Oklahoma § 70-698 - Professional training institutes

§ 70-698. Professional training institutes

A. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are

authorized to develop professional training institutes for the

purpose of increasing the available pool of qualified teachers in

subject areas that are in critically short supply in the elementary

and secondary public schools of this state. Said program shall be

in conjunction with Title II of Public Law 98-377, "The U.S.

Education for Economic Security Act of 1984", as amended. The

professional training institutes shall be located at and utilize the

existing facilities of one or more of the Oklahoma public or private

higher education institutions which provide programs of teacher

education. The professional training institutes shall provide

instruction for:

1. Graduates of accredited colleges who hold degrees with

majors in and who wish to become certified in subject areas which

are experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers; and

2. Teachers currently certified in subject areas which are

experiencing an oversupply of qualified teachers and who hold

degrees with majors in and who wish to be certified in subject areas

which are experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers.

Initially, the professional training institutes shall provide

instruction in the subject areas of mathematics, science, computer

learning, and foreign languages and in teacher education in those

subject areas. After three (3) years of operation, the Oklahoma

State Regents for Higher Education shall have authority to

redesignate, based on data supplied by the State Department of

Education, the subject areas which are experiencing a shortage of

qualified teachers and to change the institutes accordingly.

B. Each professional training institute shall offer an

intensive academic credit program in a designated subject area of

need or in teacher education.

C. Upon successful completion of a professional training

institute, a participant shall be eligible to teach full-time in the

subject area of need for one (1) year in the public schools of this

state during the school year following completion of the institute.

D. To the extent that funding permits, it is the intent of the

Oklahoma Legislature that participants not be required to pay for

general enrollment fees, tuition, books, or special fees associated

with a professional training institute. The Legislature further

intends that participants be allowed to utilize campus housing and

food services at the lowest available rate.

Added by Laws 1985, c. 354, § 2, emerg. eff. July 30, 1985.