The receiving employee shall be paid the regular rate of pay of the employee. The sick leave received will be designated as shared sick leave and be maintained separately from all other sick leave balances. I. Any donated sick leave may only be used by the recipient for the purposes specified in this section. J. Maternity leave granted pursuant to Section 1 of this act and sick leave earned pursuant to Section 6-104 of this title available for use by the recipient shall be used prior to using shared sick leave. K. Any shared sick leave not used by the recipient during each occurrence as determined by the board of education shall be returned to the donor. The shared sick leave remaining will be divided among the donors on a prorated basis based on the original donated value and returned at its original donor value and reinstated to the annual leave balance of each donor. L. All donated sick leave shall be given voluntarily. No employee shall be coerced, threatened, intimidated, or financially induced into donating sick leave for purposes of the leave sharing program. M. In addition to the sick leave sharing program provided for in this section, the board of education of each school district may establish a sick leave sharing bank for all district employees. A district employee may donate sick leave to a common fund which may be used by any district employee who is eligible to receive shared leave as set forth in subsection A of this section. The terms and conditions for donation and use of sick leave to a leave sharing bank shall be subject to the provisions of this section, unless negotiations, entered into pursuant to Section 509.1 et seq. of this title, between district employees and the school district establish terms and conditions for a sick leave sharing bank in excess of those provided for in this section. Added by Laws 1993, c. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 1993. Amended by Laws 1994, c. 3, § 1, emerg. eff. March 3, 1994; Laws 1995, c. 83, § 1, emerg. eff. April 12, 1995; Laws 1997, c. 160, § 1, eff. July 1. 1997; Laws 2023, c. 291, § 4, eff. July 1, 2023. §70-6-104.7. National disaster leave. A. The board of education of each school district may grant leave with pay not to exceed fifteen (15) working days to a district employee who is affected by a presidentially declared national disaster in Oklahoma after May 1, 1999, if: 1. The employee suffered a physical injury as a result of the disaster; 2. A relative or household member of the employee suffered a physical injury or died as a result of the disaster; or 3. The domicile of the employee or the domicile of a relative of the employee was damaged or destroyed as a result of the disaster. B. As used in this section: 1. “Relative of the employee” shall be limited to the spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, grandparent, stepparent, or parent of the employee; and 2. “Household members” means those persons who reside in the same home, who have reciprocal duties to and do provide financial support for one another. This term shall include foster children and legal wards even if they do not live in the household. The term does not include persons sharing the same general house, when the living style is primarily that of a dormitory or commune. C. The authority to grant leave with pay pursuant to subsection A of this section shall extend for a period of not more than six (6) months after the date of a presidentially declared national disaster. D. Annual leave, sick leave, or compensatory time which was charged to a school district employee as a result of the presidentially declared national disaster resulting from the May 3, 1999, tornadoes that would have otherwise been eligible for the leave provision in subsection A of this section, may be reinstated by the governing body. A school district employee entitled to leave with pay pursuant to this section who was charged leave without pay shall be compensated at the base rate of pay of the employee. E. A district board of education may amend an existing leave sharing program or establish a leave sharing program to allow district employees to share sick or annual leave with district employees who are eligible for leave pursuant to subsection A of this section. The disaster-related leave sharing plan shall be subject to the following conditions: 1. An employee eligible for disaster-related leave may receive up to fifteen (15) days donated leave; 2. The donated leave must be used for disaster-related injuries or matters; 3. The eligible employee shall not be required to take or exhaust any of the employee’s regular sick, personal, or emergency leave in order to receive donated leave; 4. Donated leave may be used to reinstate regular emergency, sick, or personal leave an employee used after May 1, 1999, for disaster-related injuries or matters; 5. An eligible employee who was required to take leave without pay for disaster-related injuries or matters may be compensated for up to fifteen (15) days if leave is donated to cover the leave without pay; and 6. The district may require documentation to support a request to use donated leave pursuant to this section. Added by Laws 1999, c. 306, § 6, eff. July 1, 1999. §70-6-104.8. Paid maternity leave. A. 1. Full-time employees of a public school district in this state who have been employed by the school district for at least one year and have worked at least one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) hours during the preceding twelve-month period; 2. Persons employed full time as classroom instructional employees of technology center school districts supervised by the State Board of Career and Technology Education who have been employed by the technology center school district for at least one year and have worked at least one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) hours during the preceding twelve-month period; 3. Persons employed as teachers by the State Department of Rehabilitation Services who have been employed by the State Department of Rehabilitation Services for at least one year and have worked at least one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) hours during the preceding twelve-month period; 4. Persons employed full time as correctional teachers or vocational instructors by the Department of Corrections pursuant to Section 510.6a of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes who have been employed by a Department of Corrections facility for at least one year and have worked at least one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) hours during the preceding twelve-month period; and 5. Persons employed full time as teachers by the Office of Juvenile Affairs who have been employed by an Office of Juvenile Affairs facility for at least one year and have worked at least one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) hours during the preceding twelve-month period, shall be entitled to six (6) weeks of paid maternity leave following the birth of the employee's child. The six (6) weeks of paid maternity leave shall be used immediately following the birth of the school district employee's child. B. 1. Paid maternity leave provided pursuant to paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of subsection A of this section shall be in addition to and not in place of sick leave due to pregnancy, as authorized by Section 6-104 of this title. 2. Paid maternity leave provided pursuant to paragraph 4 of subsection A of this section shall be in addition to and not in place of sick leave due to pregnancy, as authorized by Section 510.6a of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes. 3. Paid maternity leave provided pursuant to paragraph 5 of subsection A of this section shall be in addition to and not in place of sick leave due to pregnancy, as authorized by Section 2-7- 202 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes. C. 1. Employees described in subsection A of this section shall have the right to utilize accrued sick leave to extend the duration of their maternity leave beyond the six (6) weeks provided by this section. Such sick leave may be used for recovery from childbirth, bonding with a newborn, or caring for a newborn, and shall not require additional approval from a school board or employer, provided the employee has sufficient sick leave to cover the extended duration. Sick leave used pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed six (6) weeks, unless a licensed medical professional provides written certification recommending additional leave for medical necessity related to the employee's recovery from child birth, or for the care of the newborn, to achieve a combined twelve (12) weeks of FMLA leave in accordance with paragraph 2 of this subsection. 2. An employee seeking to use sick leave to extend the duration of their maternity leave shall notify their employer in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). FMLA leave shall run concurrently with the paid sick leave extended duration. D. An employee who takes maternity leave pursuant to the provisions of subsection A of this section shall not be deprived of any compensation or other benefits to which the employee is otherwise entitled. E. Each fiscal year, the Legislature shall appropriate adequate funding to the Public School Paid Maternity Leave Revolving Fund created in Section 6-104.9 of this title for the purpose of providing paid maternity leave to eligible school district employees pursuant to paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section. If the Legislature does not appropriate adequate funding specifically for the purpose of providing paid maternity leave to school district employees, the State Board of Education shall allocate from the funds appropriated to the State Board of Education for the support of public school activities an amount to fully fund paid maternity leave. F. The State Board of Education, the State Board of Career and Technology Education, the Commission for Rehabilitation Services, the State Board of Corrections, and the Board of Juvenile Affairs may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. Added by Laws 2023, c. 291, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023. Amended by Laws 2025, c. 57, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2025. §70-6-104.9. Public School Paid Maternity Leave Revolving Fund. A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the State Board of Education to be designated the “Public School Paid Maternity Leave Revolving Fund”. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the State Board of Education from state appropriations. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the State Board of Education for the purpose of reimbursing school districts for expenses related to providing paid maternity leave as provided for in subsection B of this section. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment. B. School districts in this state shall file claims with the State Board of Education for reimbursement of expenses related to providing eligible employees with paid maternity leave as provided for in Section 1 of this act. Added by Laws 2023, c. 291, § 7, eff. July 1, 2023. §70-6-104.10. Education Employee Paid Maternity Leave Revolving Fund. A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to be designated the “Education Employee Paid Maternity Leave Revolving Fund”. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services from state appropriations. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for the purpose of reimbursing agencies for expenses related to providing paid maternity leave as provided for in subsection B of this section. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment. B. The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, State Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Department of Corrections, and the Office of Juvenile Affairs shall file claims with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for reimbursement of expenses related to providing eligible employees with paid maternity leave as provided for in Section 1 of this act. Added by Laws 2023, c. 291, § 8, eff. July 1, 2023. §70-6-105. Payment - Duration of employment - Leave of absence for military service - Contracts for training and employment of substitutes. A. If, because of sickness or other reason, a teacher is temporarily unable to perform regular duties, a substitute teacher may be employed for the position for the time of the absence. A substitute teacher shall be paid in an amount and under such terms as may be agreed upon in advance by the substitute teacher and the board of education or according to regulations of the board. If a teacher is absent for reason of personal business the school district shall deduct from the salary of the teacher only the amount necessary to pay the substitute. B. No substitute teacher shall be employed for a total period of time in excess of one hundred thirty-five (135) school days during a school year; or one hundred forty-five (145) school days during the school year if the substitute teacher holds a lapsed or expired certificate or has a bachelors level college degree; or no limit of school days during the school year if the substitute teacher holds a valid certificate. Each school district shall adopt a policy which sets forth the maximum number of days a substitute teacher may be employed for the same assignment if the substitute teacher does not hold a valid certificate. C. Substitute teachers who do not hold a valid certificate and who are employed to teach special education for students with physical disabilities or students with intellectual disabilities shall not be subject to the restrictions on total time a substitute teacher may be employed if no certified teachers are available to teach such students and the students would be denied instruction in special education if the substitute teacher were not employed. Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, any substitute teacher employed to teach special education for the same assignment for more than fifteen (15) consecutive or thirty (30) total school days during a school year who does not hold a valid certificate to teach special education shall be required to complete in-service training as prescribed by the State Board of Education. The training shall be provided at no cost to the substitute teacher. Availability of certified teachers shall be determined after the school has consulted the State Board of Education and any other resources for filling the vacant position with a certified teacher. D. A school district may request a waiver of the restrictions on total time a substitute teacher may be employed from the State Board of Education for a substitute teacher who does not hold a valid certificate. The school district shall submit evidence on the availability of certified substitute teachers and the qualifications of the substitute teacher. The Board shall develop procedures for the filing and processing of substitute teacher waivers pursuant to this subsection. E. Payment of salary to a substitute shall have no effect on the amount of salary to which the absent regular teacher is entitled under the applicable leave plan. F. Any substitute or cadet teacher employed in any school system on a monthly or annual basis shall hold a certificate and have a written contract in the manner and under the same conditions as for regular teachers. G. Teachers who are members of the Reserve Forces of the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, the Air Force, or any other component of the Armed Forces of the United States, including members of the Air or Army National Guard, shall, when ordered by the proper authority to active duty or service, be entitled to a leave of absence from such civil employment for the period of such active service without loss of status or efficiency rating and without loss of pay during the first thirty (30) days of such leave of absence. H. School districts in this state may contract with outside providers for the training and employment of substitute teachers. The State Board of Education shall promulgate guidelines to assist school districts in the sanctioning and approval of an outside provider in accordance with this section. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 6-105, eff. July 2, 1971. Amended by Laws 1976, c. 286, § 3, operative July 1, 1976; Laws 1979, c. 154, § 1, emerg. eff. May 9, 1979; Laws 1987, c. 71, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1987; Laws 1991, c. 34, § 1, eff. July 1, 1991; Laws 1994, c. 205, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Laws 1997, c. 45, § 1, eff. July 1, 1997; Laws 2000, c. 289, § 1, eff. July 1, 2000; Laws 2006, c. 278, § 2, eff. July 1, 2006; Laws 2010, c. 79, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2010; Laws 2012, c. 78, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2012; Laws 2019, c. 12, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2019; Laws 2019, c. 475, § 60, eff. Nov. 1, 2019. §70-6-105A. Construction of agreements Nothing in this act shall be construed to annul, modify or to preclude the renewal or continuation of any existing agreement heretofore entered into between any school district and any organizational representative of its employees. Added by Laws 1976, c. 286, § 4, operative July 1, 1976. §70-6-106. Salary - Twelve monthly payments. Boards of education are hereby authorized to contract with and pay all teachers in their respective districts in twelve (12) monthly payments or fractional parts of the fiscal year, to be made on the basis of legal contracts between said board and teachers. Procedures for paying teachers shall be in accordance with any plan approved by the State Department of Education. The aggregate amount of such salary payments in any fiscal year shall be as agreed upon by the board and the teacher. Under the terms of a contract for a ten-month school year as defined in Section 1-109 of this title and made in keeping with the provisions of this section, no duties shall be expected or required of the teacher in excess of one hundred ninety (190) days; provided, nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the making of contracts for school years of more than ten (10) months. Any district adopting this plan of payment may make it applicable to any or all teachers employed therein. Such plan shall be permissive rather than mandatory and may be discontinued at the close of any fiscal year. All salaries paid in twelve (12) installments pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be for calendar months or fractional parts thereof. Amended by Laws 1982, c. 287, § 44, operative July 1, 1982; Laws 1989, c. 335, § 18, eff. July 1, 1989. §70-6-106.1. Distribution of Mentor Teacher Stipend funds. If funds are appropriated to the State Board of Education for Mentor Teacher Stipends, the funds shall be distributed by the Board to the school districts to provide a stipend of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each mentor teacher as defined in Section 6-182 of this title. In addition to the distribution of the five-hundred-dollar stipend, each district shall also receive the district's contribution amount necessary to meet the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (F.I.C.A.) requirements. Added by Laws 1995, c. 305, § 10, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 415, § 29, eff. July 1, 2003. §70-6-106.2. “Direct deposit system” and “employee” defined - Implementation and administration of direct deposit system. A. As used in this section: 1. “Direct deposit system” means a method of electronically transferring a payroll claim for an employee to a financial institution; and 2. “Employee” means any certified or support employee as defined in Section 26-103 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes employed by any school district in this state. B. A school district board of education may adopt a policy implementing a direct deposit system for employees of the school district. C. No school district which chooses to implement a direct deposit system may charge any employee of that school district any fee or assessment as a result of the implementation and administration of a direct deposit system. Added by Laws 2008, c. 186, § 2, eff. July 1, 2008. §70-6-106.3. Support employee schedule of payments. A school district board of education, including a technology center school district board of education, may contract with and pay all support employees, as defined in Section 6-101.40 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, monthly, semimonthly or biweekly over ten (10), eleven (11) or twelve (12) calendar months or in twelve monthly payments which may be for calendar months or fractional parts thereof in the same manner as provided for the payment of teachers in Section 6-106 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Added by Laws 2013, c. 45, § 2, eff. July 1, 2013. §70-6-107. Employment of person not holding valid certificate of qualification - Violation - Criminal history record check. A. Except for employment of a director of a public developmental research school as authorized in Section 1210.577 of this title and except as provided for in Section 6-101 of this title, it shall be unlawful for a member of the board of education of a school district to employ, approve or vote for the employment of any person to perform services for the district unless the person employed holds a valid certificate of qualification issued in accordance with the rules of the State Board of Education to perform the services the person is employed to perform. B. The State Department of Education shall require each person offered a position within the agency that requires working directly with children to furnish fingerprints to be used for a state and national criminal history record check as defined by Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 6-107, eff. July 2, 1971. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 257, § 11, emerg. eff. May 26, 1993; Laws 2003, c. 204, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws 2005, c. 185, § 2, emerg. eff. May 17, 2005. §70-6-108. Certificate of qualifications - Unlawful to teach without. Except for service as a director of a public developmental research school and service by a faculty member of a higher education institution affiliated with a public developmental research school as specifically authorized in this act and except as provided for in Section 6-101 of this title, it shall be unlawful for any person to serve, or to contract or agree to serve, as superintendent, elementary superintendent, principal, supervisor, librarian, school nurse, classroom teacher or other instructional, supervisory or administrative employee of a school district unless the person holds a valid certificate of qualification issued in accordance with the rules of the State Board of Education to perform the services the person performs or contracts or agrees to perform. The State Board of Education shall provide for the certification of elementary superintendents. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 6-108, eff. July 2, 1971. Amended by Laws 1991, c. 16, § 5, eff. July 1, 1991; Laws 1993, c. 257, § 12, emerg. eff. May 26, 1993; Laws 2005, c. 185, § 3, emerg. eff. May 17, 2005. §70-6-108.1. Expired license or certificate notice - Renewal applications. A. No later than October 1 of each year, the State Department of Education shall provide written notice to the last-known address of any individual who held any license or certificate issued by the State Board of Education which expired on June 30 of the same year. Notice shall also be provided to the last-known district which employed any such individual. B. If any individual whose license or certificate issued by the State Board of Education has expired submits a renewal application and processing fee by December 31 of the year in which the license or certificate has expired, such license or certificate shall be renewed with an effective date of July 1 of the year in which the license or certificate has expired, unless other statutory basis exists for denying such renewal. C. If any individual whose license or certificate issued by the State Board of Education has expired submits a renewal application and processing fee after December 31 of the year in which the license or certificate has expired, such license or certificate shall be renewed with an effective date in accordance with State Department of Education rules, unless another statutory basis exists for denying such renewal. D. The processing fee for late renewal of a license or certificate shall not exceed one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the standard renewal processing fee for renewal applications submitted by December 31 of the year in which the license or certificate has expired, or two hundred percent (200%) of the standard renewal processing fee for renewal applications submitted after December 31 of the year in which the license or certificate has expired. Added by Laws 2015, c. 315, § 1, eff. July 1, 2015. §70-6-109. Repealed by Laws 1993, c. 239, § 55, eff. July 1, 1993. §70-6-110. Agents of school authorities - Payment or acceptance of bribes. It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any officer or employee of the State Board of Education, a member of a board of education, or other person acting as an agent of the State Board of Education or any board of education, or of any school teacher, or of any person or organization, to pay or accept any fee, commission or remuneration of any kind or character in payment for services rendered in securing positions for teachers in any of the public schools of this state. Laws 1971, c. 281, § 6-110, eff. July 2, 1971; Laws 1993, c. 239, § 30, eff. July 1, 1993. §70-6-111. Gratuities or rewards - Unlawful to give. It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to give, or agree or offer to give, any gratuity or reward in consideration that he or any other person shall be employed as a teacher in any public school of this state. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 6-111, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-112. Teachers - Gratuities or rewards in connection with employment. It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person, directly or indirectly, to ask or receive, or promise to receive any gratuity or reward or promise of a gratuity or reward for employing another person as a teacher in any public school of this state or for procuring for another person employment as a teacher in any public school of this state. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 6-112, eff. July 2, 1971. §70-6-113. Renumbered as § 650.7 of Title 21 by Laws 1995, c. 241, § 3, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-113.1. Materials on effective classroom discipline techniques to be furnished. The State Department of Education shall provide each local board of education materials dealing with effective classroom discipline techniques as an alternative to the use of corporal punishment. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 38, emerg. eff. April 25, 1990. §70-6-114. Renumbered as § 24-100.4 of this title by Laws 2002, c. 149, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2002. §70-6-115. Information concerning student - Violation. It shall be unlawful for any teacher to reveal any information concerning a student obtained by the teacher in their capacity as a teacher except as may be required in the performance of the contractual duties of the teacher or as otherwise required by law. The information may be provided to the parent or guardian of the student upon request or as otherwise required by law. Any violation of this section shall upon conviction be considered a misdemeanor. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 6-115, eff. July 2, 1971. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 430, § 3, eff. July 1, 2003. §70-6-116. Repealed by Laws 1983, c. 147, § 1. §70-6-117. Repealed by Laws 1983, c. 147, § 1. §70-6-118. Repealed by Laws 1983, c. 147, § 1. §70-6-119. Repealed by Laws 1983, c. 147, § 1. §70-6-120. Repealed by Laws 1977, c. 262, § 20, emerg. eff. June 17, 1977. §70-6-120.1. Repealed by Laws 1983, c. 147, § 1. §70-6-121. Repealed by Laws 1983, c. 147, § 1. §70-6-122. Repealed by Laws 1977, c. 262, § 20, emerg. eff. June 17, 1977. §70-6-122.1. Repealed by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 122, operative July 1, 1990. §70-6-122.2. Blank. §70-6-122.3. Alternative placement teaching certificate - Alternative placement programs - Adjunct teachers. A. The State Board of Education shall grant an alternative placement teaching certificate to a person who makes application to the Board and meets the following criteria: 1. a. holds at least a baccalaureate degree from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and has attained a retention grade point average of not less than 2.50 on a 4.0 scale, or b. has successfully completed a terminal degree, such as a doctorate of philosophy, a doctorate in education, professional doctorates, a master of fine arts degree or a master of library science degree, from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency which is recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall be consulted to verify other terminal degrees, or c. holds at least a baccalaureate degree from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and has qualified work experience in a field that corresponds to an area of certification as determined by the State Board of Education, and d. in addition to the requirements of subparagraphs a, b and c of this paragraph, has demonstrated competency or completed a major in a field that corresponds to an area of specialization for an Elementary-Secondary Certificate or a Secondary Certificate as determined by the State Board of Education or a vocational- technical certificate as recommended by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education; 2. Declares the intention to earn standard certification by means of an alternative placement program in not more than three (3) years. The State Board of Education shall determine the subject matter and the number of clock or semester hours required for the professional education component for each person making application for an alternative placement teaching certificate based on the criteria of paragraph 1 of this subsection. The State Board of Education shall establish a core minimum of six (6) semester hours or ninety (90) clock hours and a maximum of eighteen (18) semester hours or two hundred seventy (270) clock hours for the professional education component. The requirements set forth in this subsection shall exclude all student teaching requirements pursuant to the provisions of subsection E of this section; 3. Has passed the subject area portion of the competency examination required in Section 6-187 of this title in the area of specialization for which certification is sought; and 4. Either presents a document from an accredited public school district in this state offering employment in the area of specialization for which certification is sought on condition that the person enroll in an alternative placement program approved by the State Board of Education or declares the intention to seek employment as a teacher at an accredited public school district in this state. The certificate granted pursuant to this subsection shall be considered a “valid certificate of qualification” for the purposes of Sections 6-107 and 6-108 of this title, and the holder of the certificate shall be considered an inductee for the purposes of Section 6-195 of this title. B. An alternative placement teaching certificate shall be renewed for not more than a maximum of three (3) years upon presentation of a document from an accredited public school district in this state offering renewed employment in the same area of specialization and a document from a teacher education institution verifying satisfactory progress in an appropriate alternative placement program. C. Persons enrolled in an alternative placement program shall: 1. Have never been denied admittance to a teacher education program approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to offer teacher education programs, nor have enrolled in and subsequently failed courses necessary to successfully meet the minimum requirements of the program, except those persons who hold a certificate; 2. Have on file with the director of teacher education at an Oklahoma institution of higher education a plan for meeting standard certification requirements within three (3) years; and 3. Participate in an induction program as required in Section 6-195 of this title and have the same duties and responsibilities as other inductees. D. The State Board of Education may grant an exception to the requirements for certification and, upon demonstration by an individual of specific competency in the subject area of specialization, may grant a certificate to the individual. The State Board may establish other requirements necessary to grant exceptions. E. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, may grant an exception to the requirement to complete a subject area examination for initial certification in a field which does not require an advanced degree pursuant to this section if the candidate has an advanced degree in a subject that is substantially comparable to the content assessed on a subject area examination. The degree shall be from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency which is recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. The Commission shall provide the Board with the necessary information to determine comparability. F. Student teaching and a prestudent teaching field experience shall not be required of alternative placement program participants for standard certification. G. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules authorizing adjunct teachers who shall be persons with distinguished qualifications in their field. Adjunct teachers shall not be required to meet standard certification. A person employed as an adjunct teacher pursuant to this subsection who does not hold a valid certificate to teach shall not be considered a teacher as defined by Section 1-116 of this title. H. Each teacher education institution shall provide the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation an annual report of information as specified by the Commission regarding participation in the alternative placement programs offered by the institution. I. The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall not accredit, renew the accreditation of, or otherwise approve any teacher education program of any institution of higher education in this state that has not implemented alternative placement programs in at least four areas of specialization including mathematics, science and a foreign language. Each institution shall allow individuals who meet the criteria of subsections A and C of this section to be: 1. Admitted to an alternative placement program without further qualification; and 2. Offered the opportunity to complete the requirements for standard certification set forth in subsection A of this section during the summer preceding and the summer following the first year of teaching with an alternative placement teaching certificate. Any person seeking standard certification through an alternative placement program shall be permitted to take necessary courses during regular semesters if offered. J. The criteria specified in subsection I of this section can be met through a cooperative arrangement entered into by two or more institutions of higher education. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 23, emerg. eff. April 25, 1990. Amended by Laws 1991, c. 67, § 1, emerg. eff. April 12, 1991; Laws 1992, c. 308, § 9, eff. June 1, 1992; Laws 1995, c. 177, § 1, eff. July 1, 1995; Laws 1999, c. 202, § 1, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2001, c. 425, § 1, emerg. eff. June 5, 2001; Laws 2009, c. 82, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2009; Laws 2010, c. 61, § 1, eff. July 1, 2010; Laws 2010, c. 183, § 1, eff. July 1, 2010; Laws 2012, c. 76, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2012; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 7, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2016, c. 272, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2016; Laws 2017, c. 42, § 31; Laws 2017, c. 63, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017; Laws 2018, c. 165, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2018; Laws 2020, c. 139, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2020; Laws 2022, c. 121, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022; Laws 2024, c. 452, § 162, emerg. eff. June 14, 2024. NOTE: Laws 2016, c. 30, § 1 repealed by Laws 2017, c. 42, § 32. §70-6-122.4. License for Teach for America Program participant - Exemption from residency program. A. The State Board of Education shall issue a two-year, nonrenewable license to teach to any person who has been accepted into the Teach for America Program and has on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record, the Board may issue a temporary license which shall be effective until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record. The person applying for a license shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history records. B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Board of Education shall issue a certificate to teach to any individual who has: 1. Been issued a license pursuant to subsection A of this section; 2. Completed the coursework requirements established for participants of the Teach for America Program; 3. Successfully passed the assessment requirements established by Teach for America for participants of the Teach for America Program; and 4. Submitted an application and payment of the certification fee as prescribed by the Board. Added by Laws 2008, c. 152, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2008. Amended by Laws 2009, c. 270, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2009. §70-6-122.5. Alternative Placement teaching certificate - Troops to Teachers. A. The State Board of Education shall grant an Alternative Placement teaching certificate to any person: 1. Who meets the eligibility requirements for the Troops to Teachers program operated by the United States Department of Defense and managed by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES); and 2. Who meets the requirements set forth in Section 6-122.3 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. B. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section. Added by Laws 2009, c. 89, § 1. §70-6-122.6. Temporary teaching certificate. A. The State Board of Education shall issue a one-year, nonrenewable secondary or middle level certificate to teach to any person who has attained certification by an alternative teacher certification organization as set forth in subsection C of this section and has on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record, the Board may issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record. The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history records. B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6-195 of this title, teachers issued a certificate pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the requirements of the residency program, but shall participate in the mentoring program provided by the alternative teacher certification organization as set forth in subsection C of this section. Upon successful completion of such mentoring program, the teacher shall be issued a certificate to teach by the State Board of Education after completion of the application and payment of the certification fee as prescribed by the State Board of Education. C. For purposes of this section, the State Board of Education shall identify an alternative teacher certification organization that was founded with grant funding from the United States Department of Education and that developed the Passport to Teaching program, which is a certification program designed for professionals who want to change careers and become teachers. The program shall require candidates to hold a bachelor's degree, pass a professional teaching knowledge exam, pass a subject area exam, and pass a background check. The organization shall provide candidates with access to workshops, an experienced teacher-advisor, and optional access to comprehensive subject matter refresher courses. The organization shall also provide an intensive mentoring and induction program. D. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section. Added by Laws 2009, c. 89, § 2. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 124, § 8, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-122.7. Issuance of one-year provisional certificates to teach in the area of mild-moderate or severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education. A. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, the State Board of Education shall issue a one-year provisional certificate to teach in the area of mild-moderate disabilities, severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education to any qualified candidate who has: 1. Earned a bachelor's level college degree from an accredited institution of higher education; 2. Been recommended for a certificate by a school district board of education or an accredited institution of higher education; 3. Satisfactorily completed a one-hundred-fifty-clock-hour special education program prescribed by the Board; and 4. On file with the Board a national criminal history record check as required pursuant to Section 5-142 of this title. The individual applying for a provisional certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the national criminal history record check. B. The one-year provisional certificate issued pursuant to this section may be renewed for two (2) additional periods of one-year each upon proof from an accredited institution of higher education that the individual has successfully completed at least six (6) credit hours of prescribed coursework during the previous year in a nontraditional route to certification program in either mild- moderate or severe-profound disabilities or toward a master's degree in special education. C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Board of Education shall issue a standard certificate in the area of mild- moderate disabilities, severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education to any individual who has: 1. Been issued one or more provisional certificates pursuant to this section; 2. Successfully completed the prescribed coursework of a nontraditional route to certification program in either mild- moderate or severe-profound disabilities or a master's degree in special education from an accredited institution of higher education within three (3) years of issuance of the original provisional certificate and any examinations required to obtain a standard certificate in mild-moderate disabilities, severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education; 3. Successfully completed the appropriate subject area competency examination as required pursuant to Section 6-187 of this title; and 4. Submitted an application and payment of the required certification fee. D. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual who holds a current provisional certificate pursuant to subsection A or B of this section or a current standard certificate pursuant to subsection C of this section may satisfy the highly qualified teacher requirement for early childhood education or elementary education by successful completion of the early childhood education or elementary education examinations. E. To obtain standard certification in early childhood education or elementary education, an individual shall complete an appropriate teacher education program approved by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. F. Nothing in this section shall change the requirements an individual is required to satisfy to be considered highly qualified in a secondary core academic area. G. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section. Added by Laws 2013, c. 336, § 1, eff. July 1, 2013. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 120, § 1, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2020, c. 144, § 1, eff. July 1, 2020. §70-6-122.8. Issuance of certificates to teach in the area of mild- moderate or severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education. A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Board of Education shall issue a standard certificate in the area of mild- moderate disabilities, severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education to any individual who has: 1. Earned a bachelor's level college degree from an accredited institution of higher education; 2. Successfully completed the prescribed coursework that may be required for a master's degree in special education from an accredited institution of higher education and any examinations required to obtain a standard certificate in mild-moderate disabilities, severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education; 3. Successfully completed the appropriate subject area competency examination as required pursuant to Section 6-187 of this title; 4. On file with the State Board of Education a national criminal history record check as required pursuant to Section 5-142 of this title; and 5. Submitted an application and payment of the required certification fee. B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual who holds a current standard certificate pursuant to subsection A of this section can satisfy the highly qualified teacher requirement for early childhood education or elementary education by successful completion of the early childhood education or elementary education examinations. C. To obtain standard certification in early childhood education or elementary education, the individual shall complete an appropriate teacher education program approved by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. Added by Laws 2013, c. 336, § 2, eff. July 1, 2013. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 120, § 2, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2020, c. 144, § 2, eff. July 1, 2020. §70-6-122.9. Issuance of certificates for individuals with alternative certification to teach in the area of mild-moderate or severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education. A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Board of Education shall issue a standard certificate in the area of mild- moderate disabilities, severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education to any individual certified via an alternative certification route in early childhood education or elementary education who has: 1. Earned a bachelor's level college degree from an accredited institution of higher education; 2. Successfully completed the mild-moderate disabilities, severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education competency examinations; and 3. Submitted an application and payment of the required certification fee. B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and with the exception of paraprofessionals under the Career Development areas, the State Board of Education shall issue a standard certificate in the area of mild-moderate disabilities, severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education to any individual certified via an alternative certification route in a core academic area, which includes Mathematics, Science, English, Language Arts, History, Foreign Language, Music, Art, Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education, who has: 1. Earned a bachelor's level college degree from an accredited institution of higher education; 2. Successfully completed the mild-moderate disabilities, severe-profound disabilities or comprehensive special education competency examinations; and 3. Submitted an application and payment of the required certification fee. Added by Laws 2014, c. 120, § 3, eff. July 1, 2014. Amended by Laws 2020, c. 144, § 3, eff. July 1, 2020. §70-6-122.10. Issuance of two-year provisional certificate to teach in the area of severe-profound disabilities. A. The State Board of Education shall issue a two-year provisional certificate in the area of severe-profound disabilities to any individual who has: 1. Obtained a standard certificate in the area of mild-moderate disabilities; 2. Been recommended for a certificate in the area of severe- profound disabilities by a school district board of education; and 3. Submitted an application and payment of the required certification fee. B. An individual who completes the requirements of subsection A of this section may be eligible to receive a standard certificate in the area of severe-profound disabilities upon completion of: 1. A micro-credentialing program in the area of severe-profound disabilities approved by the State Board of Education. The micro- credentialing program shall include competencies described in Section 6-187 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes; or 2. The subject area competency examination required by Section 6-187 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Added by Laws 2020, c. 144, § 4, eff. July 1, 2020. §70-6-122.11. Issuance of one-year alternative teacher certificate. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, the State Board of Education shall issue a one-year alternative teacher certificate, renewable for up to three (3) years, to teach early childhood education or elementary education to any qualified candidate who: 1. a. has successfully completed a terminal degree, such as a doctorate of philosophy, a doctorate in education, professional doctorates, a master of fine arts degree or a master of library science degree, from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency which is recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall be consulted to verify other terminal degrees, or b. holds at least a baccalaureate degree from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and has two (2) years post-degree-completion qualified work experience in a field that corresponds to early childhood education or elementary education; and 2. Declares the intention to earn standard certification by means of the early childhood and elementary education alternative certification program in not more than three (3) years and has: a. within the first year satisfactorily completed six (6) credit hours in classroom management and reading instruction from an educator preparation program approved and accredited by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, completed the required State Department of Education approved training on cognitive science of how students learn to read and participated in a yearlong mentorship or instructional coaching in reading and classroom management provided by the employing school district prior to the renewal of the provisional certificate for a second year, b. within the second year satisfactorily completed six (6) credit hours in child development and math instruction from an educator preparation program approved and accredited by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, participated in an additional yearlong mentorship and/or instructional coaching in child development and math instruction provided by the employing school district prior to the renewal of the provisional certificate for a third year, and successfully completed the subject area portion of the competency examination required in Section 6-187 of this title in the area of specialization for which certification is sought, and c. within the third year satisfactorily completed six (6) additional credit hours of professional education coursework from an educator preparation program approved and accredited by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, participated in an additional yearlong mentorship and/or instructional coaching provided by the employing school district, and successfully passed the professional knowledge portions of the competency examination required in Section 6-187 of this title in the area of specialization for which certification is sought. Added by Laws 2021, c. 335, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2021. Amended by Laws 2022, c. 220, § 2, emerg. eff. May 5, 2022. §70-6-122.12. Annual report on status of adjunct teachers. A. The State Department of Education shall publish an annual report on the status of adjunct teachers, authorized by Section 6- 122.3 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, in this state. The report shall include: 1. Qualifications adopted by the State Board of Education to determine eligibility of adjunct teacher candidates; 2. The subject areas or courses in which adjunct teachers are teaching; and 3. The types of distinguished qualifications adjunct teachers have to make them qualified to teach in certain subject areas or courses. B. The annual report shall be published on the website of the State Department of Education and copies of the report shall be provided to elected members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate no later than January 15 of each year. Added by Laws 2024, c. 210, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2024. §70-6-123. Repealed by Laws 1991, c. 67, § 7, eff. July 1, 1991. §70-6-123.1. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-124. Repealed by Laws 1991, c. 67, § 7, eff. July 1, 1991. §70-6-124.1. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-125. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-126. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-127. Teacher's assistants - Employment - Criteria - Qualifications - Duties - Students to be included in meeting percentage requirement - Bilingual assistants not to qualify as. A. Beginning with the 1990-91 school year, every school site shall employ a teacher's assistant or use a volunteer for each class in grades kindergarten through two which has a class size of more than twenty (20) students in average daily membership as of September 15 of each year and which is composed of students, at least twenty percent (20%) of whom meet the criteria specified in subsection B of this section; provided, this requirement shall not apply to classes that are not subject to class size limitations pursuant to subsection D of Section 18-113.1 of this title or to pull-out sections for Chapter 1 or to Special Education students. Assistants shall be required as of September 15 of each year. The State Board of Education shall establish regulations that prescribe the qualifications for and duties of teacher assistants in public schools. The State Board of Education shall also establish standards and regulations which provide for a determination of how and when eacher assistants may be used as an appropriate and necessary part of classroom instruction. In addition to any other duties which the Board may deem appropriate, teacher assistants may perform or assist a classroom teacher in the performance of hallroom duty, bus duty, playground duty, lunchroom duty, extracurricular activities involving school functions or any other noninstructional duty the Board may prescribe. Provided, nothing in this section shall construe teacher assistants to be defined as personnel as set out in Section 6-108 of this title or require teacher assistants to possess the certification required for teachers. B. Any student who meets the criteria established by the State Board which are commensurate with established eligibility criteria for participation in the National School Lunch Act of 1946, 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq. as amended, shall be included in the percentage necessary to meet the requirement of subsection A of this section for the entitlement to a teacher's assistant for such class. C. For the purposes of this section, and for Sections 18-113.1 and 18-113.2 of this title, a federally funded bilingual assistant shall not qualify as a teacher's assistant. Amended by Laws 1982, c. 73, § 1; Laws 1988, c. 207, § 2, operative July 1, 1988; Laws 1989, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 31, emerg. eff. April 25, 1990. §70-6-127A. Public school paraprofessionals. A. The Oklahoma Legislature recognizes that public school paraprofessionals play an important role in educating school children and in assisting teachers. The Legislature further recognizes the increasing role of public school paraprofessionals in the school system in light of teacher shortages. To achieve the goal of excellence for all persons who have an impact on student learning, it is the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature that public school paraprofessionals be afforded career opportunities and economic incentives through a career development program. B. The State Board of Education shall adopt a program for the career development of public school paraprofessionals. The purpose of the program is to provide to public school paraprofessionals a system of career development which is based upon education and training advancement to encourage excellence among public school paraprofessionals. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require public school paraprofessionals to participate in the career development program. C. The board of education of a school district shall have authority to extend an existing contract with a public school paraprofessional that provides for the payment of compensation for paraprofessional services rendered for the same time period during which the paraprofessional is also assigned to the school district for practice teaching as a student teacher. D. For the purposes of this section, a public school paraprofessional is an employee of a school district whose position is either instructional in nature, or who delivers other direct services to students and/or their parents. A public school paraprofessional serves in a position for which a teacher or another professional has the ultimate responsibility for the design, implementation, and evaluation of the individual educational programs or related services and student performance. Added by Laws 1999, c. 295, § 1, eff. July 1, 1999. Amended by Laws 2017, c. 333, § 2, eff. July 1, 2017. §70-6-128. Repealed by Laws 1999, c. 62, § 2, eff. July 1, 1999. §70-6-129. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Laws 1993, c. 155, § 4, eff. July 1, 1993. §70-6-129.1. Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee. A. There is hereby re-created until July 1, 2010, in accordance with the Oklahoma Sunset Law, a Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee which shall have oversight over implementation of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center and shall advise the operation of such Center. The Advisory Committee shall be composed of nineteen (19) members. The presence of ten Advisory Committee members or their designees shall constitute a quorum. Appointments shall be made by July 1 with members serving a term of two (2) years unless no longer eligible. The Advisory Committee members shall be appointed as follows: 1. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint: a. two members from the Oklahoma House of Representatives, b. two members from an institution of higher education in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. One appointee shall be from a comprehensive university. One appointee shall be from a two-year college, c. one member who is a public school teacher who is a minority, d. one member who is a superintendent or designee of a public school district, and e. two members representing a community with a high minority population. One appointee shall be African- American. One appointee shall be Hispanic; 2. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint: a. two members from the Oklahoma State Senate, b. two members from an institution of higher education in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education with a teacher preparation program. One appointee shall be from a regional university, c. one member who is a public school teacher who is a minority, d. one member who is a principal of a public high school, and e. two members representing a community with a high minority population. One appointee shall be American Indian. One appointee shall be Asian-American; 3. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction or a designee shall serve as a member of the Advisory Committee; 4. The Chancellor of Higher Education or a designee shall serve as a member of the Advisory Committee; and 5. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation or a designee shall serve as a member of the Advisory Committee. B. Members of the Advisory Committee shall be reimbursed for attendance at the Advisory Committee meetings by the appointing agency pursuant to the State Travel Reimbursement Act or Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Members of the Advisory Committee shall designate from among the members a chairperson and vice-chairperson. Staff assistance shall be provided by the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center. C. Persons who are members on the effective date of this act shall retain their membership until their terms are completed. D. The Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee shall: 1. Make recommendations on the annual operating budget of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center and verify that the funds allocated to the Center through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are utilized exclusively by the Center by function; 2. Advise the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education of unmet needs within the state in the implementation of the Center's activities; 3. Annually comment publicly on the progress of the Center; 4. Assist the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in developing and reporting information about the Center when necessary; 5. Meet as often as necessary to conduct business; and 6. Keep official minutes of the Committee meetings which shall be made available to the public upon request. E. As used in this section and Section 6-130 of this title, "minority" means a person who is a lawful resident of the State of Oklahoma and who is: 1. African-American, a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa; 2. Hispanic, a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American descent; 3. Asian-American, a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands; or 4. American Indian and Alaskan Native, a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America. Added by Laws 1998, c. 139, § 1, eff. July 1, 1998. Amended by Laws 2004, c. 24, § 1. §70-6-130. Minority Teacher Recruitment Center. Recognizing the future significance and challenge of educating a growing and highly diverse student population in Oklahoma common schools and acknowledging the underrepresentation of minority teachers among the state's professional education staff, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall have authority to establish the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center and staff and administer its work. Upon recommendations and advice from the Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee re-created pursuant to Section 1 of this act, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are hereby directed to work with the State Board of Education, the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and other agencies, boards and education organizations in the interests of recruiting, retaining and placing minority teachers in the public schools of the State of Oklahoma. Such efforts shall include, but not be limited to: 1. The provision and coordination of support services to teacher training programs in state institutions of higher education, including the funding of grants for campus-based recruitment, retention and placement programs that assist minority students who intend to become teachers; 2. The establishment and development of recruiting programs for potential minority teachers, including pre-collegiate curricular courses that emphasize school success and the opportunity to investigate teaching as a career choice, future teacher clubs and collegiate programs designed to recruit students making transitions from other careers and other areas of study; 3. The hosting of conferences dealing with issues that effect minority teacher recruitment, retention, and placement; 4. The creation of activities in the public and private schools of Oklahoma which enhance the image of the teaching profession; and 5. The creation and development of placement services providing assistance to both minority educators and school districts seeking to hire qualified minority teachers. Added by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 52, emerg. eff. April 25, 1990. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 324, § 9, eff. July 1, 1992; Laws 1995, c. 322, § 27, eff. July 1, 1995; Laws 1997, c. 344, § 1, emerg. eff. June 9, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 139, § 2, eff. July 1, 1998. NOTE: Laws 1998, c. 20, § 1 repealed by Laws 1998, c. 205, § 2 and Laws 1998, c. 412, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1998. §70-6-131. Teacher recruitment programs. Subject to the availability of funds, the State Department of Education and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, working in cooperation, shall: 1. Develop and implement programs to identify talented students and recruit those students and other persons into the teaching profession. Persons targeted for recruitment may include anyone eligible for lawful employment; 2. Develop and distribute materials that emphasize the importance of the teaching profession and inform individuals about state-funded loan forgiveness and tuition assistance programs; 3. Give priority to developing and implementing recruitment programs to address the areas of teacher shortage identified and the recommendations made in the educator supply-and-demand study as required by Section 6-211 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The Department may use discretionary funds to carry out the provisions of this paragraph; 4. Encourage cooperation between the business community and school districts to develop recruitment programs designed to attract and retain capable teachers, including programs to provide summer employment opportunities for teachers; and 5. Encourage major education associations to cooperate in developing a long-range program promoting teaching as a prestigious, respected and desirable career and to assist in identifying local activities and resources that may be used to promote the teaching profession. Added by Laws 2017, c. 149, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017. §70-6-132. Oklahoma Teacher Recruitment Revolving Fund. A. Twenty Dollars ($20.00) of the fee authorized by Section 1 of Enrolled Senate Bill No. 14 of the 1st Session of the 56th Oklahoma Legislature, for Oklahoma License to Educate license plates shall be deposited to the Oklahoma Teacher Recruitment Revolving Fund created in subsection B of this section. B. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the State Department of Education to be designated the "Oklahoma Teacher Recruitment Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the State Department of Education pursuant to the provisions of subsection A of this section and any donations, grants and gifts from any public or private source. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the State Department of Education for the purpose of operating teacher recruitment programs. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment. Added by Laws 2017, c. 149, § 2, eff. July 1, 2017. §70-6-133. Pilot program for new pathways to teacher certification. A. As used in this section: 1. "Provider" means an eligible entity that seeks or has obtained approval of an alternative teacher preparation program consistent with this section; and 2. "Program" means content provided by a provider that leads toward licensure in a specific content area. B. The State Board of Education shall identify providers to implement new and innovative pathways toward teacher certification on a pilot program basis. Providers seeking to participate in the pilot program shall submit applications to the State Board of Education. C. A provider chosen by the State Board of Education to participate in the pilot program shall offer a program that: 1. Provides evidence and history of fiscal solvency, capacity, operation, and program effectiveness; 2. Provides evidence of necessary infrastructure to provide accurate, timely, and secure data for the purpose of admission, teacher candidate monitoring, testing, and certification recommendations; 3. Has policies and procedures in place ensuring the security of teacher candidate records under applicable laws and regulations; 4. Has the instructional capacity within an existing novice teacher support program, the ability to obtain the instructional capacity, or has established a partnership with an accredited higher education institution to provide adequate instruction in accordance with this subsection; 5. Offers an instructional phase that provides intensive preparation before the teacher candidates assume classroom responsibilities; 6. Offers a research-based and results-oriented approach focused on best teaching practices to increase student achievement and growth measured against state academic standards; 7. Provides assessment, supervision, and evaluation of teacher candidates to determine their specific needs throughout the program and to support efforts to successfully complete the program; 8. Provides intensive and ongoing professional development opportunities that accelerate a teacher candidate's professional growth, support student learning, and provide a workplace orientation, professional staff development, and mentoring; 9. Offers peer review focused on standards of professional practice and continuous professional growth; and 10. Provides a process to review a teacher candidate's final competency of required certification content standards that leads to a potential candidate being recommended for teacher certification in accordance with subsection F of this section. D. The State Board of Education shall ensure that providers approved to participate in the pilot program allow teacher candidates to demonstrate pedagogy and content standard proficiency in school-based programs and through other nontraditional means. Nontraditional means may include, but not be limited to, previous work experience, teacher experience, educator evaluations, industry- recognized certifications, and other essentially equivalent demonstrations. E. If the State Board of Education determines that a provider fails to meet or is deficient in any of the requirements of this section, it may suspend or revoke the approval of the provider after providing notification of the deficiencies and an opportunity to remedy the deficiencies. F. A teacher candidate that completes a program offered by an approved provider shall be eligible for certification, provided he or she meets the certification requirements set forth in Section 6- 187 of this title in the area of specialization for which certification is sought and is recommended for certification by the approved provider. G. The State Board of Education shall issue a certificate to teach to any person who meets the requirements set forth in this section and who has on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The person applying for the certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history record checks. H. A provider shall submit a report to the State Department of Education after one (1) year of operation showing the percentage of teacher candidates who have completed the program and who have successfully completed or who have failed the competency examinations for certification and the provider's efforts to help candidates successfully pass the examinations. A provider shall annually submit a report to the State Department of Education outlining the success of the program. I. The State Board of Education may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. J. The pilot program created in this section shall end no later than July 1, 2026. Added by Laws 2019, c. 351, § 1. Amended by Laws 2023, c. 349, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023. §70-6-140. Repealed by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 75, which created this section, was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). Now see Title 70, § 6-149.1. §70-6-141. Repealed by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 76, which created this section, was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). Now see Title 70, § 6-149.2. §70-6-142. Repealed by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 77, which created this section, was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). Now see Title 70, § 6-149.3. §70-6-143. Repealed by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 78, which created this section, was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). Now see Title 70, § 6-149.4. §70-6-144. Repealed by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 79, which created this section, was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). Now see Title 70, § 6-149.5. §70-6-145. Repealed by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 80, which created this section, was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). Now see Title 70, § 6-149.6. §70-6-146. Repealed by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 81, which created this section, was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). Now see Title 70, § 6-149.7. §70-6-147. Repealed by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 82, which created this section, was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). Now see Title 70, § 6-149.8. §70-6-148. Repealed by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 83, which created this section, was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). Now see Title 70, § 6-149.9. §70-6-149.1. Short title - School Protection Act. Sections 2 through 10 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the "School Protection Act". Added by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 2, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Text formerly resided under repealed Title 70, § 6-140, which was derived from Laws 2009, c. 228, § 75, which was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). §70-6-149.2. Purpose of act. The purpose of the School Protection Act is to provide teachers, principals, and other school professionals the tools they need to undertake reasonable actions to maintain order, discipline, and an appropriate educational environment. Added by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 3, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Text formerly resided under repealed Title 70, § 6-141, which was derived from Laws 2009, c. 228, § 76, which was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). §70-6-149.3. Definitions. As used in the School Protection Act: 1. "Education employee" means any individual who is an employee of a school; and 2. "School" means a public school district, governmental entity that employs teachers as defined in Section 1-116 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or private kindergarten, elementary, or secondary school. Added by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 4, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Text formerly resided under repealed Title 70, § 6-142, which was derived from Laws 2009, c. 228, § 77, which was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). §70-6-149.4. False accusations of criminal activity against education employees - Penalties. A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any person eighteen (18) years of age or older who acts with specific intent in making a false accusation of criminal activity against an education employee to law enforcement authorities or school district officials, or both, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, punished by a fine of not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00). B. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any student between seven (7) years of age and seventeen (17) years of age who acts with specific intent in making a false accusation of criminal activity against an education employee to law enforcement authorities or school district officials, or both, shall, upon conviction, at the discretion of the court, be subject to any of the following: 1. Community service of a type and for a period of time to be determined by the court; or 2. Any other sanction as the court in its discretion may deem appropriate. C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to statements regarding individuals elected or appointed to an educational entity. D. This section is in addition to and does not limit the civil or criminal liability of a person who makes false statements alleging criminal activity by another. Added by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 5, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Text formerly resided under repealed Title 70, § 6-143, which was derived from Laws 2009, c. 228, § 78, which was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). §70-6-149.5. Awarding of costs and attorney fees - Expert witness fees. A. In any civil action or proceeding against a school or an education employee, the court may award costs and reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party. In any civil action or proceeding by or between any education employee and a school or other education employee, the provisions of this section shall not apply. B. Expert witness fees may be included as part of the costs awarded under this section. Added by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 6, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Text formerly resided under repealed Title 70, § 6-144, which was derived from Laws 2009, c. 228, § 79, which was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). §70-6-149.6. Insurance indemnification not a waiver of defenses. Unless otherwise provided by law, the existence of any policy of insurance indemnifying a school or an education employee against liability for damages is not a waiver of any defense otherwise available to the educational entity or its employees in the defense of the claim. Added by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 7, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Text formerly resided under repealed Title 70, § 6-145, which was derived from Laws 2009, c. 228, § 80, which was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). §70-6-149.7. Student assault or acts reasonably causing injury to education employees or volunteers - Penalties - Education employee immunity. A. No student enrolled in a school shall assault, attempt to cause physical bodily injury, or act in a manner that could reasonably cause bodily injury to an education employee or a person who is volunteering for the school. Any student in grades six through twelve who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to out-of-school suspension as provided for in Section 24- 101.3 of this title. This section shall be in addition to and does not limit the criminal liability of a person who causes or commits an assault, battery, or assault and battery upon a school employee as provided for in Section 650.7 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. B. No education employee shall be liable for the use of necessary and reasonable force to control and discipline a student during the time the student is in attendance at the school or in transit to or from the school, or any other function authorized by the school district. Added by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 8, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. Amended by Laws 2015, c. 135, § 1. NOTE: Text formerly resided under repealed Title 70, § 6-146, which was derived from Laws 2009, c. 228, § 81, which was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). §70-6-149.8. Benefits not lost by leaves of absence due to assault or battery. An education employee who is injured as a result of an assault or battery upon the person of the employee while the employee is in the performance of any duties as an education employee shall be entitled to a leave of absence from employment with the school without a loss of leave benefits. Added by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 9, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Text formerly resided under repealed Title 70, § 6-147, which was derived from Laws 2009, c. 228, § 82, which was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). §70-6-149.9. Act does not limit other laws. The School Protection Act shall be in addition to and shall not limit or amend The Governmental Tort Claims Act or any other applicable law. Added by Laws 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 7, § 10, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013. NOTE: Text formerly resided under repealed Title 70, § 6-148, which was derived from Laws 2009, c. 228, § 83, which was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013). §70-6-150. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-151. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-152. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-153. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-154. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-154.1. Renewal of Standard Teaching Certificate. A. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules by which a person who holds a valid Oklahoma Standard Teaching Certificate may satisfy requirements for renewal of the Standard Teaching Certificate by completing staff development programs, conferences and seminars in lieu of teaching experience or higher education credits required by the State Board of Education for certificate renewal. Only programs, conferences and seminars recognized for staff development credit by an Oklahoma public school district at the time the teacher attends the program, conference or seminar may be used to fulfill requirements under this section. The State Board of Education shall not require more staff development credit to be earned for certificate renewal than the Board requires teachers and administrators to earn pursuant to Section 6-158 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. B. District boards of education may charge a reasonable fee for a holder of a valid Oklahoma Standard Teaching Certificate who is not employed as a teacher or administrator in an Oklahoma public school to attend district-sponsored staff development programs or seminars. Added by Laws 1993, c. 350, § 2, emerg. eff. June 10, 1993. §70-6-155. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-155.1. Repealed by Laws 1988, c. 225, § 26. §70-6-156. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-157. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-158. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-158.1. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-159. Repealed by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 33, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-160. Renumbered as § 6-191 of this title by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 34, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-161. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Laws 1993, c. 155, § 4, eff. July 1, 1993. §70-6-162. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-163. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-164. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-165. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-166. Blank. §70-6-167. Blank. §70-6-168. Blank. §70-6-169. Blank. §70-6-170. Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. §70-6-171. Renumbered as § 6-181 of this title by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 34, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-172. Renumbered as § 6-183 of this title by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 34, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-173. Repealed by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 33, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-174. Repealed by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 33, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-175. Renumbered as § 6-188 of this title by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 34, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-176. Repealed by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 33, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-177. Repealed by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 33, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-178. Renumbered as § 6-199 of this title by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 34, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-180. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act". Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 1, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-181. Legislative declaration - Interpretation of act. The Legislature, recognizing its obligation to the children of this state to ensure their opportunity to receive an excellent education, and recognizing that the single most important factor affecting the quality of education is the quality of the individual teacher in the classroom, hereby calls for the development, implementation and administration of a new competency-based teacher preparation system in Oklahoma. It is the intent of the Legislature that this act shall be in addition to existing laws governing teachers, and nothing herein shall be construed as repealing or amending any protection to teachers prescribed, or as removing or diminishing any existing power, authority or responsibility of the local boards of education and the State Board of Education not in conflict with the provisions of this act. Nondegreed vocational teachers and school nurses certified under rules promulgated by the State Board of Education shall be exempt from the provisions of this act, except for those provisions concerning professional development programs. Added by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 1, eff. June 1, 1992. Amended by Laws 1994, c. 224, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Laws 1995, c. 322, § 2, eff. July 1, 1995. Renumbered from § 6-171 of this title by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 34, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-182. Definitions. As used in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act: 1. "Board" means the State Board of Education; 2. "Commission" means the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability; 3. "State Regents" means the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; 4. "Professional development program" means the program mandated by the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act for the continuous improvement and enrichment of the certified and licensed teachers of this state; 5. "Teacher education professional development committee" means the committee created in Section 6-186 of this title for the continuous improvement and enrichment of higher education faculty in teacher education programs in institutions of higher education; 6. "Department" means the State Department of Education; 7. "Induction" means a program that provides support, mentorship and coaching to educators at the beginning of their careers or as they transition to new roles within a school or district. Induction programs work with inductees to assist in all matters concerning classroom management and professional development for that teacher. Induction programs may involve a committee of one or more mentor teachers, the principal or an assistant principal of the employing school, one or more administrators designated by the school district board of education, a teacher educator in a college or school of education of an institution of higher education or an educator in a department or school outside the institution's teacher education unit; 8. "Teacher" means a person defined as a teacher in Section 1- 116 of this title; 9. "Inductee" means any certified teacher who is employed in an accredited school to serve as a teacher and the school district has elected to place under the guidance and assistance of a mentor teacher or induction committee. Inductees shall include those individuals having completed the program of the college or school of education of the accredited institution of higher education from which the person has been graduated, and shall have successfully completed the competency examination in areas of approval in which the inductee seeks certification, those individuals eligible for the alternative placement teaching certificate according to Section 6- 122.3 of this title, and those individuals issued an emergency or provisional certificate according to Section 6-187 of this title. All teachers working in a new role, including classroom teachers transitioning to a new role, shall be considered inductees for purposes of induction programs; 10. "Certified teacher" means any teacher who has been issued a certificate by the Board in accordance with the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act and the rules of the Board; 11. "Mentor teacher" means any teacher who has been appointed to provide guidance, support, coaching and assistance to an inductee employed by the school district. A mentor teacher shall be a current or former classroom teacher and have a minimum of two (2) years of classroom teaching experience as a certified teacher. When possible, a mentor teacher shall have participated in mentor teacher professional development and have expertise in the teaching field of the inductee; 12. "Higher education faculty" means any individual who is employed in a teaching capacity in an institution of higher education, approved or accredited by the Commission for the preparation of education personnel; and 13. "Competency examination" means the assessment required in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act for certification as a teacher and shall consist of tests over professional education and subject areas as defined by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 3, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 344, § 2, emerg. eff. June 9, 1997; Laws 2005, c. 280, § 1, eff. July 1, 2005; Laws 2012, c. 223, § 8, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 9, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2016, c. 108, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016; Laws 2018, c. 165, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2018; Laws 2022, c. 220, § 3, emerg. eff. May 5, 2022. §70-6-183. Repealed by Laws 2012, c. 223, § 17, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-184. Authority of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation, the State Board of Education, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board of Career and Technology Education. A. Beginning July 1, 1997 through July 1, 2014, the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall have authority for approval and accreditation of teacher education programs and for assessment of candidates for certification according to the provisions of the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act. As part of this duty the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall: 1. Include the State Board of Education in the process; 2. Review and assess approved, accredited and new programs of teacher education; and 3. Encourage studies and research designed to improve teacher education. B. Until July 1, 2014, before adopting any rule pertaining to approval or accreditation of teacher education programs or assessment of candidates for certification, the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall solicit comments from the State Board of Education, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board of Career and Technology Education on the proposed rule. Within forty-five (45) days of the receipt of the proposed rule from the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation, the State Board of Education, the State Regents and the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall separately review the proposed rule and return their recommendations to the Commission on the proposed adoption. Each recommendation shall include the rationale for the recommendation. The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall accord the recommendations due deliberation in its subsequent consideration of the adoption of each proposed rule. If the action of the Commission on a proposed rule is not consistent with the recommendation made by any of the reviewing entities, within ten (10) days of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation's formal action on the rule, the Commission shall submit a report providing justification for its actions to the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability. C. Until July 1, 2014, the State Board of Education, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall also have authority to recommend to the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation rules for teacher education program approval and accreditation and rules for teacher assessment. Any such rule recommended shall be considered by the Commission within sixty (60) days of receipt of the rule by the same process provided in subsection A of this section for rules proposed by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. D. Until July 1, 2014, before adopting any rule pertaining to teacher certification, residency or professional development, the State Board of Education shall solicit comments from the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board of Career and Technology Education on the proposed rule. Within forty-five (45) days of the receipt of a proposed rule from the State Board of Education, the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation, the State Regents and the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall separately review the proposed rule and return their recommendations to the Board on the proposed adoption. Each recommendation shall include the rationale for the recommendation. The State Board of Education shall accord the recommendations due deliberation in its subsequent consideration of the adoption of each rule. If the action of the State Board of Education on a proposed rule is not consistent with the recommendation made by any of the reviewing entities, within ten (10) days of the State Board of Education's formal action on the rule, the State Board of Education shall submit a report providing justification for its action to the Education Oversight Board. E. Until July 1, 2014, the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall have authority to recommend to the State Board of Education rules for adoption in the areas of teacher certification, residency and professional development. Any such rule recommended shall be considered by the State Board of Education within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the rule by the same process provided in subsection C of this section for rules proposed by the State Board of Education. F. Beginning July 1, 2014, the State Board of Education, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall have the authority to submit proposed rules regarding teacher education program approval, accreditation, and for teacher assessment to the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability. All proposed rules shall be considered by the Commission within sixty (60) days of receipt of the proposed rule. The proposed rules shall be considered by the Commission in the same process provided in subsection B of this section for rules proposed by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. G. Beginning July 1, 2014, before adopting any rule pertaining to teacher leadership and effectiveness or professional development, the State Board of Education shall solicit comments from the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board of Career and Technology Education on the proposed rule. Within forty-five (45) days of the receipt of a proposed rule from the State Board of Education, the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, the State Regents and the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall separately review the proposed rule and return their recommendations to the Board on the proposed rule. Each recommendation shall include the rationale for the recommendation. The State Board of Education shall accord the recommendations due deliberation in its subsequent consideration of the adoption of each rule. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 5, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 33, § 80, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2012, c. 223, § 9, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 10, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-185. Competencies and methods to be incorporated into teacher preparation system. A. The following competencies and methods shall be incorporated into the programs approved by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability for the competency-based teacher preparation system provided for in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act: 1. The teacher preparation system shall include, but not be limited to, the following competencies: a. excellence in the arts and sciences, b. an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter to be taught, c. the ability to identify and cultivate talent and potential in students, d. an understanding of child and human development, e. teaching skills developed through a variety of learning experiences, f. the ability to interact effectively with all students, g. skills necessary for working with parents, guardians and custodians of students in the education process, h. skills necessary to involve the community in education, i. skills to foster teamwork within and among schools, j. for administrators, skills necessary to be an effective leader of a school or school district, and k. skills in effective classroom management and student discipline; 2. The preservice program shall include the following methods to achieve the competencies listed in paragraph 1 of this subsection: a. require teacher candidates to study arts and sciences at the undergraduate level, b. require secondary and elementary/secondary teacher candidates to have undergraduate majors, or their equivalents, in a subject area, and require teacher candidates in early childhood, elementary, and special education to have subject area concentrations which allow qualification as a generalist, c. require teacher candidates in early childhood, elementary, secondary, and special education to study the philosophy, overarching framework, components, and implementation of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) designed to address the core academic and nonacademic needs of all students. The program shall provide for training that utilizes evidence-based assessment, intervention, and data-based decision- making procedures within a tiered system of support to identify students at risk for negative academic or nonacademic outcomes. This training shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas as appropriate by grade band: (1) a structured literacy approach that includes phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, decoding letters into sound and its relationship to printed material, rapid-naming skills, oral fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, (2) an evidence-based approach to mathematics instruction that includes understanding key mathematical concepts, fluency of basic facts, fluent and flexible use of standard and nonstandard algorithms, and application of these mathematical principles to solving problems, (3) the application of the behavioral sciences to classroom management that includes instruction on prevention of problematic behaviors, teaching appropriate behaviors, reinforcing appropriate behaviors, responding to problematic behaviors, and evaluating the effect of classroom management on student outcomes, and (4) the identification and impact of trauma on student learning and trauma-informed responsive instruction, d. require teacher candidates to study the individuality of students, the capacity of students to learn and the process of learning, e. integrate curriculum from other disciplines with the education curriculum, f. require teacher candidates to have training experiences and personal contact with parents, guardians or custodians of school-age children, g. require teacher candidates to have community involvement experience, h. structure courses so as to require teamwork activities, and i. require teacher candidates to study, in existing coursework, substance abuse symptoms identification and prevention, mental illness symptoms identification and mental health issues, and classroom safety and discipline techniques; and 3. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall not require more than a four-year program of one hundred twenty-four (124) semester hours to complete a teacher education degree. B. It is the intent of the Legislature that institutions of higher education which offer teacher education programs hold such programs accountable for meeting the certification competencies approved by the State Board of Education. It is the intent of the Legislature that the teacher education programs incorporate a curriculum to achieve the competency-based system and include integration of the teacher preparation curricula with the arts and sciences departments curricula. Each institution of higher education which seeks accreditation or approval for its teacher education program shall develop an institution plan which follows the State Board of Education competencies for certification. In developing such institution plans, the higher education institution shall establish a process which seeks information and input from teacher preparation faculty, faculty from arts and sciences and other programs and disciplines which are appropriate, students within the teacher education program, teachers, administrators, parents, guardians or custodians of students and business and community leaders. Each institution shall report annually to the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability the procedures used to inform the public regarding the institution's teacher education program and the manner through which public input is solicited and received. The institution's plan shall be accessible to any interested party under the Oklahoma Open Records Act. No institution of higher education's teacher education program shall be approved by the Commission unless the institution plan has been approved by that institution's governing board. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may facilitate the development of institution plans to assist institutions of higher education. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 6, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 344, § 3, emerg. eff. June 9, 1997; Laws 1999, c. 202, § 2, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2003, c. 295, § 1, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2010, c. 61, § 2, eff. July 1, 2010; Laws 2010, c. 296, § 1, eff. July 1, 2010; Laws 2012, c. 223, § 10, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 11, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2019, c. 234, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2019; Laws 2021, c. 182, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2021. §70-6-186. Criteria for approval and accreditation of teacher education programs. A. Criteria for the approval and accreditation of teacher education programs in Oklahoma institutions of higher education shall include, but not be limited to, substantial evidence that persons who enter teacher education programs demonstrate: 1. Competency in the oral and written use of the English language; 2. A minimum grade point average as established by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability; and 3. The ability to meet criteria established pursuant to the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act at the completion of the teacher education program and provide evidence of having worked with children or youth in a variety of situations. Criteria shall also include a greater emphasis upon field work in accredited schools by prospective teachers under the supervision of higher education faculty. B. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall work with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the various institutions of higher education in developing guidelines for a paid teacher internship program which may be offered at each institution for prospective teachers. The purpose of each program shall be to provide mentorship and support for prospective teachers. Students enrolled in a teacher education program shall be eligible to participate in the program. C. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Legislature that the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability work with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the various institutions of higher education in establishing a procedure whereby full-time teacher education faculty continue their professional development during their tenure at an institution of higher education to ensure that the future teachers of this state are taught by professional educators fully trained in their area of expertise. Each approved or accredited program of teacher education shall have a system for documenting and reporting the annual professional development activities of all teacher education faculty members. Faculty professional development reports shall be reviewed by the Commission along with professional development activities as a normal part of the accreditation process. It is further declared to be the intent of the Legislature that such professional development plans provide alternative means of education including, but not limited to: 1. Professional development programs; 2. Higher education courses; 3. Exchange programs with public school classroom teachers, administrators, and other school personnel; and 4. Programs whereby all full-time teacher education faculty members directly involved in the teacher education process including all administrators of the teacher education program, are required to serve in a state accredited public school for at least ten (10) clock hours per school year in responsibilities related to their respective teacher education teaching fields. All public school systems shall participate in the programs provided for in this subsection when needed. D. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall adopt rules requiring specific improvements to strengthen the screening of student applicants and field activity and placement as set out in subsection A of this section. Such rules shall be reviewed and amended or readopted by the Commission at least once every five (5) years. E. To assist the Commission in setting specific requirements as set out in subsections A and D of this section, the Commission shall annually prepare a statistical report showing the percentage of students from each of the Oklahoma institutions of higher education who have successfully completed or who have failed the competency examination for certification. The annual report shall show the percentages for each institution of higher education and each assessment area separately by student degree status and shall be distributed annually to each member of the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the governing board of each institution which has an approved or state accredited teacher education program, the State Board of Education, the State Board of Career and Technology Education and the Legislature. F. By November 1, 2017, the Commission shall adopt rules requiring coursework or training in the use of digital and other instructional technologies as a requisite for program accreditation. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 7, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 33, § 81, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2010, c. 61, § 3, eff. July 1, 2010; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 12, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2017, c. 5, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017; Laws 2019, c. 273, § 2, emerg. eff. May 2, 2019; Laws 2021, c. 496, § 2, eff. July 1, 2021. §70-6-186.1. TeachForwardOK pilot program - Applications for teacher education programs - Report. A. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall establish and maintain a two-year pilot program to be known as TeachForwardOK to provide new, high-quality pathways to enter the teaching profession and increase the number of teachers in this state’s workforce. B. Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act, the Commission shall issue a request for proposals to select technical assistance providers to evaluate teacher education programs in institutions of higher education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education that are accredited by the Commission pursuant to Section 6-186 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. C. To participate in TeachForwardOK, a teacher education program shall submit an application to the Commission in the manner and on a form prescribed by the Commission. The Commission shall establish criteria to approve applicants. Subject to the availability of funds, the Commission shall award grants to approved applicant teacher education programs. The Commission may use any gifts, grants, devises, and donations from any public or private source and monies appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this section. Grants shall be used as incentives to participate and to contract with a technical assistance provider selected by the Commission pursuant to subsection B of this section. The provider shall evaluate, at a minimum, the following: 1. Teacher candidate recruitment and completion; 2. Whether the teacher education program prepares teacher candidates effectively; 3. Whether the teacher education program meets workforce needs in this state; and 4. Innovative ways to recruit nontraditional teacher candidates unique to the teacher education program. D. 1. Evaluation reports prepared by a technical assistance provider shall be electronically submitted to the approved applicant teacher education program and the Commission. 2. Within ninety (90) days of receiving the report, the teacher education program shall electronically submit a report response to the Commission detailing how the teacher education program plans to address the evaluation report’s findings. The report response shall prioritize innovative approaches to provide new, high-quality pathways to enter the teaching profession and increase the number of teachers in this state’s workforce including, but not limited to: a. developing a system for recruiting eligible teacher candidates, such as: (1) a pathway for high school students to become paraprofessionals, (2) a pathway for paraprofessionals to become teachers, and (3) a pathway for individuals with bachelor’s degrees to become teachers, b. developing a curriculum that includes intensive on- the-job training for teacher candidates, c. identifying a mastery-based evaluation system to determine when eligible teacher candidates have mastered the skills and competencies necessary for graduation from an apprenticeship program and outlining benchmarks that teacher candidates must meet as they progress through on-the-job training, d. offering a schedule that enables teacher candidates to work full time in a public school district while participating in an apprenticeship program and allowing paraprofessionals to continue in their positions, or e. providing a flexible schedule for paraprofessionals participating in an apprenticeship program to support their success in the program that will facilitate course completion and on-the-job training. E. Subject to the availability of funding, the Commission shall review the report responses submitted pursuant to subsection D of this section and select one approved applicant teacher education program to receive Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) to enact the initiatives outlined in the program’s report response. F. By December 31, 2027, the Commission shall electronically submit a report of TeachForwardOK’s findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. G. The Commission shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. Added by Laws 2025, c. 400, § 1. §70-6-187. Competency examinations. A. Prior to July 1, 2014, a competency examination shall be adopted by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and beginning July 1, 2014, a competency examination shall be adopted by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability for the professional education and various subject areas and grade levels for purposes of ensuring academic achievement and competency of each teacher candidate or teacher in the subject area the person is seeking certification to teach which shall also include certification as an administrator, as prescribed by the State Board of Education. The Commission, consistent with the purposes of this section, shall promulgate rules and procedures to guarantee the confidentiality of examinations. B. No teacher candidate shall be eligible for certification until successfully completing the competency examination except those candidates who make application to the Board and meet the criteria for the alternative placement program pursuant to Section 6-122.3 of this title. Certification shall be limited to areas of approval in which the certified teacher has successfully completed the examination. Subject to the provisions of subsection C of this section, testing for certification for subjects in which a teacher candidate or teacher is seeking a minor teaching assignment or an endorsement to teach shall be limited to the specific subject area test. A teacher candidate or teacher may take the professional education or subject area portions of the examination subject to any limit imposed by the Commission. C. 1. Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, a teacher may be certified in as many areas as the teacher meets the necessary requirements provided by law and has successfully completed the subject area portion of the examination. 2. Except as otherwise provided for in this paragraph, certification in early childhood, elementary, or special education shall require completion of an appropriate teacher education program approved by the Commission and effective July 1, 2025, successful completion of a comprehensive reading instruction assessment as provided for in Section 1210.508F of this title. Any teacher who is certified to teach elementary education may be certified in early childhood education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject area portion of the examination. Any teacher who is certified to teach early childhood education may be certified in elementary education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject area portion of the examination. Any special education teacher who becomes certified to teach through completion of an accredited teacher preparation program may be certified in early childhood or elementary education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject portion of the examination. Any teacher who becomes certified to teach through completion of an accredited teacher preparation program or becomes alternatively certified to teach through the Troops to Teachers program may be certified in special education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject area portion of the examination. Any special education teacher who has not completed a Commission-approved teacher education program in elementary education or early childhood education but who has successfully completed the subject area portion of the examination may be certified in elementary education or early childhood education for the purpose of providing direct instruction and serving as the teacher of record for grading purposes in special education settings only. D. The Commission shall offer the competency examination at least four times per calendar year on dates to be established by the Commission. E. If a teacher candidate or teacher is a non-native-English speaker, the Commission shall offer the subject area competency examination in the native language of the teacher candidate or teacher only if the teacher candidate or teacher is employed or has been offered employment by a school district as a teacher in a foreign language immersion program offered by the school district. If a non-native-English speaker who has received certification in a subject area after taking the subject area competency examination in the native language of the speaker seeks to add a certification area in the future and that person is no longer employed as a teacher in a foreign language immersion program, the examination for the additional certification area shall be taken in English. The State Board of Education shall issue a restricted license or certificate to any teacher who has completed a subject area competency examination in the native language of the teacher as provided for in this subsection restricting the teacher to teaching only in a foreign language immersion program. F. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, may grant an exception to the requirement to complete a subject area examination for initial certification in a field which does not require an advanced degree if the candidate has an advanced degree in a subject that is substantially comparable to the content assessed on a subject area examination. The advanced degree shall be from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency which is recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education. The Commission shall provide the Board with the necessary information to determine comparability. G. 1. Nothing in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act shall restrict the right of the State Board of Education to issue an emergency or provisional certificate, as needed. Provided, however, prior to the issuance of an emergency certificate, the district shall document substantial efforts to employ a teacher who holds a provisional or standard certificate. In the event a district is unable to hire an individual meeting this criteria, the district shall document efforts to employ an individual with a provisional or standard certificate in another curricular area with academic preparation in the field of need. Only after these alternatives have been exhausted shall the district be allowed to employ an individual meeting minimum standards as established by the State Board of Education for the issuance of emergency certificates. 2. The State Board of Education may renew the emergency or provisional certificate of an individual who has been employed by a school district board of education for at least two (2) years if the following criteria are met: a. the individual has been granted an emergency or provisional certificate pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection for two (2) years, b. the individual has not successfully completed the competency examinations required by this section, c. the individual submits a portfolio of his or her work to the State Board of Education, which shall include evidence of progress toward standard certification, d. the employing school district board of education agrees to renew the individual’s contract to teach for the ensuing fiscal year, and e. the superintendent of the employing school district submits to the State Board of Education the reason the emergency or provisional certificate should be renewed and provides evidence of the district’s inability to hire a teacher who holds a standard certificate. 3. Individuals employed by a school district under an emergency or provisional certificate shall not be considered career teachers and therefore not entitled to the protections of the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990. H. The State Board of Education may grant an exception to the requirements for all certification examinations for teacher candidates who are “deaf”, which for the purposes of this section shall mean having a hearing loss so severe that the person cannot process auditory linguistic information with or without accommodation and whose primary language and teaching environment is American Sign Language. The Board may grant an exception upon: 1. Verification by a licensed audiologist of a hearing loss so severe that the teacher candidate cannot process auditory linguistic information with or without accommodation; 2. Demonstration of fluency in American Sign Language; 3. Demonstration of competency in the subject area of specialization as approved by the Board in lieu of certification examinations; and 4. Sponsorship by a certified deaf education teacher for a mentorship program. The Board may promulgate rules and other requirements as necessary to grant the exceptions described in this subsection. Applicable teaching environments may include American Sign Language immersion programs, the Oklahoma School for the Deaf, programs for the deaf, or other classroom settings in which American Sign Language is the language of instruction. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 8, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 344, § 4, emerg. eff. June 9, 1997; Laws 1999, c. 62, § 1, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2001, c. 425, § 2, emerg. eff. June 5, 2001; Laws 2002, c. 236, § 2, eff. July 1, 2002; Laws 2009, c. 82, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2009; Laws 2010, c. 61, § 4, eff. July 1, 2010; Laws 2011, c. 82, § 1, eff. July 1, 2011; Laws 2012, c. 18, § 1, eff. July 1, 2012; Laws 2012, c. 223, § 11, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Laws 2013, c. 336, § 3, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 149, § 1, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 54, § 31, emerg. eff. April 10, 2015; Laws 2017, c. 50, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2017; Laws 2020, c. 139, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2020; Laws 2021, c. 118, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021; Laws 2022, c. 228, § 49, emerg. eff. May 5, 2022; Laws 2024, c. 452, § 164, emerg. eff. June 14, 2024; Laws 2025, c. 297, § 1, eff. July 1, 2025. NOTE: Laws 2014, c. 124, § 13 repealed by Laws 2015, c. 54, § 32, emerg. eff. April 10, 2015. Laws 2021, c. 319, § 1 repealed by Laws 2022, c. 228, § 50, emerg. eff. May 5, 2022. §70-6-187A. Competency examinations - Refund. If a company that provides competency examinations within this state requires payment from a teacher candidate for an examination prior to the release of the previous competency examination results for that candidate, it shall be required to provide a full refund to the teacher candidate in the event he or she successfully passes the previous examination. Added by Laws 2013, c. 141, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2013. §70-6-187B. Teaching Certification Scholarship Program A. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall establish the Teaching Certification Scholarship Program. The purpose of the program shall be to provide qualifying teacher candidates who are seeking certification with a scholarship toward the cost of competency examinations required by Section 6-187 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, subject to the availability of funds. B. The Commission shall establish eligibility criteria for the Teaching Certification Scholarship Program. C. Scholarships granted pursuant to this section shall be limited to one per teacher candidate. D. A teacher candidate who accepts a scholarship shall be required to submit to the Commission a declaration to teach for a minimum of one (1) year in an accredited school district in Oklahoma. If the teacher candidate does not teach at a school district in Oklahoma upon achieving certification, he or she shall be required to reimburse the Commission for the full amount awarded. Added by Laws 2016, c.17, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2017. §70-6-187C. Teaching Certification Scholarship Revolving Fund There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability to be designated the "Teaching Certification Scholarship Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability from the Legislature and any donations, grants and gifts from any public or private source. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability for the purpose of implementing the Teaching Certification Scholarship Program. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment. Added by Laws 2016, c. 17, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2017. §70-6-187D. Promulgation of rules The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall promulgate rules necessary to implement the provisions of this act. Added by Laws 2016, c. 17, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2017. §70-6-187E. Requirements for teacher candidates enrolled in educator preparation programs. A. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall establish student teaching requirements for teacher candidates who are enrolled in an educator preparation program accredited by the Commission. The requirements shall include: 1. Completion of a minimum number of weeks of field experience; or 2. Completion of a qualified job-embedded, competency-based teacher registered apprenticeship program. For the purposes of this section, “teacher registered apprenticeship program” means a structured program that combines on-the-job training with academic instruction to prepare individuals to become teachers. B. The Commission shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this act. Added by Laws 2025, c. 42, § 1, eff. July 1, 2025. §70-6-188. Repealed by Laws 2012, c. 223, § 17, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-189. Certification system. A. The certification system required by the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act as part of the new teacher preparation system shall be competency-based. The competencies for certification shall be integrated with competencies specified in Section 6-185 of this title. By July 1, 1996, the State Board of Education shall adopt general competencies for certification, and by January 1, 1997, the Board shall have adopted full competencies and implemented the certification system as required in this act. No higher education courses or credit hours may be specified by the State Board of Education in rules for certification. Nothing in the certification rules adopted by the Board shall prohibit the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education from adopting policies and procedures it deems appropriate for coursework, grade point average, or credit hours for teacher preparation at institutions in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. B. The certification requirements for a school principal not alternatively certified under subsection D of this section shall include not less than: 1. Completion of a standard master's degree; 2. Completion of a program in education administration approved by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation with an emphasis on curriculum, instruction and building-level leadership skills. The requirement in this paragraph shall not apply to any person who has completed a master's degree program in education that included competencies that are substantially equal to those listed in this paragraph and if the degree was completed prior to July 1, 2005; 3. Any other professional education and requirements as may be fixed by the State Board of Education; 4. A passing score on the subject area competency examination required in Section 6-187 of this title; and 5. A minimum of two (2) years of successful teaching experience in public or private schools accredited by the State Board of Education or by the proper accrediting authority of another state of the United States. C. The certification requirements for a superintendent of schools not alternatively certified under subsection D of this section shall include not less than: 1. Certification as a school principal or completion of the certification requirements for a school principal as set forth in subsection B of this section; 2. Completion of a program in education administration approved by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation with an emphasis on district-level leadership skills, and which shall include the following competencies: a. instructional leadership, b. organizational leadership, including education finance, education law, and risk management, c. collaborative and community leadership, and d. ethical leadership. The requirement in this paragraph shall not apply to any person who has completed an Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation approved Master's Degree in Education Administration or has completed a program in education that included competencies that are substantially equal to those listed in this paragraph, and if the degree or program was completed between the effective date of this act and July 1, 2005; 3. Any other professional education and requirements as may be fixed by the State Board of Education; 4. A passing score on the subject area competency examination required in Section 6-187 of this title; and 5. A minimum of two (2) years of administrative experience in public or private schools accredited by the State Board of Education or by the proper accrediting authority of another state of the United States. D. 1. The standards for alternative certification for superintendents of schools and principals shall include: a. the completion of a standard master's degree, b. two (2) years of relevant work experience in a supervisory or administrative capacity, c. a passing score on the subject area competency examination required in Section 6-187 of this title, and d. filing with the director of teacher education at an Oklahoma accredited institution of higher education a plan for completing an alternative administrative preparation program within three (3) years. Relevant work experience and coursework may be considered and applied to complete the plan. 2. An alternative certificate for superintendent of schools and principals shall not exceed three (3) years and shall not be renewable. 3. Upon successful completion of an alternative administrative preparation program by a participant, the State Board of Education shall issue a standard certificate for superintendent or principal, as applicable, to the applicant. 4. Any person participating in an alternative certification program for superintendent of schools and principals on the effective date of this act shall be subject to the program requirements in effect prior to the effective date of this act. E. The certification requirements for a superintendent of a technology center school district shall include not less than a standard master's degree, any other professional education requirements as may be fixed by the State Board of Education, and a minimum of four (4) years teaching, supervisory or administrative experience, which may include teaching of full-time adult students, in a technology center school district. A person meeting the requirements set forth in subsection C of this section shall be eligible for a certificate for superintendent of a technology center school district. F. The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate rules for a certification system specifically for teachers and instructors in the technology center school districts. The system shall be competency-based. The competencies for certification shall include industry-based skills, standards, and certifications. G. Certificates issued by the State Board of Education may be revoked by the State Board of Education for willful violation of any rule of the Board or of any federal or state law or other proper cause but only after sufficient hearing has been given before the Board. H. Teaching in a Head Start program or programs shall be used for renewal of a standard teaching certificate. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 10, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 360, § 1; Laws 2004, c. 5, § 83, emerg. eff. March 1, 2004; Laws 2005, c. 212, § 1; Laws 2007, c. 110, § 1, eff. July 1, 2007; Laws 2010, c. 213, § 1, emerg. eff. May 6, 2010; Laws 2012, c. 360, § 1; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 14, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2018, c. 287, § 1, eff. July 1, 2018; Laws 2020, c. 119, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2020; Laws 2024, c. 92, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2024. NOTE: Laws 2003, c. 228, § 1 repealed by Laws 2004, c. 5, § 84, emerg. eff. March 1, 2004. §70-6-189.1. Certification of mathematics teachers - Middle level certification or endorsement - Required curriculum of professional development institutes. A. Beginning July 1, 2000, no school district shall employ any teacher to teach mathematics in grades seven or eight, unless the teacher is certified to teach middle or secondary level mathematics or has received middle level endorsement pursuant to subsection B of this section. B. Any teacher who became certified to teach prior to September 1, 1999, does not have middle or secondary level certification in mathematics, and is serving in a school as a mathematics teacher for grades seven or eight shall be required to obtain middle level certification or middle level endorsement before September 1, 2003. For such teachers, middle level certification or middle level endorsement may be obtained as follows: 1. Middle level mathematics certification - A teacher may obtain middle level certification by successfully completing the appropriate Oklahoma Subject Area Test for middle level mathematics administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. The teacher shall not be required to take the Oklahoma Professional Teacher Examination for secondary students administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. A teacher granted middle level certification pursuant to this paragraph shall be entitled to teach mathematics in grades seven and eight for high school graduation credit; and 2. Middle level endorsement - A teacher may obtain a middle level endorsement by successfully completing a professional development institute in middle level mathematics developed and administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. Any professional development institute developed pursuant to this paragraph shall meet the criteria as established in subsection H of this section. A teacher granted middle level endorsement pursuant to this paragraph shall not be entitled to teach mathematics for high school graduation credit. C. Any teacher serving in a school as a mathematics teacher for grade six may obtain middle level endorsement by successfully completing a professional development institute in middle level mathematics developed pursuant to this section. Such teacher shall be eligible to participate in a professional development institute in middle level mathematics developed and administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation one time free of charge. D. Any teacher seeking middle level certification or middle level endorsement pursuant to subsection B of this section shall be eligible to take the Oklahoma Subject Area Test in middle level mathematics one time free of charge after July 1, 2000, or participate in a professional development institute in middle level mathematics developed and administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation one time free of charge after July 1, 2000. E. A teacher who is granted middle level certification in mathematics, pursuant to subsection B of this section, may teach grade nine only if the teacher successfully completes the Oklahoma Professional Teacher Examination for secondary students. F. A teacher who is granted middle level endorsement pursuant to subsection B or C of this section may teach mathematics courses in grades seven or eight for high school credit only if the teacher has completed a minimum of twenty-four college credit semester hours of mathematics as specified by the State Department of Education. G. Any teacher who became certified to teach prior to September 1, 1999, did not have middle or secondary level certification in mathematics and successfully completed the appropriate Oklahoma Subject Area Test for middle level mathematics between July 1, 1999, and July 1, 2000, shall be granted a middle level certificate pursuant to subsection B of this section. H. 1. Any professional development institute in middle level mathematics developed pursuant to this section and administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall: a. consist of a minimum of thirty (30) clock hours, b. be competency based, c. emphasize effective learning practices, d. require collaboration among participants, and e. require each participant to prepare a work product which can be utilized in the classroom by the participant. 2. Any professional development institute in middle level mathematics developed pursuant to this section and administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall be chosen through a competitive bid process, be reviewed by a professional development committee and other constituencies, and be subject to peer review. Invitations to bid for a professional development institute shall be open to any public or private entity. I. Beginning July 1, 2013, any teacher with certification or endorsement to teach at the secondary level may teach the subject area in which the teacher has received certification or endorsement in grades five and six. Added by Laws 1999, c. 320, § 4, eff. July 1, 1999. Amended by Laws 2000, c. 232, § 4, eff. July 1, 2000; Laws 2002, c. 291, § 1, eff. July 1, 2002; Laws 2005, c. 171, § 1, eff. July 1, 2005; Laws 2013, c. 8, § 1, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 15, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-189.2. School psychologist or psychometrist - Certification. A. Any person seeking certification as a school psychologist or school psychometrist shall be exempt from the requirement to successfully complete the professional education portion of the competency examination required pursuant to Sections 6-187 and 6-190 of this title. B. Any person certified as a school psychologist or school psychometrist pursuant to a substitution or exemption as provided in this section shall be required to complete all portions of the competency examination as required pursuant to Sections 6-187 and 6- 190 of this title if such person seeks to add certification in another subject in the future. C. The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section. Added by Laws 2010, c. 184, § 1, eff. July 1, 2010. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 124, § 16, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2022, c. 220, § 5, emerg. eff. May 5, 2022. §70-6-190. Qualifications for teacher employment and certification. A. The board of education of each school district shall employ and contract in writing, as required in Section 6-101 of this title, only with persons certified to teach by the State Board of Education in accordance with the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, except as otherwise provided for by Section 6-101 of this title and by other law. B. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to any person who: 1. Has successfully completed the teacher education program required by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability; 2. Has graduated from an accredited institution of higher education that has approval or accreditation for teacher education; 3. Has met all other requirements as may be established by the Board; 4. Has made the necessary application and paid the competency examination fee in an amount and as prescribed by the Commission; 5. Has successfully completed the competency examination required in Section 6-187 of this title; and 6. Beginning November 1, 2001, has on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record, the Board may issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record. The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history records. C. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to any person who: 1. Holds an out-of-state certificate and meets the requirements set forth in subsection G of this section; 2. Holds certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; 3. Holds an out-of-country certificate and meets the requirements set forth in subsection F of this section; or 4. Has successfully completed a competency examination used in the majority of other states or comparable customized exam and meets the requirements set forth in subsection H of this section. D. Beginning July 1, 2004, any person applying for initial Oklahoma certification shall have on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record, the Board may issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record. The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history records. E. Any person holding a valid certificate, issued prior to January 1, 1997, shall be a certified teacher for purposes of the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, subject to any professional development requirements prescribed by the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act or by the State Board of Education. F. 1. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person who holds a valid out-of-country certificate and meets any requirements established by the Board. The certificate to teach shall only be for those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out- of-country certificate. 2. A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this subsection shall not be required to take any competency examinations in those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out-of-country certificate. 3. A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this subsection shall have on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record check, the Board may issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record check. The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history record checks. 4. The Board shall promulgate rules establishing a process by which out-of-country certificates will be reviewed and evaluated for purposes of awarding a certificate to teach pursuant to this subsection. G. 1. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person who holds a valid out-of-state certificate. The certificate to teach shall only be for those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out-of-state certificate. 2. A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this subsection shall not be required to take any competency examinations in those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out-of-state certificate. 3. A person who meets the requirements of this subsection shall have on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record check, the Board may issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record check. The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history record checks. H. 1. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person who has successfully completed a competency exam used in a majority of the other states. The certificate to teach shall only be for those subject areas and grade levels that correspond with a certification area used in Oklahoma. 2. A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this subsection shall have on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record check, the Board may issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record check. The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history record checks. I. 1. The Board may establish new levels of teacher certificates: advanced, lead, and master. Each level shall have a stipend paid with state dollars from the lottery funds as provided in Section 713 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma Statutes. The advanced certificate shall include a stipend of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), the lead certificate shall include a stipend of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), and the master certificate shall include a stipend of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). 2. A teacher who works in a school with an enrollment of forty percent (40%) or more of students who are economically disadvantaged as defined in Section 18-109.5 of this title or a school district with an enrollment of fewer than one thousand students shall be paid a one-time award in addition to the stipends provided in paragraph 1 of this subsection: a. One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) for an advanced certificate, b. Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) for a lead certificate, and c. Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for a master certificate. 3. School districts may identify and designate the highest quality teachers for advanced, lead, and master certificates. Participating districts shall submit designation plans to the State Department of Education for evaluation and approval. Districts shall have local control and flexibility in determining how to evaluate teachers and assign designations, but, at a minimum, the designation system shall include a teacher observation, out-of- classroom time, and a student performance component. a. Teacher observation shall be based on the district’s selected Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE) evaluation tool or an alternate method of evaluation; provided, the method is evidenced-based. Alternate methods of evaluation shall not replace the requirements of Section 6-101.16 of this title. b. Each school district that elects to participate in assigning advanced, lead, and master teacher certificates shall include an out-of-classroom component for its assigned teachers to allow for professional growth opportunities while staying in the classroom. How out-of-classroom time is allotted and managed shall be determined by the school district and submitted as part of its designation plan to the State Department of Education for review and approval. c. Student performance measures may be determined by the district and may include, but shall not be limited to, pre- and post-tests, summative or formative, and portfolios. The school district application shall show evidence of validity and reliability of the measures. d. No more than ten percent (10%) of each school district’s teachers may be designated as advanced, lead, or master teachers in any given school year. Districts which receive Title I funds within the top quartile of individual student allotment amounts may designate an additional ten percent (10%) of teachers who are employed at school sites which receive the Title I funds as advanced, lead, or master teachers. Districts may use additional factors in determining which teachers are eligible to receive a designation, such as student surveys, teacher leadership responsibilities, teacher mentorship responsibilities, family surveys, demonstration of district core values, teacher peer surveys, and contributions to the broader school community. 4. If a school district chooses to participate in this program, the state shall provide the stipend amounts indicated for advanced, lead, and master certificates in paragraph 1 of this subsection. 5. School districts that designate teachers for advanced, lead, and master certificates do not have to participate in annual TLE evaluations for the designated teachers. 6. School districts may designate teachers for advanced, lead, or master certificates two times per year, once prior to the beginning of the school year, and once prior to the beginning of the second semester. Teachers statewide who receive these designations shall be placed in professional development cohorts and provided additional training opportunities from the State Department of Education. 7. After initial approval by the State Department of Education, the Department shall review and validate each participating school district’s teacher evaluation system biennially. 8. The State Department of Education shall annually report the school districts participating in the program, the number of advanced, lead, and master certificates awarded, and the total amount in state funding that was distributed to teachers from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund created in Section 6-190.2 of this title. 9. The selection criteria; designation of advanced, lead, or master teachers; and any associated stipend amounts shall not be subject to collective bargaining. 10. Stipends provided pursuant to this subsection shall not be included in the calculation of the teacher’s salary for purposes of meeting the district or statutory minimum salary schedule or for purposes of calculating Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma contributions or benefits. J. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement a renewal schedule and associated fees for advanced, lead, and master teaching certificates. The rules shall allow a teacher that no longer meets the requirements of an advanced, lead, or master teaching certificate to make application for the standard teaching certificate. K. The terms of the contracts issued to those holding advanced, lead, and master teaching certificates shall include the following: 1. Advanced: an additional five (5) days to be used to strengthen instructional leadership. A person with an advanced teaching certificate shall receive an annual stipend of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) or the district’s daily rate of pay, whichever is higher, in addition to the salary for which the teacher qualifies pursuant to Section 18-114.15 of this title. This stipend shall be funded by state dollars from the lottery funds as provided in Section 713 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma Statutes and shall be paid directly to teachers through school districts; 2. Lead: an additional ten (10) days to be used to strengthen instructional leadership. A person with a lead teaching certificate shall receive an annual stipend of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or the district’s daily rate of pay, whichever is higher, in addition to the salary for which the teacher qualifies pursuant to Section 18-114.15 of this title. This stipend shall be funded by state dollars from the lottery funds as provided in Section 713 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma Statutes and shall be paid directly to teachers through school districts; and 3. Master: an additional fifteen (15) days to be used to strengthen leadership. A person with a master teaching certificate shall receive an annual stipend of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) or the district’s daily rate of pay, whichever is higher, in addition to the salary for which the teacher qualifies pursuant to Section 18-114.15 of this title. This stipend shall be funded by state dollars from the lottery funds as provided in Section 713 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma Statutes and shall be paid directly to teachers through school districts. If a person with an advanced, lead, or master teaching certificate changes school districts during the life of the certificate, the terms of the contracts required in this subsection shall be subject to approval by the new employing school district. L. Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, the Department shall make the teaching certificates provided for in this section available for any person who has received a recommendation from his or her school district and who meets the eligibility criteria as outlined in each school district’s teacher evaluation system provided for in subsection I of this section. M. The funding necessary for the administration of this section shall be provided from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund created in Section 6-190.2 of this title. If funding for the administration of the teaching certificates listed in subsection I is not available, the Department shall not be required to fulfill the requirements listed in subsections I, K, and L of this section. N. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of Section 6-180 et seq. of this title. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 11, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 344, § 5, emerg. eff. June 9, 1997; Laws 2001, c. 34, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2001; Laws 2001, c. 425, § 3, emerg. eff. June 5, 2001; Laws 2002, c. 236, § 3, eff. July 1, 2002; Laws 2003, c. 204, § 10, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws 2004, c. 438, § 1, eff. July 1, 2004; Laws 2005, c. 185, § 4, emerg. eff. May 17, 2005; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 17, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 137, § 1, eff. July 1, 2015; Laws 2016, c. 322, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016; Laws 2018, c. 229, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2018; Laws 2020, c. 31, § 1, eff. July 1, 2020; Laws 2022, c. 359, § 3, eff. July 1, 2022; Laws 2024, c. 122, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024; Laws 2025, c. 286, § 1, eff. July 1, 2025. §70-6-190.1. Extension of provisional speech-language certificates. Individuals who held a provisional certificate during the 1998- 1999 school year in Speech-Language Pathology shall be granted an extension of the provisional certificate by the State Board of Education. On and after July 1, 2005, provisional certificates may be renewed on an annual basis, provided the individual documents admission to and progress toward completion of the relevant master’s degree program. Added by Laws 1999, c. 311, § 3, emerg. eff. June 4, 1999. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 434, § 10. §70-6-190.2. Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund. A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the State Department of Education to be designated the “Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund”. The revolving fund shall be a continuing fund, without legislative appropriation, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall be under the control and management of the State Department of Education. Expenditures from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund shall be budgeted and expended as provided for in subsection B of this section. B. The State Department of Education shall utilize the funds for the program outlined in Section 6-190 of this title. Funding shall be allocated to school districts to provide the stipend amounts indicated for advanced, lead, and master certificates as provided for in subsection I of Section 6-190 of this title on a first-come, first-served basis until the cash is exhausted for the school year. Added by Laws 2022, c. 359, § 2, eff. July 1, 2022. Amended by Laws 2024, c. 122, § 2, eff. July 1, 2024; Laws 2025, c. 286, § 2, eff. July 1, 2025. §70-6-190.3. Short title - Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Act - Scope and application of act. A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Act”. The purpose of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall be to facilitate the mobility of teachers through a collective regulatory framework amongst member states to expedite and enhance the ability of teachers to move across state lines. B. As used in this act: 1. “Active military member” means any person with full-time duty status in the armed forces of the United States including members of the National Guard and Reserve; 2. “Adverse action” means any limitation or restriction imposed by a member state’s licensing authority, such as revocation, suspension, reprimand, probation, or limitation on the licensee’s ability to work as a teacher; 3. “Bylaws” means those bylaws established by the Commission; 4. “Career and technical education license” means a current, valid authorization issued by a member state’s licensing authority allowing an individual to serve as a teacher in a pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade public educational setting in a specific career and technical education area; 5. “Charter member state” means a member state that has enacted legislation to adopt the compact and enactment predates the initial meeting of the Commission after the effective date of the compact; 6. “Commission” means the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission, an interstate administrative body whose membership consists of delegates of all states that have enacted the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact; 7. “Commissioner” means the delegate of a member state that has adopted the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact; 8. “Eligible license” means a license or certification to engage in the teaching profession which requires at least a bachelor’s degree and the completion of a state-approved program for teacher certification; 9. “Eligible military spouse” means the spouse of any individual in full-time duty status in the active armed forces of the United States including members of the National Guard and Reserve moving as a result of a military mission or military career progression requirements or moving as a result of separation or retirement. Eligible military spouse includes surviving spouses of deceased military members; 10. “Executive committee” means a group of commissioners elected or appointed on behalf of and within the powers granted to them by the Commission as provided for herein; 11. “Licensing authority” means an official agency, board, or other entity of a state that is responsible for the licensing or certification and regulation of teachers authorized to teach in pre- kindergarten through twelfth grade public educational settings; 12. “Member state” means any state that has adopted the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact including all agencies and officials of the state; 13. “Receiving state” means any state in which a teacher has applied for certification pursuant to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact; 14. “Rule” means any regulation promulgated by the Commission under the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, which shall have the force of law in each member state; 15. “State practice laws” means a member state’s laws, rules, and regulations that govern the teaching profession, define the scope of the teaching profession, and create methods and grounds for imposing discipline; 16. “State specific requirements” means a requirement for teacher certification covered in coursework or examination that includes the content of unique interest to the state; 17. “Teacher” means an individual who currently holds an authorization from a member state that forms the basis for employment in the pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade public educational settings of the state to provide instruction in a specific subject area, grade level, or student population; and 18. “Unencumbered license” means a current, valid authorization issued by a member state’s licensing authority allowing an individual to serve as a teacher in a pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade public educational setting. An unencumbered license is not a restricted, probationary, provisional, substitute, emergency, or temporary credential. C. 1. Licensure pursuant to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall pertain only to the initial grant of a license or certificate by the receiving state. Nothing herein shall apply to any subsequent or ongoing compliance requirements that a receiving state may require for teachers. 2. Each member state shall, in accordance with the rules of the Commission, define, compile, and update as necessary a list of eligible licenses and career and technical education licenses that the member state is willing to consider for equivalency pursuant to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact and provide a list to the Commission. The list shall include those licenses that a receiving state is willing to grant to teachers from other member states, pending a determination of equivalency by the receiving state’s licensing authority. 3. Upon receipt of an application for licensure or certification by a teacher holding an unencumbered eligible license, the receiving state shall determine which of the receiving state’s eligible licenses the teacher is qualified to hold and shall grant the license(s) or certification(s) to the applicant. The determination shall be made in the sole discretion of the receiving state’s licensing authority and may include a determination that the applicant is not eligible for any of the receiving state’s eligible licenses. For all teachers who hold an unencumbered license, the receiving state shall grant one or more unencumbered licenses that, in the receiving state’s sole discretion, are equivalent to the license(s) held by the teacher in any other member state. 4. For active military members and eligible military spouses who hold a license or certification that is not unencumbered, the receiving state shall grant an equivalent license or licenses that, in the receiving state’s sole discretion, are equivalent to the license or licenses held by the teacher in any other member state, except where the receiving state does not have an equivalent license or certification. 5. For a teacher holding an unencumbered career and technical education license, the receiving state shall grant an unencumbered license equivalent to the career and technical education license held by the applying teacher and issued by another member state, as determined by the receiving state in its sole discretion, except where a career and technical education teacher does not hold a bachelor’s degree and the receiving state requires a bachelor’s degree for licenses to teach career and technical education. A receiving state may require career and technical education teachers to meet state industry recognized requirements, if required by law in the receiving state. D. 1. Except as provided for in subsection C of this section, nothing in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall be construed to limit or inhibit the authority of a member state to regulate licensure or endorsements overseen by a member state’s licensing authority. 2. When a teacher is required to renew a license or certification pursuant to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, the state granting the license or certification may require the teacher to complete state specific requirements as a condition of license or certification renewal or advancement in that state. 3. For the purposes of determining compensation, a receiving state may require additional information from teachers receiving a license or certification pursuant to the provisions of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. 4. Nothing in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall be construed to limit the power of a member state to control and maintain ownership of its information pertaining to teachers or limit the application of a member state’s laws or regulations governing the ownership, use, or dissemination of information pertaining to teachers. 5. Nothing in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall be construed to invalidate or alter any existing agreement or another cooperative arrangement of which a member state may already be a party or limit the ability of a member state to participate in any future agreement or other cooperative arrangement to: a. award teaching licenses, certification, or other benefits based on additional professional credentials including but not limited to a National Board Certification, b. participate in the exchange of names of teachers whose license or certification has been subject to an adverse action by a member state, or c. participate in any agreement or cooperative arrangement with a non-member state. E. 1. Except as provided for active military members or eligible military spouses in paragraph 4 of subsection C of this section, a teacher may only be eligible to receive a license or certification pursuant to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact where that teacher holds an unencumbered license or certification in a member state. 2. A teacher eligible to receive a license or certification pursuant to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall, unless otherwise provided for herein: a. upon his or her application to receive a license or certification pursuant to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, undergo a criminal background check in the receiving state in accordance with the laws and regulations of the receiving state, and b. provide the receiving state with information in addition to the information required for licensure or certification for the purposes of determining compensation, if applicable. F. 1. Nothing in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall be deemed or construed to limit the authority of a member state to investigate or impose disciplinary measures on teachers according to the state’s practice laws. 2. Member states shall be authorized to receive and shall provide files and information regarding the investigation and discipline, if any, of teachers in other member states upon request. Any member state receiving information or files shall protect and maintain the security and confidentiality thereof in at least the same manner that it maintains its own investigatory or disciplinary files and information. Prior to disclosing any disciplinary or investigatory information received from another member state, the disclosing state shall communicate its intention and purpose for disclosure to the member state which originally provided the information. Added by Laws 2023, c. 194, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023. §70-6-190.4. Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission - Commissioners - Powers and duties - Immunity. A. The member states of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission. The Commission shall be a joint interstate governmental agency comprised of states that have enacted the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. Nothing in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall be construed as a waiver of sovereign immunity. B. 1. Each member state shall have and be limited to one delegate to the Commission, who shall be given the title of commissioner and shall be the primary administrative officer of the state licensing authority or his or her designee. 2. Any commissioner may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the state from which the commissioner is appointed. The member state shall fill any vacancy occurring in the Commission within ninety (90) days. 3. Each commissioner shall be entitled to one vote on the promulgation of rules and the creation of bylaws and shall otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the business and affairs of the Commission. A commissioner shall vote in person or by other means as provided for in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for commissioners’ participation in meetings by telephone or other means of communication. 4. The Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in the bylaws. 5. The Commission shall establish by rule a term of office for commissioners. C. The Commission shall have the following powers and duties: 1. Establish a code of ethics for the Commission; 2. Establish the fiscal year of the Commission; 3. Establish bylaws for the Commission; 4. Maintain its financial records in accordance with the bylaws of the Commission; 5. Meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, the bylaws, and the rules of the Commission; 6. Promulgate uniform rules to implement and administer the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. The rules shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding on all member states. In the event the Commission exercises its rule-making authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of the compact or the powers thereunder, then such action by the Commission shall be invalid and shall have no force and effect of law; 7. Bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in the name of the Commission, provided that the standing of any member state licensing authority to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected; 8. Purchase and maintain insurance bonds; 9. Borrow, accept, or contract for services of personnel including but not limited to employees of a member state or an associated non-governmental organization that is open to membership by all states; 10. Hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix compensation, define duties, grant individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, and establish the Commission’s personnel policies and programs relating to conflicts of interest, qualifications for personnel, and other related personnel matters; 11. Lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations, or otherwise own, hold, improve, or use any real, personal, or mixed property, provided that at all times the Commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety; 12. Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise dispose of any real, personal, or mixed property; 13. Establish a budget and make expenditures; 14. Borrow money; 15. Appoint committees, including standing committees comprised of members and other interested persons as may be designated in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact or Commission rules or bylaws; 16. Provide and receive information from and cooperate with law enforcement agencies; 17. Establish and elect an executive committee; 18. Establish and develop a charter for an executive information governance committee to advise on facilitating exchange of information, use of information, data privacy, and technical support needs and provide reports as needed; 19. Perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact consistent with the state regulation of teacher licensure; and 20. Determine whether a state’s adopted language is materially different from the model compact language in such a way that the state would not qualify for participation in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. D. The executive committee of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall have the power to act on behalf of the Commission according to the terms of the compact. 1. The executive committee shall be comprised of eight (8) voting members including: a. the Commission chair, vice chair, and treasurer, and b. five members who are elected by the Commission from its membership including: (1) four voting members representing geographic regions in accordance with Commission rules, and (2) one at large voting member in accordance with Commission rules. 2. The Commission may add or remove members of the executive committee as provided for in Commission rules. 3. The executive committee shall meet at least once annually. 4. The executive committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities: a. recommend to the entire Commission changes to the rules or bylaws, changes to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact legislation, fees to be paid by compact member states such as annual dues, and any compact fee charged by the member states on behalf of the commission, b. ensure Commission administration services are appropriately provided, contractual or otherwise, c. prepare and recommend the budget, d. maintain financial records on behalf of the Commission, e. monitor compliance of member states and provide reports to the Commission, and f. perform other duties as provided in rules or bylaws. 5. All Commission meetings shall be open to the public, and public notice of meetings shall be given in accordance with Commission bylaws. Provided, however, the Commission, its executive committee, or other committees of the Commission may convene in a closed, non-public meeting if the Commission, its executive committee, or other committees of the Commission discuss: a. non-compliance of a member state with its obligations under the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, b. the employment, compensation, discipline, or other matters, practices, or procedures related to specific employees or other matters related to the Commission’s internal personnel practices or procedures, c. current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated litigation, d. negotiation of contracts for the purchase, lease, or sale of goods, services, or real estate, e. accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any person, f. disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential, g. disclosure of information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, h. disclosure of investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes, i. disclosure of information related to any investigative reports prepared by or on behalf of or for the use of the Commission or other committees charged with responsibility of investigating and determining compliance issues pursuant to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, j. matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal or member state statute, and k. other matters as set forth by the Commission bylaws and rules. 6. If a meeting or portion of a meeting is closed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 5 of this subsection, the Commission’s legal counsel or designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed and shall reference each relevant exempting provision. 7. The Commission shall keep minutes of the Commission meetings and shall provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken and the reasons for the actions including a description of the views expressed. All documents considered in connection with an action shall be identified in the minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of the Commission or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction. E. 1. The Commission shall pay or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization, and ongoing activities. 2. The Commission may accept all appropriate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services and receive, utilize, and dispose of the same, provided that at all times the Commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest. 3. The Commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on other parties to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the Commission, in accordance with Commission rules. 4. The Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same, nor shall the Commission pledge the credit of any of the member states, except by and with the authority of the member state. 5. The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Commission shall be subject to accounting procedures established under Commission bylaws. All receipts and disbursements of funds of the Commission shall be reviewed annually in accordance with Commission bylaws, and a report of the review shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the Commission. F. 1. The members, officers, executive director, employees, and representatives of the Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities. Provided, however, nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct of the person. 2. The Commission shall defend any member, officer, executive director, employee, or representative of the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing had occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities. Provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the person from retaining his or her own legal counsel, and provided further that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from the person’s intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct. 3. The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, officer, executive director, employee, or representative of the Commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against the person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that the person had a reasonable basis for believing had occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities. Provided, however, that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from the intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct of the person. G. 1. The Commission shall exercise its rule-making powers pursuant to the criteria set forth in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. Rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified in each rule or amendment. 2. The Commission shall promulgate reasonable rules to achieve the intent and purpose of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. In the event the Commission exercises its rule-making authority in a manner that is beyond the purpose and intent of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact or the powers granted thereunder, such action by the Commission shall be invalid and have no force and effect of law in the member states. 3. If a majority of the legislatures of the member states rejects a rule by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact within four (4) years of the date of the adoption of the rule, then the rule shall have no further force and effect in any member state. 4. Rules or amendments to the rules shall be adopted or ratified at a regular or special meeting of the Commission, in accordance with Commission bylaws and rules. 5. Upon determination that an emergency exists, the Commission may consider and adopt an emergency rule within forty-eight (48) hours’ notice with opportunity to comment, provided that the usual rule-making procedures shall be retroactively applied to the rule as soon as reasonably possible and in no event later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of the rule. For purposes of this paragraph, an emergency rule is one that must be adopted immediately in order to: a. meet an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare, b. prevent a loss of Commission or member state funds, c. meet a deadline for the promulgation of an administrative rule that is established by federal law or rule, or d. protect public health and safety. H. 1. The Commission shall provide for facilitating the exchange of information to administer and implement the provisions of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact in accordance with Commission rules, consistent with generally accepted data protection principles. 2. Nothing in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall be deemed or construed to alter, limit, or inhibit the power of a member state to control and maintain ownership of its licensee information or alter, limit, or inhibit the laws or regulations governing licensee information in the member state. I. 1. The executive and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact’s purposes and intent. The provisions of the compact shall have standing as statutory law. 2. Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the Commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the Commission is located. The Commission may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses to the extent it adopts or consents to participate in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Nothing herein shall affect or limit the selection or propriety of venue in any action against a licensee for professional malpractice, misconduct, or any similar matter. 3. All courts and administrative agencies shall take judicial notice of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, the rules of the Commission, and any information provided to a member state pursuant thereto in any judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding in a member state pertaining to the subject matter of the compact or which may affect the powers, responsibilities, or actions of the Commission. 4. The Commission shall be entitled to receive service of process in any proceeding regarding the enforcement or interpretation of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact and shall have standing to intervene in a proceeding for all purposes. Failure to provide the Commission service of process shall render a judgement or order void as to the Commission, the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, or rules of the Commission. J. 1. If the Commission determines that a member state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact or Commission rules, the Commission shall: a. provide written notice to the defaulting state and other member states of the nature of the default, the proposed means of curing the default, or any other action to be taken by the Commission, and b. provide remedial training and specific technical assistance regarding the default. 2. If a state in default fails to cure the default, the defaulting state may be terminated from the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the commissioners of the member states, and all rights, privileges, and benefits conferred on the state by the compact may be terminated on the effective date of termination. A cure of the default shall not relieve the offending state of obligations or liabilities incurred during the period of default. 3. Termination of membership in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall be imposed only after all other means of securing compliance have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate shall be given by the Commission to the governor, the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state’s legislature, the state licensing authority, and each of the member states. 4. A state that has been terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination including all obligations that extend beyond the effective date of termination. 5. The Commission shall not bear any costs related to a state that is found to be in default or that has been terminated from the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, unless agreed upon in writing between the Commission and the defaulting state. 6. The defaulting state may appeal the action of the Commission by petitioning the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district court where the Commission has its principal offices. The prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of litigation including reasonable attorney fees. 7. Upon request by a member state, the Commission shall attempt to resolve disputes related to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact that arise among member states and between member states and non-member states. The Commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both binding and non-binding alternative dispute resolution for disputes as appropriate. 8. The Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. By majority vote, the Commission may initiate legal action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its principal offices against a member state in default to enforce compliance with the provisions of the compact and the Commission’s promulgated rules and bylaws. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of litigation including reasonable attorney fees. The remedies shall not be exclusive of remedies of the Commission. The Commission may pursue any other remedies available under federal or state law. K. The Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall be in effect on the date on which the compact is enacted into law in the tenth member state. 1. On or after the effective date of the compact, the Commission shall convene and review the enactment of the compact by each member state to determine if the statute enacted by each member state is materially different from the model statute. 2. A member state whose enactment is found to be materially different from the model compact statute shall be entitled to the default process set forth in subsection J of this section. 3. Member states enacting the compact subsequent to the effective date shall be subject to the process set forth in paragraph 20 of subsection C of this section to determine if the enactments are materially different from the model compact statute and whether they qualify for participation in the compact. 4. If any member state is later found to be in default or is terminated or withdraws from the compact, the Commission shall remain in existence and the compact shall remain in effect even if the number of member states is fewer than ten (10). 5. Any state that joins the compact after the Commission’s initial adoption of the rules and bylaws shall be subject to the rules and bylaws as they exist on the date on which the compact becomes law in the state. Any rule that has been previously adopted by the Commission shall have the full force and effect of law on the day the compact becomes law in the state, as the rules and bylaws may be amended as provided for in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. 6. Any member state may withdraw from the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact by enacting a statute repealing the compact. A member state’s withdrawal shall not take effect until six (6) months after enactment of the repealing statute. Withdrawal shall not affect the continuing requirement of the withdrawing state’s licensing authority to comply with the investigative and adverse action reporting requirements of the compact prior to the effective date of withdrawal. 7. The Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact may be amended by the member states; provided, however, that no amendment to the compact shall become effective and binding upon any member state until it is enacted into law by all member states. L. The Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes. The provisions of the compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of the compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any member state or a state seeking membership in the compact or of the U.S. Constitution or the applicability thereof to any other government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected. If the compact is held contrary to the constitution of any member state, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining member states and in full force and effect as to the member state affected as to all severable matters. M. Nothing in this act shall prevent or inhibit the enforcement of any other law of a member state that is not inconsistent with the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. Any laws, statutes, regulations, or other legal requirements in a member state in conflict with the compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict. All permissible agreements between the Commission and the member states are binding in accordance with their terms. Added by Laws 2023, c. 194, § 2, eff. July 1, 2023. §70-6-191. Revolving fund. Until July 1, 1998, there is created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the State Board of Education, to be designated the "Teachers' Curriculum Examination Revolving Fund". The fund shall consist of curriculum examination fees paid to the Board pursuant to statutory authority. The revolving fund shall be a continuing fund not subject to fiscal year limitations and shall be under the control and management of the administrative authority of the State Board of Education. Expenditures from said fund shall be made to maintain the curriculum examination process as set out in this act. Warrants for expenditure shall be drawn by the State Treasurer on claims signed by an authorized employee or employees of the State Board of Education and approved by the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. On July 1, 1997, the State Board of Education shall transfer any unencumbered funds in the Teachers' Curriculum Examination Revolving Fund to the Teachers' Competency Examination Revolving Fund. Any funds which are unexpended on January 1, 1998, shall be transferred to the Teachers' Competency Examination Revolving Fund. On July 1, 1997, there shall be created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation, to be designated the "Teachers' Competency Examination Revolving Fund". The fund shall consist of all monies received by the Commission from competency examination fees paid pursuant to statutory authority. The revolving fund shall be a continuing fund not subject to fiscal year limitations and shall be under the control and management of the administrative authority of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. Expenditures from said fund shall be made to maintain the competency examination process set out in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act. Warrants for expenditure shall be drawn by the State Treasurer on claims signed by an authorized employee or employees of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and approved by the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. Added by Laws 1980, c. 284, § 13, emerg. eff. June 10, 1980. Amended by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 12, eff. July 1, 1995. Renumbered from § 6-160 of this title by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 34, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 344, § 6, emerg. eff. June 9, 1997; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 598. §70-6-192. Professional development - Legislative intent. A. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Legislature to establish a professional development procedure whereby all teachers in the state continue their education beyond initial certification by the state to ensure that the children of the state are taught by professional educators, fully prepared in their areas of expertise. Furthermore, such professional development procedure shall provide alternative means of education, including one or more of the following: In-service programs, higher education courses, or other alternative means of education designed to help teachers enrich their professional abilities. B. The professional development procedure shall include digital teaching and learning standards to enhance content delivery to students and improve student achievement. A school district board of education shall require a program for teachers which shall emphasize the importance of digital teaching and learning standards. The program shall be completed at a frequency as determined by the board of education. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 13, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 124, § 18, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2017, c. 5, § 2, eff. July 1, 2017; Laws 2021, c. 103, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2021; Laws 2023, c. 15, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023. §70-6-193. Funding for professional development programs. Each school district shall receive an appropriate amount of funds for the exclusive purpose of professional development. These funds shall be expended for professional development programs within guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education. All funds provided to local school districts shall be provided by and subject to the approval of plans submitted to the State Board of Education by each local school district no later than May 10 of each year. Such funds shall be deposited in a special account within the general fund of the local school district. A list of all expenditures made from such account shall be provided to the professional development committee upon request of the committee chairperson. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 14, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-194. See the following versions: OS 70-6-194v1 (SB 553, Laws 2025, c. 101, § 5) OS 70-6-194v2 (HB 1096, Laws 2025, c. 277, § 1) §70-6-194.2. Scholarships for attending Great Expectations Summer Institutes for Teachers. A. Beginning with the 1997-98 school year, the State Board of Education shall award scholarships to public school districts who wish to have teachers and administrators from certain school sites attend the Great Expectations Summer Institutes for Teachers offered by an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. Any school district applying for a scholarship for teachers and administrators from a school site which is currently, or has been, identified as a school in need of improvement pursuant to the provisions of Section 1210.541 of this title for any of the previous three (3) school years, shall be given priority for receipt of such scholarship. Scholarships shall be awarded based on the amount of funds allocated to the State Department of Education for such purpose. B. The State Board of Education shall develop criteria for scholarship awards and shall promulgate rules as necessary to implement the process by which the scholarships shall be awarded. Added by Laws 1997, c. 335, § 2, eff. July 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 2000, c. 156, § 1, emerg. eff. April 28, 2000; Laws 2013, c. 83, § 11, eff. July 1, 2013. §70-6-194.3. Information, training and resources for school employees to address mental health needs of students. A. The State Department of Education and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, in consultation with school district superintendents and school district boards of education, shall develop and make available to school districts information, training, and resources to help school employees recognize and address the mental health needs of students. A school district board of education shall require a training program for teachers which shall emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing the mental health needs of students. The program shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district, and then once every fifth academic year. B. The information made available to school districts shall include, but not be limited to: 1. Information about the services provided by community-based organizations related to mental health, substance abuse, and trauma; 2. Information about the impact trauma and adverse childhood experiences can have on a student's ability to learn; 3. The availability of mental health evaluation and treatment available by telemedicine; and 4. Information about evidence-based strategies for prevention of at-risk behaviors. Added by Laws 2019, c. 286, § 1, eff. July 1, 2019. Amended by Laws 2021, c. 103, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2021; Laws 2023, c. 15, § 3, eff. July 1, 2023. §70-6-194a. Northeastern Oklahoma State University Great Expectations Summer Institutes for Teachers. A. Beginning with the 1996-97 school year, the State Board of Education shall award scholarships, on a first-come first-serve basis, to public school districts who wish to have teachers and administrators from certain school sites attend Northeastern Oklahoma State University Great Expectations Summer Institutes for Teachers. Provided, any school district applying for a scholarship for teachers and administrators from a school site which is currently, or has been declared, a high challenge school pursuant to the provisions of subsection B of Section 1210.541 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes for any of the previous three (3) school years, shall be given priority for receipt of such scholarship. Scholarships shall be awarded based on the amount of funds allocated for such purpose. B. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules as necessary to implement the process by which the scholarships shall be awarded. Added by Laws 1996, c. 350, § 2, eff. July 1, 1996. NOTE: Laws 1996, c. 350, § 2 superseded Section 9 of Enrolled Senate Bill No. 1100 of the 2nd Session of the 45th Oklahoma Legislature which was vetoed by the Governor. §70-6-194v1. District professional development programs. A. The district boards of education of this state shall establish professional development programs for the certified teachers and administrators of the district. Programs shall be adopted by each board based upon recommendations of a professional development committee appointed by the board of education for the district. B. Each professional development committee shall include classroom teachers, administrators, school counselors or licensed mental health providers, and parents, guardians, or custodians of children in the school district and shall consult with a higher education faculty. A majority of the members of the professional development committee shall be composed of classroom teachers. The teacher members shall be selected by a designated administrator of the school district from a list of names submitted by the teachers in the school district. The members selected shall be subject to the approval of a majority vote of the teachers in the district. C. In developing program recommendations, each professional development committee shall annually utilize a data-driven approach to analyze student data and determine district and school professional development needs. The professional development programs adopted shall be directed toward development of competencies and instructional strategies in the core curriculum areas for the following goals: 1. Increasing the academic performance data scores for the district and each school site; 2. Closing achievement gaps among student subgroups; 3. Increasing student achievement as demonstrated on state- mandated tests and the ACT; 4. Increasing high school graduation rates; and 5. Decreasing college remediation rates. Each program may also include components on classroom management and student discipline strategies, outreach to parents, guardians, or custodians of students, special education, and racial and ethnic education, which all personnel defined as teachers in Section 1-116 of this title shall be required to complete at a frequency as determined by the board of education. The State Board of Education shall provide guidelines to assist school districts in developing and implementing racial and ethnic education components into professional development programs. D. A program which includes the following information shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district, and then once every fifth academic year: 1. Training on recognition of child abuse and neglect; 2. Recognition of child sexual abuse; 3. Proper reporting of suspected abuse including the reporting requirements of Section 1-2-101 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes and Section 1210.163 of this title and associated penalties for failure to report; and 4. Available resources. E. One time per year, beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, training in the area of autism shall be offered and all resident teachers of students in early childhood programs through grade three shall be required to complete the autism training during the resident year and at least one time every three (3) years thereafter. All other teachers and education support professionals of students in early childhood programs through grade three shall be required to complete the autism training at least one time every three (3) years. The autism training shall include a minimum awareness of the characteristics of autistic children, resources available and an introduction to positive behavior supports to challenging behavior. Each adopted program shall allow school counselors to receive at least one-third (1/3) of the hours or credit required each year through programs or courses specifically designed for school counselors. Districts are authorized to utilize any means for professional development that is not prohibited by law including, but not limited to, professional development provided by the district, any state agency, institution of higher education, or any private entity. F. One time per year, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, a dyslexia awareness program shall be offered. Beginning in the 2023- 2024 school year, the program shall include information and training in dysgraphia. At a minimum, the program shall include: 1. Training in awareness of dyslexia characteristics in students; 2. Training in effective classroom instruction to meet the needs of students with dyslexia; and 3. Available dyslexia resources for teachers, students and parents. G. Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, each certified teacher in this state shall be required by the district board of education to meet the professional development requirements established by the board, or established through the negotiation process. Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, the professional development requirements established by each board of education shall require every teacher to annually complete a minimum number of the total number of points required to maintain employment; provided, no more than a total of one hundred fifty (150) hours of local, state, or federal professional development or training shall be required for classroom teachers during any five- year period. Failure of any teacher to meet district board of education professional development requirements may be grounds for nonrenewal of such teacher’s contract by the board. Such failure may also be grounds for nonconsideration of salary increments affecting the teacher. Teachers shall maintain written documentation of all their completed professional development. H. Each district shall annually submit a report to the State Department of Education on the district level professional development needs, activities completed, expenditures, and results achieved for each school year by each goal as provided in subsection C of this section. If a school district elects not to adopt and offer a professional development program as provided for in subsection A of this section, the district shall not be required to submit an annual report as required pursuant to this subsection but shall report to the State Department of Education its election not to offer a program and all professional development activities completed by teachers and administrators of the school district. I. Subject to the availability of funds, the Department shall develop an online system for reporting as required in subsection H of this section. The Department shall also make such information available on its website. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 15, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1996, c. 350, § 1, eff. July 1, 1996; Laws 1997, c. 349, § 5, eff. July 1, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 5, § 23, emerg. eff. March 4, 1998; Laws 2000, c. 289, § 2, eff. July 1, 2000; Laws 2003, c. 295, § 2, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2005, c. 127, § 1, eff. July 1, 2005; Laws 2006, c. 227, § 3, eff. July 1, 2006; Laws 2007, c. 1, § 69, emerg. eff. Feb. 22, 2007; Laws 2007, c. 52, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2007; Laws 2008, c. 399, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2008; Laws 2010, c. 457, § 3; Laws 2011, c. 1, § 41, emerg. eff. March 18, 2011; Laws 2013, c. 83, § 10, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 19, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 246, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2015; Laws 2019, c. 16, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2019; Laws 2022, c. 211, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2022; Laws 2023, c. 15, § 2, eff. July 1, 2023; Laws 2025, c. 101, § 5, eff. July 1, 2025. NOTE: Laws 1997, c. 342, § 1 repealed by Laws 1998, c. 5, § 29, emerg. eff. March 4, 1998. Laws 2006, c. 192, § 1 repealed by Laws 2007, c. 1, § 70, emerg. eff. Feb. 22, 2007. Laws 2006, c. 278, § 3 repealed by Laws 2007, c. 1, § 71, emerg. eff. Feb. 22, 2007. Laws 2010, c. 455, § 1 repealed by Laws 2011, c. 1, § 42, emerg. eff. March 18, 2011. NOTE: Laws 1996, c. 350, § 1 superseded Section 7 of Enrolled Senate Bill No. 1100 of the 2nd Session of the 45th Oklahoma Legislature, which was vetoed by the Governor. §70-6-194v2. District professional development programs. A. The district boards of education of this state shall establish professional development programs for the certified teachers and administrators of the district. Programs shall be adopted by each board based upon recommendations of a professional development committee appointed by the board of education for the district. B. Each professional development committee shall include classroom teachers, administrators, school counselors or licensed mental health providers, and parents, guardians, or custodians of children in the school district and shall consult with a higher education faculty. A majority of the members of the professional development committee shall be composed of classroom teachers. The teacher members shall be selected by a designated administrator of the school district from a list of names submitted by the teachers in the school district. The members selected shall be subject to the approval of a majority vote of the teachers in the district. C. In developing program recommendations, each professional development committee shall annually utilize a data-driven approach to analyze student data and determine district and school professional development needs. The professional development programs adopted shall be directed toward development of competencies and instructional strategies in the core curriculum areas for the following goals: 1. Increasing the academic performance data scores for the district and each school site; 2. Closing achievement gaps among student subgroups; 3. Increasing student achievement as demonstrated on state- mandated tests and nationally norm-referenced college entrance exams; 4. Increasing high school graduation rates; and 5. Decreasing college remediation rates. Each program may also include components on classroom management and student discipline strategies, outreach to parents, guardians, or custodians of students, special education, and racial and ethnic education, which all personnel defined as teachers in Section 1-116 of this title shall be required to complete at a frequency as determined by the board of education. The State Board of Education shall provide guidelines to assist school districts in developing and implementing racial and ethnic education components into professional development programs. D. A program which includes the following information shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district, and then once every fifth academic year: 1. Training on recognition of child abuse and neglect; 2. Recognition of child sexual abuse; 3. Proper reporting of suspected abuse; and 4. Available resources. E. One time per year, beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, training in the area of autism shall be offered and all resident teachers of students in early childhood programs through grade three shall be required to complete the autism training during the resident year and at least one time every three (3) years thereafter. All other teachers and education support professionals of students in early childhood programs through grade three shall be required to complete the autism training at least one time every three (3) years. The autism training shall include a minimum awareness of the characteristics of autistic children, resources available, and an introduction to positive behavior supports to challenging behavior. Each adopted program shall allow school counselors to receive at least one-third (1/3) of the hours or credit required each year through programs or courses specifically designed for school counselors. Districts are authorized to utilize any means for professional development that is not prohibited by law including, but not limited to, professional development provided by the district, any state agency, institution of higher education, or any private entity. F. One time per year, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, a dyslexia awareness program shall be offered. Beginning in the 2023- 2024 school year, the program shall include information and training in dysgraphia. At a minimum, the program shall include: 1. Training in awareness of dyslexia characteristics in students; 2. Training in effective classroom instruction to meet the needs of students with dyslexia; and 3. Available dyslexia resources for teachers, students, and parents. G. Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, each certified teacher in this state shall be required by the district board of education to meet the professional development requirements established by the board, or established through the negotiation process. Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, the professional development requirements established by each board of education shall require every teacher to annually complete a minimum number of the total number of points required to maintain employment; provided, no more than a total of one hundred fifty (150) hours of local, state, or federal professional development or training shall be required for classroom teachers during any five- year period. Failure of any teacher to meet district board of education professional development requirements may be grounds for nonrenewal of such teacher’s contract by the board. Such failure may also be grounds for nonconsideration of salary increments affecting the teacher. Teachers shall maintain written documentation of all their completed professional development. H. Each district shall annually submit a report to the State Department of Education on the district level professional development needs, activities completed, expenditures, and results achieved for each school year by each goal as provided in subsection C of this section. If a school district elects not to adopt and offer a professional development program as provided for in subsection A of this section, the district shall not be required to submit an annual report as required pursuant to this subsection but shall report to the State Department of Education its election not to offer a program and all professional development activities completed by teachers and administrators of the school district. I. Subject to the availability of funds, the Department shall develop an online system for reporting as required in subsection H of this section. The Department shall also make such information available on its website. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 15, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1996, c. 350, § 1, eff. July 1, 1996; Laws 1997, c. 349, § 5, eff. July 1, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 5, § 23, emerg. eff. March 4, 1998; Laws 2000, c. 289, § 2, eff. July 1, 2000; Laws 2003, c. 295, § 2, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2005, c. 127, § 1, eff. July 1, 2005; Laws 2006, c. 227, § 3, eff. July 1, 2006; Laws 2007, c. 1, § 69, emerg. eff. Feb. 22, 2007; Laws 2007, c. 52, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2007; Laws 2008, c. 399, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2008; Laws 2010, c. 457, § 3; Laws 2011, c. 1, § 41, emerg. eff. March 18, 2011; Laws 2013, c. 83, § 10, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 19, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 246, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2015; Laws 2019, c. 16, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2019; Laws 2022, c. 211, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2022; Laws 2023, c. 15, § 2, eff. July 1, 2023; Laws 2025, c. 277, § 1, eff. July 1, 2025. NOTE: Laws 1997, c. 342, § 1 repealed by Laws 1998, c. 5, § 29, emerg. eff. March 4, 1998. Laws 2006, c. 192, § 1 repealed by Laws 2007, c. 1, § 70, emerg. eff. Feb. 22, 2007. Laws 2006, c. 278, § 3 repealed by Laws 2007, c. 1, § 71, emerg. eff. Feb. 22, 2007. Laws 2010, c. 455, § 1 repealed by Laws 2011, c. 1, § 42, emerg. eff. March 18, 2011. NOTE: Laws 1996, c. 350, § 1 superseded Section 7 of Enrolled Senate Bill No. 1100 of the 2nd Session of the 45th Oklahoma Legislature, which was vetoed by the Governor. §70-6-195. Induction program. A. As funds are available, the State Department of Education in consultation with the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability shall administer an induction program for teachers which shall be approved by the State Board of Education. Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, each school district shall participate in the induction program. The program shall include, but not be limited to: 1. Guidance to school districts for successful induction programs; 2. Training for school districts to include the selection, function and duties of mentors; and 3. Resources for appropriate professional development, support, mentorship and coaching for the inductee and mentors. B. The induction program training shall be completed at a frequency as determined by the board of education. C. The State Board of Education may promulgate rules for administration of the induction program. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 16, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 403, § 1, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2003, c. 434, § 11; Laws 2009, c. 25, § 2, eff. July 1, 2009; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 20, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2018, c. 165, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2018; Laws 2023, c. 15, § 4, eff. July 1, 2023. §70-6-195.1. Continuing education for mathematics teachers - Implementation contingency - Verification of expenditure levels. A. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Legislature to establish a continuing education program whereby teachers employed to teach mathematics may obtain certification in mathematics and teachers certified to teach mathematics in the state may take higher education courses in order to obtain the competencies needed to enable the teacher to successfully complete the subject area examinations and become certified to teach any of the core curriculum mathematics courses recommended by the State Department of Education. The program shall pay up to One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per credit hour up to a maximum of twenty-four (24) credit hours for a teacher to take higher education courses in mathematics. Teachers required to gain certification as provided in Section 6- 189.1 of this title shall be given priority in the funding for the continuing education program. The purpose of the program is to improve the knowledge and skills of teachers and to ensure that the children of the state are taught by professional educators, fully prepared in the area of mathematics. B. Implementation of this section shall be contingent upon the appropriation of state funds by the Legislature for the specific purpose of implementing this section. Nothing in this section shall prevent the State Board of Education or a school district board of education from utilizing private, local, or federal funds to implement this section. C. Implementation of this section shall be delayed until the current expenditure per pupil in average daily attendance in public elementary and secondary schools in unadjusted dollars for the 1998- 99 school year or any school year thereafter for Oklahoma, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics annually in the Digest of Education Statistics, reaches at least ninety percent (90%) of the regional average expenditure for that same year, and funds are provided. For purposes of this section, the regional average expenditure shall consist of the current expenditure per pupil in average daily attendance in public elementary and secondary schools in unadjusted dollars for each of the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, averaged together. By January 1 of each year, the State Board of Education shall report whether or not the ninety-percent expenditure level has been reached based on information reported annually in the Digest of Education Statistics by the National Center for Education Statistics. This section shall be implemented on July 1 after the first January 1 report verifies that the ninety- percent expenditure level has been reached and funds have been provided for the specific purposes of this section. Added by Laws 1999, c. 320, § 45, eff. July 1, 1999. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 201, § 2; Laws 2003, c. 434, § 21; Laws 2025, c. 277, § 2, eff. July 1, 2025. §70-6-195.2. Mathematics professional development programs. A. Subject to the availability of funds, the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall develop and administer mathematics professional development programs which will be provided for any teacher who became certified to teach in elementary education or early childhood education prior to July 1, 2001, and is serving as a teacher in a public school in this state in kindergarten through third grade. The purpose of the professional development program shall be to improve the knowledge and skills of the teachers and to ensure that the elementary grade students of the state are taught by professional educators fully prepared in the area of mathematics. B. Any professional development program offered to teachers pursuant to the provisions of this section shall: 1. Be scientifically research-based professional development; and 2. Meet state law requirements for professional development administered by the Commission. C. The professional development program offered to teachers pursuant to the provisions of this section shall address both content skill and methodology, and may contain a technology component. Added by Laws 2011, c. 274, § 1. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 124, § 21, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-196. Review of contracts with professional development centers. A. The State Board of Education shall review all contracts with the professional development centers used for professional development purposes prior to entering into any contracts with such centers. The State Board of Education shall examine: 1. The purpose of the contract; 2. The expenditure of funds provided for in the previous year by the state to each center provided for in this section; 3. The budgeted salaries of employees and administrators of such centers; and 4. Any other item the State Board of Education determines is necessary. B. The State Board of Education shall submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature by January 1 of each year, which gives the information specified in subsection A of this section for each individual center and which includes the following: 1. The purpose of the center; 2. The hours and days of operation of the center throughout the year; 3. The number of school districts actually served and the number of actual teachers by school district served; 4. The number and kinds of sponsored professional development activities and dates and any related performance evaluations; 5. All sources of funding and actual full-time-employees (FTE); and 6. Evidence of evaluation of services by users. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 17, eff. July 1, 1995. §70-6-197. Persons subject to certification procedures. A. All students graduating from an accredited institution of higher education approved or accredited by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation for the preparation of educational personnel on or after September 1, 1999, and seeking to enter the public education system as a teacher shall be subject to the assessment and certification procedures established in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act. Except as provided for in subsection B of this section, all students graduating from an accredited institution of higher education prior to September 1, 1999, and seeking to enter the public education system as a teacher shall be subject to the assessment and certification requirements in effect before July 1, 1997. B. Any person who graduates from an accredited institution of higher education prior to September 1, 1999, and seeks certification or endorsement subsequent to September 1, 1999, to teach a subject area which the teacher was not certified to teach prior to September 1, 1999, following completion of the required higher education shall be required to successfully complete the competency examination for such subject area prior to receiving such certification or endorsement. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 18, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 124, § 22, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-198. Repealed by Laws 2012, c. 223, § 17, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-199. Repealed by Laws 2012, c. 223, § 17, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-200. Professional development institutes. A. Subject to the availability of funds, the State Board of Education shall have authority to develop and administer training for residency committees and training for professional development through professional development institutes. Included in the professional development institute training shall be technology training. “Professional development institutes” shall be defined as continuing education experiences which consist of a minimum of thirty (30) clock hours. The institutes shall be competency-based, emphasize effective learning practices, require collaboration among participants, and require each participant to prepare a work product which can be utilized in the classroom by the participant. Any state professional development institutes administered by the Board shall be chosen through a competitive bid process and, if funds are available, subject to peer review. The Board, prior to offering any professional development institute, shall promulgate rules related to administering state professional development institutes. B. The State Board of Education shall develop, offer, and administer professional development institutes to train elementary school teachers in reading education and, if funds are available, which may include, but not be limited to, grant, foundation, or other funds, to train middle school teachers in reading education. Funds appropriated for this purpose shall be used for the cost of developing, administering, and contracting for the professional development institutes. When possible, certified reading specialists shall be included as consultants. All costs of the institutes shall be included in the contract price, and no tuition or registration fee shall be collected from teachers attending the institutes. The institutes shall be offered by or through the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability. Working in conjunction with the State Department of Education, the Commission shall develop a state plan for administration of such institutes and shall report electronically on or before November 1 of each year to the Governor and the Legislature on the format of and participation in the institutes. The State Department of Education shall cooperate with and provide any information requested, including data available through the state student record system, to the State Board of Education as is necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. C. Subject to the availability of funds, the State Board of Education shall: 1. Contract for an independent evaluation of the reading professional development institutes. The evaluation shall determine adherence to program requirements as provided in this section and the program’s effectiveness in increasing teacher knowledge and student achievement; and 2. Provide continued support of the reading professional development institutes through ongoing teacher development at individual school sites. Funds may be used for the cost of mentor training, payment for substitute teachers, on-site facilitation, and any other costs necessary to ensure improved reading by students. D. 1. For the purpose of implementing comprehensive reading reform and systemic change, the State Board of Education shall award one-year grants renewable for up to two (2) additional years to public schools that serve students in kindergarten through third grade. The grants shall provide for: a. a five-day initial professional development institute in elementary school reading for teachers of kindergarten through third grade, instructional leaders, and principals, b. a three-day follow-up professional development institute in elementary school reading for teachers of kindergarten through third grade and instructional leaders, and c. continued support through ongoing teacher development at school sites including four (4) days of professional development for principals and literacy resource specialists and six (6) days of on-site visits by a program consultant. 2. In order to qualify for a grant pursuant to this subsection, the following requirements shall be met: a. at least eighty percent (80%) of the teachers of kindergarten through third grade at the school shall have demonstrated support for the training program provided pursuant to this subsection, b. the principal shall ensure that all members of the leadership team and all teachers of kindergarten through third grade will participate in all phases of the training program, c. the school district shall ensure that any new teacher of kindergarten through third grade or principal at the school will participate in all phases of the training program, and d. the school district shall employ a literacy resource specialist for at least two (2) years after completion of the training provided in this subsection. One or more districts may share a literacy resource specialist upon approval of the Board. 3. Any school which has been determined by the State Board of Education to be a school in need of improvement shall be given priority for receipt of a grant. Grants to school districts may be awarded based on the amount of funds allocated to the State Board of Education for the purposes of this section. Funds may be used for payment for substitute teachers, program consultants, on-site facilitation, and literacy resource specialists. 4. For program evaluation purposes, each school awarded a grant pursuant to this subsection shall provide to the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability student-level data and results of the reading assessments administered pursuant to the Oklahoma School Testing Program Act for the year prior to the grant award, for each year a grant is received by the school, and for three (3) years after completion of the program. If funds are not sufficient to award grants to all eligible applicants, schools may be placed on a waiting list for priority consideration for the following year’s round of grant awards which shall be superior to the priority given to schools as provided in paragraph 3 of this subsection, if the school provides student data for the current year to the Board as provided in this paragraph. 5. The professional development institutes in elementary reading provided pursuant to this section shall incorporate the requirements of the Strong Readers Act. E. As additional funds become available for such purpose, the Board shall develop and offer professional development institutes in: 1. Mathematics for teachers in grades kindergarten through nine which incorporate the requirements of Sections 2 through 8 of this act; 2. The use of technology in the classroom; 3. Training of residency committee members in teacher mentoring; and 4. Hands-on inquiry-based science for elementary teachers. Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 21, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 356, § 1, eff. July 1, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 5, § 24, emerg. eff. March 4, 1998; Laws 1998, c. 332, § 3, eff. July 1, 1998; Laws 2000, c. 289, § 3, eff. July 1, 2000; Laws 2007, c. 249, § 1, eff. July 1, 2007; Laws 2008, c. 152, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2008; Laws 2009, c. 94, § 1, eff. July 1, 2009; Laws 2012, c. 223, § 12, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Laws 2013, c. 83, § 12, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2024, c. 411, § 2, eff. July 1, 2024; Laws 2025, c. 492, § 9, eff. July 1, 2025. NOTE: Laws 1997, c. 344, § 8 and Laws 1997, c. 349, § 4 repealed by Laws 1998, c. 5, § 29, emerg. eff. March 4, 1998. §70-6-201. Repealed by Laws 2012, c. 223, § 17, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-202. Repealed by Laws 2012, c. 223, § 17, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-202.1. Repealed by Laws 2012, c. 223, § 17, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-203. Repealed by Laws 2018, c. 165, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 2018. §70-6-204. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Education Leadership Oklahoma Act". Added by Laws 1997, c. 181, § 1, eff. July 1, 1997. §70-6-204.1. Definitions. For purposes of the Education Leadership Oklahoma Act: 1. "Salary bonus" means additional monies granted to eligible teachers as provided for in subsection I of Section 6-204.2 of this title maintaining National Board certification; 2. "Salary increment" means the National Board certification salary category as set forth in Section 3 of this act which is granted to eligible teachers as provided for in subsection I of Section 6-204.2 of this title maintaining National Board certification; 3. "Certification" means National Board certification; 4. "Commission" means the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation; 5. "National Board" means the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; 6. "National Board certification" means National Board certification as provided by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and 7. "Teacher" means a classroom teacher, counselor, or librarian employed by a public school district on a full-time basis. Added by Laws 1997, c. 181, § 2, eff. July 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 434, § 22; Laws 2013, c. 394, § 1. §70-6-204.2. Education Leadership Oklahoma program. A. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability and the State Board of Education are authorized to establish the Education Leadership Oklahoma program. B. The purposes of the Education Leadership Oklahoma program are to: 1. Provide teachers throughout the state information about National Board certification and the Education Leadership Oklahoma program services; 2. Provide technical assistance and National-Board-certified mentors to all teachers seeking National Board certification upon request; 3. Reward teachers who are seeking National Board certification by awarding them a portion of the National Board certification cost as provided in subsection D of this section; and 4. Provide recognition to National-Board-certified teachers. C. To fulfill the objectives of the Education Leadership Oklahoma Act, the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall: 1. Inform teachers of the Education Leadership Oklahoma program and services it provides to teachers seeking National Board certification, emphasizing recruiting efforts toward teachers at high-poverty schools, schools identified as in need of improvement and in districts with the lowest percentage of teachers who have achieved National Board certification; and 2. Ensure that all teachers seeking National Board certification receive adequate information regarding the level of commitment required to acquire National Board certification. D. The Commission shall select not more than one hundred applicants to participate in the program each fiscal year for whom the Commission shall pay up to One Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($1,800.00) of the National Board certification cost. E. The Commission shall promulgate rules establishing a process for accepting applications for the Education Leadership Oklahoma program and for providing to applicants selected for the program up- front payment of the National Board certification cost. If a selected applicant who receives the up-front payment does not fulfill all submission requirements for National Board certification as established by the certification vendor within the maximum allowable time frame, the applicant will be required to repay the full amount of the component fees paid on his or her behalf, the applicant shall repay the Commission the full amount paid by the Commission pursuant to subsection D of this section. Subject to the availability of funding, all selected applicants who do not receive an up-front payment and successfully complete National Board certification shall be reimbursed by the Commission for the National Board certification cost. The total amount of reimbursement paid by the Commission shall not exceed One Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($1,800.00). F. Subject to the availability of funding, all teachers seeking initial National Board certification either through the Education Leadership Oklahoma Scholarship program or paying their own way shall be eligible to participate in Education Leadership Oklahoma mentoring for up to three (3) years to assist them in meeting the requirements of the National Board certification process, free of charge. G. Subject to district board of education policy or collective bargaining agreement, additional professional leave days may be granted to teachers seeking National Board certification for National Board certification portfolio development. During the two (2) days of the additional professional days granted to teachers for National Board certification portfolio development, a substitute teacher shall be provided by the school district at no cost to the teacher. H. 1. The State Board of Education shall provide to teachers who attained National Board certification prior to June 30, 2013, a bonus in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) annually over a ten-year period, to be paid no later than January 31 each year. The Board shall provide a bonus to any teacher who attains National Board certification after June 30, 2013, if the teacher was selected for the Education Leadership Oklahoma program before June 30, 2013, or the teacher has submitted an application for National Board certification to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards before June 30, 2013. 2. The teachers eligible to receive the annual bonus as provided for in paragraph 1 of this subsection shall receive the annual bonus for the ten-year duration of their National Board certification and so long as they are teaching in the classroom full-time in an Oklahoma public school. No school or school district shall be liable for payment of bonuses pursuant to this section. 3. The bonus shall not be included in the calculation of the teacher's salary for purposes of meeting the district or statutory minimum salary schedule or for purposes of compensating Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System contributions or benefits. 4. Teachers eligible to receive the annual bonus as provided for in paragraph 1 of this subsection shall not be eligible to receive the additional salary increment for National Board certification as set forth in the minimum salary schedule in Section 18-114.15 of this title. 5. Teachers who attain National Board certification after June 30, 2013, shall be eligible to receive the additional salary increments for National Board certification as set forth in the minimum salary schedule in Section 18-114.15 of this title. 6. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules for a process by which a National-Board-certified teacher will verify that: a. the National Board certification has not lapsed, b. the teacher is still a full-time teacher, and c. for teachers eligible for the bonus, the teacher has not exceeded the limit of annual bonus payments as provided for in paragraph 1 of this subsection. I. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education incorporate the National Board certification portfolio development into all programs in education leading to a master's level degree. Added by Laws 1997, c. 181, § 3, eff. July 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 350, § 1, emerg. eff. June 5, 1998; Laws 1999, c. 303, § 1, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2001, c. 201, § 3; Laws 2002, c. 236, § 4, eff. July 1, 2002; Laws 2003, c. 434, § 23; Laws 2007, c. 197, § 1; Laws 2010, c. 457, § 4; Laws 2012, c. 360, § 2; Laws 2013, c. 83, § 13, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2013, c. 394, § 2; Laws 2025, c. 374, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2025. NOTE: Laws 1999, c. 320, § 46 repealed by Laws 2001, c. 201, § 12. §70-6-204.3. Education Leadership Oklahoma Revolving Fund. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to be designated the "Education Leadership Oklahoma Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies appropriated or transferred to the fund by the Legislature. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to provide assistance and scholarships for candidates seeking National Board certification. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment. Added by Laws 1997, c. 181, § 4, eff. July 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 2012, c. 304, § 600. §70-6-204.4. Oklahoma National Board Certification Revolving Fund. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the State Board of Education to be designated the "Oklahoma National Board Certification Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies appropriated or transferred to the fund by the Legislature. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the State Board of Education to provide an annual bonus for those teachers possessing National Board certification. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment. The State Board of Education shall transfer all funds deposited into the Oklahoma National Board Certification Revolving Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, to the Education Leadership Oklahoma Revolving Fund, created in Section 6-204.3 of this title, less expenditures and encumbrances as adjusted by transfer on July 1, 1998. Added by Laws 1997, c. 181, § 5, eff. July 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 350, § 3, emerg. eff. June 5, 1998; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 601. §70-6-204.5. Professional Development Institutes Revolving Fund. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to be designated the "Professional Development Institutes Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies appropriated or transferred to the fund by the Legislature. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to develop and administer professional development programs for teachers and administrators and training for residency committee members. Expenditures shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment. Added by Laws 1997, c. 302, § 1, eff. July 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 2012, c. 304, § 602. §70-6-205. Repealed by Laws 2012, c. 223, § 17, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-206. Annual bonus for school psychologist, speech-language pathologist, audiologist - Qualifications - Calculation - Increase. A. Subject to the availability of funds, the State Board of Education shall provide an annual salary bonus in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) no later than January 31 of each year to the following employees of public school districts: 1. Any school psychologist who has been designated as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist by the National School Psychology Certification Board; and 2. Any speech-language pathologist or audiologist who holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence awarded by the American Speech- Language Hearing Association. B. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the provision of the bonus pursuant to this section to include, but not be limited to, a process by which a nationally certified school psychologist, speech-language pathologist and audiologist may verify that: 1. The individual is still employed by a school district; 2. The certification required in subsection A of this section has been attained and has not lapsed; and 3. The individual is licensed to practice in this state. C. An individual who qualifies for the bonus pursuant to this section and who is employed by a school district on less than a full-time basis, shall receive a pro-rated bonus based on the proportionate equivalency to full-time employment. D. No school or school district shall be liable for payment of bonuses pursuant to this section. The bonus shall not be included in the calculation of salary for purposes of meeting the district or statutory minimum salary schedule or for purposes of calculating Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma contributions or benefits. E. The amount of the salary bonus pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be increased to Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000.00) upon implementation of subsection N of Section 6-204.2 of this title. Added by Laws 2004, c. 311, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2004. Amended by Laws 2008, c. 186, § 3, eff. July 1, 2008. §70-6-206.1. Oklahoma School Psychologist, Speech-Language Pathologist, and Audiologist National Certification Revolving Fund. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the State Board of Education to be designated the "Oklahoma School Psychologist, Speech-Language Pathologist, and Audiologist National Certification Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies appropriated or transferred to the fund by the Legislature. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the State Board of Education to provide an annual bonus for individuals meeting the requirements of Section 6-206 of this title. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment. Added by Laws 2004, c. 311, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2004. Amended by Laws 2012, c. 304, § 603. §70-6-207. Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program. A. The State Board of Education shall establish the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program. The purpose of the program is to improve student mastery of the subject matter standards adopted by the State Board of Education for sixth-grade mathematics through Algebra I by enhancing sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade public school teachers' mastery of the subject matter content and process skills. B. For purposes of this section, "middle-level mathematics" means the subject matter standards for sixth- through eighth-grade mathematics and Algebra I. C. Each sixth-, seventh-, or eighth-grade public school teacher of a middle-level mathematics course who completes a professional development program approved by the State Board of Education, as authorized in subsection E of this section, shall receive a stipend in the amount of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) if, prior or subsequent to completion of the professional development program, the teacher successfully completes the middle-level/intermediate mathematics Oklahoma Subject Area Test administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. The State Board of Education shall provide the stipend to qualifying teachers who meet the requirements of this section. The stipend shall not be included in the calculation of the teacher's salary for purposes of meeting the district or statutory minimum salary schedule or for purposes of calculating Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma contributions or benefits. D. The State Department of Education shall issue a request for proposals on or before October 1, 2005, seeking applications for the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program. The State Department of Education shall review the applications for compliance with the established requirements. E. The State Board of Education may approve programs that meet the requirements set forth in this subsection. Each participating teacher shall take a preassessment to establish current subject matter knowledge, and, based on the results of the preassessment, the teacher will participate in one of the three programs listed below: 1. Mathematics academies consisting of a minimum of forty (40) contact hours of training and twenty (20) contact hours of follow-up training through lesson study with identified mathematics specialists on-site and through video technology. The mathematics academies shall incorporate both content knowledge and process knowledge that shall be modeled for teachers in the areas of problem-solving, reasoning, and critical thinking as applied to the mathematical concepts in the subject matter standards. The ultimate goal of the mathematics academies shall be to significantly increase the number of children becoming proficient in mathematics as demonstrated on assessments administered pursuant to the Oklahoma School Testing Program Act. The mathematics academies shall be accepted for professional development purposes and shall be defined as continuing education experiences that consist of a minimum of forty (40) clock hours. The mathematics academies shall be designed to provide instruction that includes peer coaching; 2. Other programs including customized higher education courses and/or on-line courses similar in scope and nature to those described in this subsection designed to improve middle school mathematics knowledge including Algebra I, as approved by the State Board of Education; and 3. Small learning community lesson studies facilitated by a mathematics coach and utilizing the Internet and video technology, as approved by the State Board of Education. F. On or before December 15, 2005, the State Department of Education shall forward applications that the Department has determined meet the requirements of this section to the State Board of Education. On or before February 1, 2006, the Board shall award, through a competitive bid process, one or more grants for professional development programs approved by the Department. G. The State Board of Education shall contract for independent evaluations of programs funded pursuant to this section. H. Beginning June 30, 2006, and each year thereafter for which the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program is funded, the State Board of Education shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor containing: 1. Descriptions of professional development programs approved and funded through the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program; 2. Number and amount of grants awarded; 3. Number of teachers completing approved programs; 4. Number of teachers successfully completing the Oklahoma Subject Area Test for middle level/intermediate mathematics after completion of a program created pursuant to this section; 5. Amount of stipends paid to teachers pursuant to this section; and 6. Student achievement data for students in classes taught by teachers completing one of the program options authorized pursuant to this section. Added by Laws 2005, c. 432, § 2, eff. July 1, 2005. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 430, § 1, emerg. eff. June 5, 2014. §70-6-210. Inner City Schools Rescue program. A. The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation is authorized to establish the Inner City Schools Rescue program. The purpose of the program shall be to recruit and train certified teachers to work in inner city schools and to provide technical assistance and support to those teachers who participate in the program and become employed in an inner city school. B. For purposes of this section, an inner city school shall mean a school identified as in need of improvement as determined by the Commission pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act or where ninety-five percent (95%) or more of the students enrolled in the school qualify for the free and reduced lunch program. C. To fulfill the objectives of the Inner City Schools Rescue program the Commission shall: 1. Inform teachers of the program; 2. Collect and review applications for the program from interested teachers; and 3. Establish an applicant review committee to identify participants for the program. D. Each year the Commission shall select a certain number of teachers, as determined by the Commission, who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in teaching and to working with at-risk students in the inner city. E. The Commission shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. Added by Laws 2009, c. 259, § 1, eff. July 1, 2009. Amended by Laws 2013, c. 83, § 14, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 23, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-211. Educator supply-and-demand study. The State Board of Education in cooperation with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and institutions of higher education shall conduct an educator supply-and-demand study every three (3) years. The study shall identify areas of teacher shortage and make recommendations for addressing the areas of most critical need. The Board shall submit a report outlining the findings to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Added by Laws 2014, c. 124, § 27, eff. July 1, 2014. §70-6-212. Micro-credential program. A. The State Department of Education in coordination with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall establish a micro-credential program within one hundred twenty (120) days after the effective date of this act for the purpose of permitting any teacher candidate or teacher who holds a certificate to teach to complete additional coursework and earn micro- credentials in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) endorsement areas including computer science. B. The State Department of Education and the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall convene a working group including pertinent education stakeholders to determine how any micro-credential awarded pursuant to any micro-credential program established pursuant to subsection A of this section will be used and such uses shall include: 1. To award add-on endorsements to teachers in STEM endorsement areas including computer science; 2. In lieu of the subject area competency examination required by Section 6-187 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and 3. To meet the professional development program requirements established in Section 6-194 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. C. Any course offered through a micro-credential program established pursuant to subsection A of this section may be offered in person, online or in a blended format of in-person and online instruction. Added by Laws 2021, c. 338, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021. §70-6-301. Repealed by Laws 2018, c. 229, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2018. §70-6-302. Repealed by Laws 2018, c. 229, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2018. §70-6-303. Repealed by Laws 2018, c. 229, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2018. §70-6-401. School personnel electronically or digitally communicating with students - Inclusion of parents or guardians. A. As used in this section: 1. "Electronic or digital communication" includes, but is not limited to, emails, text messages, instant messages, direct messages, social media messages, messages sent through software applications, and any other electronic digital means of communication; and 2. "School personnel" means teachers, coaches, administrators, school bus drivers, or any other persons employed full-time or part- time by a public school or charter school. B. School personnel engaging in electronic or digital communication with an individual student shall include the student's parent or guardian in any electronic or digital communication, unless such communication is on a school-approved platform and related to school and academic communications. C. Exceptions to the requirement in subsection B of this section may be made in case of an emergency, subject to subsequent notification to the parent or guardian. School personnel shall make reasonable efforts to use school-approved platforms, systems, or applications that allow automatic inclusion of parents or guardians in communications with students. D. Schools shall provide training, developed by the State Department of Education, for school personnel on the student communication requirements of this section. E. Any school personnel who is reported to be in violation of subsection B of this section shall be put on administrative leave while the school district investigates the incident and notifies the board of education. If the investigation finds that no misconduct occurred, the school personnel shall be reinstated and the incident shall be noted in the school personnel's employee file. If the investigation finds misconduct occurred, the school personnel shall be disciplined according to the school district board of education's policy, up to and including termination of employment, and the incident shall be reported to law enforcement pursuant to Section 1210.163 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Added by Laws 2024, c. 297, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024.