Oklahoma § 70-6

Full text of Oklahoma Oklahoma Statutes § 70-6, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 70-6.

Repealed by Laws 1949, p. 607, art. 20, § 9.

§70-6-1.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-1a.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-2.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-3.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-4.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-5.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-6.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-7.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-8.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-9.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

§70-6-10.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-11.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-12.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-13.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-14.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-15.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-16.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-17.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-18.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-19.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-20.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-21.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-22.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-23.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-24.

1971.

Repealed by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 24-127, eff. July 2,

§70-6-101.

Teachers - Contract.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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:

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

is employed by a school district prior to the 20172018 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

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

and for enabling the board to determine whether to approve or

disapprove the recommendation;

6. "Probationary teacher" means a teacher who:

is employed by a school district prior to the 20172018 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,

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 1116 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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

§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:

employee's name,

degree(s) employee holds,

number of years of teaching credit for salary

purposes, and

step placement on salary schedule;

2. Salary information including:

pay based on state minimum salary schedule,

district salary supplement,

extra-duty or extracurricular salary amounts,

itemized,

other salary,

total salary,

dollar amount of salary paid in cash, and

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:

state-paid flexible benefit allowance amount,

district-paid retirement contributions (over any

amount for retirement insurance paid as part of salary

and excluding any amounts paid pursuant to Section 17108.1 of this title),

district-paid health insurance (over any amount paid

as part of salary),

other district-paid benefits, such as life, dental,

disability, salary protection, vision, cancer, health

supplemental insurance (over any amount paid as part

of salary),

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

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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).

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

§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 6101.16 of this title. The revisions to each policy of evaluation

shall be phased in according to the following schedule:

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,

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 6101.16 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

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:

establish an annual professional growth goal for the

teacher or administrator that is developed by the

teacher or administrator in collaboration with the

evaluator,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

be tailored to address a specific area or criteria

identified through the qualitative component of the

TLE,

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

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:

presenter-led workshops,

individual or faculty studies of books, scholarly

articles and video productions,

peer observations,

committee studies to address student achievement

issues,

work related to a specific subject area or areas

associated with obtaining an advanced degree or

professional certification,

action research projects designed to improve student

achievement, and

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 6101.10 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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

1993.

Repealed by Laws 1993, c. 155, § 4, eff. July 1,

§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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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:

superior,

highly effective,

effective,

needs improvement, and

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:

organizational and classroom management skills,

ability to provide effective instruction,

focus on continuous improvement and professional

growth,

interpersonal skills, and

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:

organizational and school management, including

retention and development of effective teachers and

dismissal of ineffective teachers,

instructional leadership,

professional growth and responsibility,

interpersonal skills,

leadership skills, and

stakeholder perceptions;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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-

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 6101.10 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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

§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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

§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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

§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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 6104 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;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

3. “Severe” or “extraordinary” means serious, extreme, or lifethreatening 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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 2-7202 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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

§70-6-120.

17, 1977.

§70-6-120.1.

Repealed by Laws 1977, c. 262, § 20, emerg. eff. June

Repealed by Laws 1983, c. 147, § 1.

§70-6-121.

Repealed by Laws 1983, c. 147, § 1.

§70-6-122.

17, 1977.

Repealed by Laws 1977, c. 262, § 20, emerg. eff. June

§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:

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

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

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

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-

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 mildmoderate 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-

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 mildmoderate 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 mildmoderate 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 mildmoderate 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;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 mildmoderate 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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 severeprofound 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 microcredentialing 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:

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

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:

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,

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

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 6122.3 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.

1995.

Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1,

§70-6-124.

Repealed by Laws 1991, c. 67, § 7, eff. July 1, 1991.

§70-6-124.1.

1995.

Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1,

§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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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:

two members from the Oklahoma House of

Representatives,

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,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

one member who is a public school teacher who is a

minority,

one member who is a superintendent or designee of a

public school district, and

two members representing a community with a high

minority population. One appointee shall be AfricanAmerican. One appointee shall be Hispanic;

2. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint:

two members from the Oklahoma State Senate,

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,

one member who is a public school teacher who is a

minority,

one member who is a principal of a public high school,

and

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;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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, industryrecognized 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 6187 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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 24101.3 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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

§70-6-155.1.

Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. July 1, 1995.

Repealed by Laws 1988, c. 225, § 26.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

§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.

1995.

Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 15, eff. Sept. 1,

§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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

§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;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 1116 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 6122.3 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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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:

excellence in the arts and sciences,

an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter to be

taught,

the ability to identify and cultivate talent and

potential in students,

an understanding of child and human development,

teaching skills developed through a variety of

learning experiences,

the ability to interact effectively with all students,

skills necessary for working with parents, guardians

and custodians of students in the education process,

skills necessary to involve the community in

education,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

skills to foster teamwork within and among schools,

for administrators, skills necessary to be an

effective leader of a school or school district, and

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:

require teacher candidates to study arts and sciences

at the undergraduate level,

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,

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 decisionmaking 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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

(4)

the identification and impact of trauma on

student learning and trauma-informed responsive

instruction,

require teacher candidates to study the individuality

of students, the capacity of students to learn and the

process of learning,

integrate curriculum from other disciplines with the

education curriculum,

require teacher candidates to have training

experiences and personal contact with parents,

guardians or custodians of school-age children,

require teacher candidates to have community

involvement experience,

structure courses so as to require teamwork

activities, and

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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:

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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,

developing a curriculum that includes intensive onthe-job training for teacher candidates,

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,

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

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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:

the individual has been granted an emergency or

provisional certificate pursuant to paragraph 1 of

this subsection for two (2) years,

the individual has not successfully completed the

competency examinations required by this section,

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,

the employing school district board of education

agrees to renew the individual’s contract to teach for

the ensuing fiscal year, and

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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;

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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:

instructional leadership,

organizational leadership, including education

finance, education law, and risk management,

collaborative and community leadership, and

ethical leadership.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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:

the completion of a standard master's degree,

two (2) years of relevant work experience in a

supervisory or administrative capacity,

a passing score on the subject area competency

examination required in Section 6-187 of this title,

and

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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:

consist of a minimum of thirty (30) clock hours,

be competency based,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.

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 6190 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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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 outof-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.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

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.