A. Prior to July 1, 2014, a competency examination shall be adopted by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and beginning July 1, 2014, a competency examination shall be adopted by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability for the professional education and various subject areas and grade levels for purposes of ensuring academic achievement and competency of each teacher candidate or teacher in the subject area the person is seeking certification to teach which shall also include certification as an administrator, as prescribed by the State Board of Education.
The Commission, consistent with the purposes of this section, shall promulgate rules and procedures to guarantee the confidentiality of examinations.
B. No teacher candidate shall be eligible for certification until successfully completing the competency examination except those candidates who make application to the State 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.
Any teacher who is certified to teach elementary education may be certified in early childhood education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject area portion of the examination. Any teacher who is certified to teach early childhood education may be certified in elementary education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject area portion of the examination. Any special education teacher who becomes certified to teach through completion of an accredited teacher preparation program may be certified in early childhood or elementary education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject portion of the examination. Any teacher who becomes certified to teach through completion of an accredited teacher preparation program or becomes alternatively certified to teach through the Troops to Teachers program may be certified in special education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject area portion of the examination. Any special education teacher who has not completed a Commission-approved teacher education program in elementary education or early childhood education but who has successfully completed the subject area portion of the examination may be certified in elementary education or early childhood education for the purpose of providing direct instruction and serving as the teacher of record for grading purposes in special education settings only.
D. The Commission shall offer the competency examination at least four times per calendar year on dates to be established by the Commission.
E. If a teacher candidate or teacher is a non-native-English speaker, the Commission shall offer the subject area competency examination in the native language of the teacher candidate or teacher only if the teacher candidate or teacher is employed or has been offered employment by a school district as a teacher in a foreign language immersion program offered by the school district. If a non-native-English speaker who has received certification in a subject area after taking the subject area competency examination in the native language of the speaker seeks to add a certification area in the future and that person is no longer employed as a teacher in a foreign language immersion program, the examination for the additional certification area shall be taken in English. The State Board of Education shall issue a restricted license or certificate to any teacher who has completed a subject area competency examination in the native language of the teacher as provided for in this subsection restricting the teacher to teaching only in a foreign language immersion program.
F. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, may grant an exception to the requirement to complete a subject area examination for initial certification in a field which does not require an advanced degree if the candidate has an advanced degree in a subject that is substantially comparable to the content assessed on a subject area examination. The advanced degree shall be from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency which is recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education. The Commission shall provide the Board with the necessary information to determine comparability.
G. 1. Nothing in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act shall restrict the right of the State Board of Education to issue an emergency or provisional certificate, as needed. Provided, however, prior to the issuance of an emergency certificate, the district shall document substantial efforts to employ a teacher who holds a provisional or standard certificate. In the event a district is unable to hire an individual meeting this criteria, the district shall document efforts to employ an individual with a provisional or standard certificate in another curricular area with academic preparation in the field of need. Only after these alternatives have been exhausted shall the district be allowed to employ an individual meeting minimum standards as established by the State Board of Education for the issuance of emergency certificates.
2. The State Board of Education may renew the emergency or provisional certificate of an individual who has been employed by a school district board of education for at least two (2) years if the following criteria are met:
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.
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. 319, § 1, emerg. eff. April 28, 2021; Laws 2022, c. 220, § 4, emerg. eff. May 5, 2022.
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.
NOTE: This section was purportedly repealed by Laws 2022, c. 228, § 50, emerg. eff. May 5, 2022.
Structure Oklahoma Statutes
§70-1-101. Oklahoma School Code.
§70-1-103. Act to be liberally construed.
§70-1-104. Act not to repeal or modify tax laws unless specifically provided.
§70-1-106. Public schools - Definition - What included.
§70-1-107. Educational services - Enumeration.
§70-1-107.1. Technology - Generally defined for educational and governmental purposes.
§70-1-108. School district - Definition.
§70-1-109.1. Optional Extended School Year Program.
§70-1-111. School day - Six hours - Exceptions.
§70-1-112. School taught on Saturday.
§70-1-113. School district residency.
§70-1-114.1. Foreign exchange students - Guidelines for acceptance.
§70-1-114.2. Operation as grantee of a federal Head Start program - Calculation of state aid.
§70-1-115. Public school system – Administration.
§70-1-116. Positions in school system - Definitions.
§70-1-116.1. Teaching principal - Amount of time in classroom.
§70-1-116.2. Application of medicine or sunscreen to students - Vaccinations.
§70-1-117. General fund - Capital and noncapital expenditures.
§70-1-118. Building and operations fund - Definition.
§70-1-118.1. Building fund – Technology center school districts.
§70-1-119. Sinking fund - Definition.
§70-1-121. Conflicting provisions.
§70-1-122. Contributions to Public School Classroom Support Revolving Fund – Tax forms.
§70-1-123. Public School Classroom Support Revolving Fund.
§70-1-124. Per-pupil expenditure defined - Expenditure categories.
§70-1-125. Restrooms in public schools.
§70-2-113. Campaign committee organization statements.
§70-2-114. School district political committee organization statements.
§70-2-115. Contributions and expenditures reports.
§70-2-116. Organization statements and contribution and expenditure reports - Public records.
§70-2-117. Financial interest statements.
§70-2-118. Financial interest statements - Public records.
§70-3-101. State Board of Education - Members - Travel expenses.
§70-3-104. State Board of Education - Powers and duties.
§70-3-104.3. Requirements for compliance with quality standards - Loss or denial of accreditation.
§70-3-104.4. Standards for accreditation.
§70-3-104.7. Day treatment programs - Standards for on-site educational services.
§70-3-104.8. Contracts with educators.
§70-3-104.9. Report listing wage, salary, benefit, job class changes.
§70-3-104.10. Oklahoma Imagination Library Program.
§70-3-104.11. Imagination Library Revolving Fund.
§70-3-106. Office - Books pertaining to office - Salary of Superintendent.
§70-3-107. Administrative and executive duties.
§70-3-107.1. State Superintendent of Public Instruction – Powers and duties.
§70-3-109. Curriculum Materials Revolving Fund.
§70-3-110.1. Allocation of funds for adult education.
§70-3-115. School facility improvement program - Allocations from appropriations.
§70-3-116.1. Educational Accountability Reform Act - Short title.
§70-3-116.2. Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability.
§70-3-116.3. Technical corrections - References in statutes.
§70-3-116.4. Transfer of authority.
§70-3-116.5. Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability – Report on educational system.
§70-3-116.6. Pilot program for mentor teacher training.
§70-3-117. Office of Educational Quality and Accountability.
§70-3-117.1. Short title - School Finance Review Commission Act.
§70-3-117.2. School Finance Review Commission – Creation.
§70-3-117.3. School Finance Review Commission – Duties.
§70-3-118. Secretary of Education - Powers, duties and responsibilities.
§70-3-118.1. Budget and operations performance reviews.
§70-3-119. Allocation of funds for school lunch programs.
§70-3-120. Board approval of programs using state funds.
§70-3-121. Apportionment of certain administrative and support function funds.
§70-3-122. Funding for education of children with visual impairments.
§70-3-123. Allocation of funds for Oklahoma Education 2000 Challenge.
§70-3-123.1. Review of legislative provisions for duplication or conflict in mandates.
§70-3-127. Approval by State Board of Education.
§70-3-129.3. Public school, zone, or district empowerment plan.
§70-3-129.4. Empowerment plan considerations.
§70-3-129.5. Acceptance of gifts, grants, and donations.
§70-3-129.6. Submitting approved empowerment plan to the State Board of Education.
§70-3-129.7. Waiving statutes or rules.
§70-3-129.8. Waiver of provisions in collective bargaining agreement.
§70-3-129.9. Performance review.
§70-3-129.11. School District Empowerment Program.
§70-3-134. Applications – Presubmission training – Contents - Procedures.
§70-3-135. Sponsor to contract with governing board – Contents of contract.
§70-3-136. Rules and standards to be incorporated into charter.
§70-3-137. Duration of contract--Performance report--Renewal--Termination--School closure.
§70-3-138. Reprisal against school employee seeking to establish charter school.
§70-3-139. Status of teacher returning to public school from charter school.
§70-3-140. Student eligibility – Districts – Preferences - Discrimination.
§70-3-142. Funding - Charter School Closure Reimbursement Revolving Fund.
§70-3-144. Charter Schools Incentive Fund.
§70-3-145.1. Statewide Virtual Charter School Board.
§70-3-145.2. Meetings - Reimbursement.
§70-3-145.3. Powers and duties.
§70-3-145.4. Authority to promulgate rules.
§70-3-145.5. Students outside the district - Succession to contractual rights.
§70-3-145.6. Full time virtual education site - Performance data of nonresidents.
§70-3-145.7. Statewide Virtual Charter School Board Revolving Fund.
§70-3-145.8. Records of attendance – Orientation - Truancy.
§70-3-151.1. Adjusted cohort graduation rate - Academic performance index.
§70-3-151.2. Graduation rate growth targets - Failing schools.
§70-3-153. Reporting of plans to State Board - Exemptions.
§70-3-154. Review of plans by regional accreditation officer.
§70-3-155. Study and assessment of information and reports – Collection techniques.
§70-3-156. Local school district assessment – Report submission.
§70-3-162. Enrollment - Collection of information regarding participation in certain programs.
§70-3-167. Exemption from participation in advisory council or committee.
§70-3-168. Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act of 2013.
§70-3-169. Disclosure of mental health treatment of students - Accommodations plan.
§70-3-171. Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education Act.
§70-3-173. Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education.
§70-4-101. Abolition of office of county superintendent of schools.
§70-4-104. School district boundaries - Duties of county clerk.
§70-4-201. Transfer and preservation of records - Additional salaries.
§70-5-101. School districts - Designation.
§70-5-102. Independent school districts.
§70-5-103. Elementary school districts.
§70-5-103.1. Elementary school districts - Prohibition on certain grades.
§70-5-104. Designation of district retained on records - When.
§70-5-105. School district - Body corporate - Powers.
§70-5-106. Governing body of school district.
§70-5-106A. Employment contracts with more than one school district.
§70-5-107A. Boards of education of school districts - Membership - Election procedure.
§70-5-107B. Expansion of a board of education - Chair and other positions.
§70-5-110.1. Board members - Continuing education requirement.
§70-5-113. Relation by affinity or consanguinity - Prohibition.
§70-5-115. Local treasurer - Surety bond - Duties - Cash and investment ledgers.
§70-5-116a. Superintendent and officers – Employment requirement – Surety bonds.
§70-5-117.1. Cooperative contracts.
§70-5-117.2. Additional authorization.
§70-5-117.3. Average daily attendance.
§70-5-117.4. School improvement plan.
§70-5-117.5. Employee health insurance plans.
§70-5-117.6. Regulation of dogs running at large.
§70-5-117b. Interlocal cooperative agreements.
§70-5-119. Officers of board - Encumbrance clerk and minute clerk - Bond.
§70-5-120. President - Duties.
§70-5-121. Vice president - Duties.
§70-5-123. Noncontract expenditures – Limitations.
§70-5-124. Board contracts prohibited - Exceptions.
§70-5-125. Liability for voting for false claim.
§70-5-126. Refusal, failure or neglect of board - Elector may institute action.
§70-5-127.1. Release of audit to public.
§70-5-128. Annual statistical and financial reports.
§70-5-128.2. Electronic transmission of reports, plans or grants.
§70-5-129.1. Funds exempted from provisions of Section 5-129 of this title.
§70-5-129.3. Short title - Patriotic Access to Students in Schools Act (PASS Act).
§70-5-130. School buildings and property - Permission to use for other purposes.
§70-5-131. Educational courses - Buildings and equipment.
§70-5-131.1. Sewage disposal systems.
§70-5-131.2. Energy conservation contracts.
§70-5-132.1. Certain persons 21 years of age or older may be allowed to complete high school.
§70-5-133. Apportionment of taxes each year.
§70-5-134. Estimates - Emergency and building levies - Elections.
§70-5-135. System of accounting.
§70-5-135.4. School District Transparency Act.
§70-5-136.1. Certificates of indebtedness – Curing of delinquencies by withholding of State Aid.
§70-5-137. School nurses - Increments.
§70-5-138. School employees and superintendent - Residence.
§70-5-140. Additional salary or wages in lieu of insurance or similar benefits.
§70-5-141.2. Incentive pay plans.
§70-5-141.4. Incentive pay plan - Student and school growth in achievement.
§70-5-142. National criminal history record check - Employment with a school.
§70-5-146.1. School employees - Notification of suspected gang activity.
§70-5-149. School safety drills.
§70-5-149.1. Civil actions against former students – Costs and attorney fees.
§70-5-149.2. Handgun licenses for school personnel – Training - Immunity.
§70-5-149.3. Designated lactation rooms.
§70-5-152. Applicability optional.
§70-5-154. Approval of budget - Estimates of revenues and expenditures.
§70-5-156. Protests - Right to examine filed budget.
§70-5-157. Expenditures in excess of appropriation - Deficits and surpluses - Violations of law.
§70-5-159. Classification of revenues and expenditures.
§70-5-160. Interaccount and interfund transfers.
§70-5-161. Amendment of budget.
§70-5-170. Transfer of unexpended or unencumbered appropriations.
§70-5-181. Registration of certificates of indebtedness or bonds – Recording of payment.
§70-5-185. When check or warrant due – Enforcement of liability.
§70-5-187. Unencumbered balances – Date for submission of all claims – Notice.
§70-5-189. Second or duplicate check or warrant – Stop payment or affidavit.
§70-5-190. School district treasurer, encumbrance clerk - Training - Continuing education.
§70-6-101. Teachers - Contract.
§70-6-101.2. Consultant services - Contracts with retired administrators - Contract requirements.
§70-6-101.6. Categories of employment contracts.
§70-6-101.6a. Employment contracts - Status of applicant's children.
§70-6-101.6b. Prohibiting disciplinary action against teachers for reporting violations of law.
§70-6-101.8. Restrictions on attorneys involved in due process hearings.
§70-6-101.11. Copy of evaluation to person evaluated - Disclosure at hearings - Confidentiality.
§70-6-101.13. Full-time certified administrators - Dismissal or nonreemployment - Due process.
§70-6-101.14. Administrators - Suspension.
§70-6-101.15. Administrators - Conviction of felony - Criminal sexual activity or sexual misconduct.
§70-6-101.16. Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System.
§70-6-101.20. Teacher Due Process Act of 1990 - Short title.
§70-6-101.21. Standards of performance and conduct for teachers.
§70-6-101.22. Grounds for dismissal or nonreemployment.
§70-6-101.23. Application of act - Exemptions.
§70-6-101.25. Recommendation of dismissal or not to reemploy to be in writing - Basis or grounds.
§70-6-101.26. Mailing or delivery of recommendation to teacher - Teacher hearing.
§70-6-101.28. Applicable procedure.
§70-6-101.29. Immediate suspension - Compensation and benefits - Hearing for dismissal.
§70-6-101.31. Determining retention or reassignment of teachers and administrators.
§70-6-101.32. Implementation of rules.
§70-6-101.40. Suspension, demotion, termination or nonreemployment for cause of support employee.
§70-6-101.42. Wage increase for 2018-19 school year.
§70-6-101.43. Adoption and publication of disciplinary policy for support personnel - Copies.
§70-6-101.44. Adoption of policy prerequisite to disciplinary action.
§70-6-101.45. Reasonable assurance of employment.
§70-6-101.46. Procedure for disciplinary action.
§70-6-104.1. Exhaustion of sick and extended leave - Credit for leave without pay.
§70-6-104.5. Exhausted sick leave - Unused sick leave upon termination.
§70-6-104.6. Leave sharing programs and banks.
§70-6-104.7. National disaster leave.
§70-6-105A. Construction of agreements
§70-6-106. Salary - Twelve monthly payments.
§70-6-106.1. Distribution of Mentor Teacher Stipend funds.
§70-6-106.3. Support employee schedule of payments.
§70-6-108. Certificate of qualifications - Unlawful to teach without.
§70-6-108.1. Expired license or certificate notice - Renewal applications.
§70-6-110. Agents of school authorities - Payment or acceptance of bribes.
§70-6-111. Gratuities or rewards - Unlawful to give.
§70-6-112. Teachers - Gratuities or rewards in connection with employment.
§70-6-113.1. Materials on effective classroom discipline techniques to be furnished.
§70-6-115. Information concerning student - Violation.
§70-6-122.3. See the following versions:
§70-6-122.4. License for Teach for America Program participant - Exemption from residency program.
§70-6-122.5. Alternative Placement teaching certificate - Troops to Teachers.
§70-6-122.6. Temporary teaching certificate.
§70-6-122.11. Issuance of one-year alternative teacher certificate.
§70-6-127A. Public school paraprofessionals.
§70-6-129.1. Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee.
§70-6-130. Minority Teacher Recruitment Center.
§70-6-131. Teacher recruitment programs.
§70-6-132. Oklahoma Teacher Recruitment Revolving Fund.
§70-6-133. Pilot program for new pathways to teacher certification.
§70-6-149.1. Short title - School Protection Act.
§70-6-149.4. False accusations of criminal activity against education employees - Penalties.
§70-6-149.5. Awarding of costs and attorney fees – Expert witness fees.
§70-6-149.6. Insurance indemnification not a waiver of defenses.
§70-6-149.8. Benefits not lost by leaves of absence due to assault or battery.
§70-6-149.9. Act does not limit other laws.
§70-6-154.1. Renewal of Standard Teaching Certificate.
§70-6-181. Legislative declaration - Interpretation of act.
§70-6-185. Competencies and methods to be incorporated into teacher preparation system.
§70-6-186. Criteria for approval and accreditation of teacher education programs.
§70-6-187. See the following versions:
§70-6-187A. Competency examinations - Refund.
§70-6-187B. Teaching Certification Scholarship Program
§70-6-187C. Teaching Certification Scholarship Revolving Fund
§70-6-187D. Promulgation of rules
§70-6-187v1. Competency examinations.
§70-6-187v2. See the following versions:
§70-6-189. Certification system.
§70-6-189.2. School psychologist or psychometrist - Certification.
§70-6-190. Qualifications for teacher employment and certification.
§70-6-190.1. Extension of provisional speech-language certificates.
§70-6-190.2. Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund.
§70-6-192. Professional development - Legislative intent.
§70-6-193. Funding for professional development programs.
§70-6-194. District professional development programs.
§70-6-194.2. Scholarships for attending Great Expectations Summer Institutes for Teachers.
§70-6-195.2. Mathematics professional development programs.
§70-6-196. Review of contracts with professional development centers.
§70-6-197. Persons subject to certification procedures.
§70-6-200. Professional development institutes.
§70-6-204.2. Education Leadership Oklahoma program.
§70-6-204.3. Education Leadership Oklahoma Revolving Fund.
§70-6-204.4. Oklahoma National Board Certification Revolving Fund.
§70-6-204.5. Professional Development Institutes Revolving Fund.
§70-6-207. Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program.
§70-6-210. Inner City Schools Rescue program.
§70-6-211. Educator supply-and-demand study.
§70-6-212. Micro-credential program .
§70-7-101. Boundaries - Petition or resolution to change - Election.
§70-7-103. Annexation or disorganization - Assumption of bonded indebtedness.
§70-7-104. Division of property - Debts and obligations.
§70-7-106. Buildings - Rented, moved, or sold.
§70-7-107. Disposition of property.
§70-7-108. Federally owned reservations - Annexations.
§70-7-202. Application of act.
§70-7-203. School Consolidation Assistance Fund.
§70-7-204. Preference for allocations from funds.
§70-7-205. Exceptions to certification requirements - Priority for placement assistance services.
§70-8-101.2. Transfer of student from residential school district.
§70-8-103. Application for transfer - Procedure.
§70-8-103.1. See the following versions:
§70-8-103.2. Extramural athletic competition for transfer student not residing in district.
§70-8-106. School dispensed with - Transfer of pupils - Annexation.
§70-8-113. Transfer to district where parent or legal guardian is employed.
§70-9-101. Transportation provided.
§70-9-101.1. Inspection of transportation equipment - Official inspector.
§70-9-103. Purchase or contract for use of vehicles - Lettering.
§70-9-104. Transportation equipment - Definitions - Construction and maintenance - Colors - Penalty.
§70-9-106. Insurance to pay damages - Actions against school district.
§70-9-108. Additional transportation - Expenses.
§70-9-109. Price list and description of transportation equipment.
§70-9-110. Special Transportation Revolving Fund.
§70-9-112. Lease of equipment.
§70-9-113. Rental value of equipment.
§70-9-114. Sale of units of equipment after lease for one year.
§70-9-116. Space for storage of equipment.
§70-9-117. Expense - Paid from what funds.
§70-9-118. Operation instruction for bus drivers.
§70-9-119. Cameras for School Bus Stops Revolving Fund.
§70-10-101. Attendance officer - Assistants.