Oklahoma § 10-461 - Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program

§ 10-461. Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program

A. 1. There is hereby created, until November 1, 2028, in

accordance with the Oklahoma Sunset Law, the Teacher Recruitment and

Retention Program to be administered by Oklahoma Partnership for

School Readiness under the direction of the Department of Human

Services.

2. The Department of Human Services shall promulgate rules as

necessary to implement and enforce the provisions of this section,

including verifying income eligibility, employment status, and

administering subsidy benefits accordingly.

B. The Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program, administered

through Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness, shall ensure

that:

1. A child care employee working at a child care facility

licensed pursuant to the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing

Act shall be eligible for the Teacher Recruitment and Retention

Program, provided that:

a.

total annual gross household income does not exceed

One Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000.00) for

a two-parent household,

b.

total annual gross household income does not exceed

Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) for a singleparent household, or

c.

children must attend a program participating in the

Department of Human Services’ Child Care Subsidy

Program;

2. As used in this section, "child care employee" shall mean

any individual who is employed for a minimum of twenty (20) hours

per week, averaged monthly, who provides direct care, supervision or

educational services to children or who performs duties on-site that

support the daily operation of the facility participating in the

Child Care Subsidy Program and which is licensed pursuant to the

Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act;

3. An employee who qualifies under the household income

limitations in paragraph 1 of this subsection:

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 10. Children

a.

shall have household income exempted from

consideration solely for purposes of calculating costsharing or co-payment responsibilities,

b.

shall have co-payments waived if eligible under the

Department’s Child Care Subsidy Program, and

c.

shall be eligible to participate in the Teacher

Recruitment and Retention Program, even if his or her

income exceeds the Child Care Subsidy Program

requirements;

4. When an employee who is employed by a licensed child care

facility leaves employment of the licensed provider, the provider

shall provide written notice within thirty (30) days to the

Department of Human Services that the employee is no longer

employed; and

5. Other than the income exemption pursuant to paragraph 1 of

this subsection and the reporting requirements established pursuant

to this subsection, all other conditions of eligibility for the

Child Care Subsidy Program located in Oklahoma Administrative Code

(OAC) 340:40-7-1 shall be followed.

C. Subsection B of this section shall not apply to employees

who are employed by a child care facility licensed pursuant to the

Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act and who are eligible

for the Child Care Subsidy Program without household income being

exempted.

D. The Department of Human Services shall waive co-payments for

employees who are employed by a licensed child care facility and who

qualify under income eligibility requirements of the Child Care

Subsidy Program.

Added by Laws 2025, c. 345, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2025.