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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022)
SENATE BILL 1429 By: Haste
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to teacher certification; amen ding 70
O.S. 2021, Section 6 -122.3, which relates to
alternative teaching certification; providing an
option of passing certain test or having certain
degree; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-187, as last
amended by Section 1, Chapter 319, O.S .L. 2021, which
relates to teacher competency examinat ions; providing
exemption from certain test for teacher candidate or
teacher with certain degree; providing an effective
date; and declaring an emergency .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-122.3, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 6-122.3. A. The State Board of Education shall grant
an alternative placement teaching certificate to a person who makes
application to the Board and mee ts the following criteria:
1. a. holds at least a baccalaureate degr ee 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
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b. has successfully completed a terminal degree, such as
a doctorate of philosophy, a doctorate in education,
professional doctorates, a master of fine arts degree ,
or a master of library science degree, from an
institution accredited by a nationa l or regional
accrediting agency which is recognized by the
Secretary of the United States Department of
Education. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education shall be consulted to verify other terminal
degrees, or
c. holds at least a baccalaureate d egree from an
institution whose accreditation is recognized by the
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and has
qualified work experience in a field that corresponds
to an area of certification as determined by the State
Board of Education, and
d. in addition to the requirements of subparagraphs a, b,
and c of this paragraph, has demonstrated competency
or completed a major in a field that corresponds to an
area of specialization for an Elementary -Secondary
Certificate or a Secondary Certificate as de termined
by the State Board of Education or a vocational -
technical certificate as recommended by the Oklahoma
Department of Career and Technology Education;
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2. Declares the intention to earn standard certification by
means of an alternative placement prog ram in not more than three (3)
years. The State Board of Educatio n 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 placeme nt teaching certificate based on the
criteria of paragraph 1 of th is 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 s eventy (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 general educatio n and portion of the
competency examination required in Section 6 -187 of this title or
has a master's degree from an instit ution accredited by a national
or regional accrediting agency which is recognized by the Secretary
of the U.S. Department of Education ;
4. Has passed the subject area portions 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. 5. Either presents a document from an accredited public
school district in th is state offering employment in the area of
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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 t he 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 accredit ed public school district
in this state offering r enewed 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;
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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 t he
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.
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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 Educatio n shall promulgate rules
authorizing adjunct teach ers who shall be persons with distinguished
qualifications in their field. Adjunct teachers shall not be
required to meet standard certification. Adjunct teachers shall be
limited to two hundred seventy ( 270) clock hours of classroom
teaching per semeste r.
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 prog rams
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 pr ogram without further
qualification; and
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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 sum mer following the first year
of teaching with an a lternative placement teaching certificate. Any
person seeking standard certification through an alternative
placement program shall be permitted to take necessary courses
during regular semesters if offere d.
J. The criteria specified in subsection I of t his section can
be met through a cooperative arrangement entered into by two or more
institutions of higher education.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Secti on 6-187, as
last amended by Section 1, Chapter 319, O.S.L. 2021, is amended to
read as follows:
Section 6-187. 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 ex amination
shall be adopted by the Commission for E ducational Quality and
Accountability for the general education, professional education ,
and various subject areas and grade levels for purposes of ensuring
academic achievement and competency of each teach er candidate or
teacher in the subject area the pe rson is seeking certification to
teach which shall also include certification as an administrator, as
prescribed by the State Board of Education.
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The Commission, consistent with the purposes of this section ,
shall promulgate rules and procedures to guarant ee the
confidentiality of examinations.
B. 1. 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. Subj ect 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 general ed ucation,
professional education, or subject area portions of the examination
subject to any limit imposed by the Commission.
2. A teacher candidate or teacher shall be exempt from the
requirement to pass the general education portion of the competency
examination required by this section if he or she has a master's
degree from an instit ution accredited by a national or regional
accrediting agency which is recognized by the Secretary of the U. S.
Department of Education.
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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 par agraph,
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 te ach elementary education may
be certified in early childhood education upo n 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 childhoo d education may be certified
in elementary educati on upon meeting the requ irements provided in
law and successful completion of the appropriate subject a rea
portion of the examination. Any special education teacher who
becomes certified to teach through c ompletion of an accredited
teacher preparation pro gram 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 w ho becomes certified to teach through
completion of an accredited teacher preparation program or becomes
alternatively certified to teach through the Tro ops to Teachers
program may be certified in special education upon meeting the
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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 Commiss ion-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 e ducation settings only.
D. The Commission shall o ffer the competency exam ination 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 shal l offer the subject area competency
examination in the native language of the teacher candidate or
teacher only if the teacher candidate or teacher is em ployed 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 t eacher in
a foreign language immersion program, the examination for the
additional certification area s hall be taken in English. The State
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Board of Education shall issue a restricted license or certificate
to any teacher who has completed a subject area c ompetency
examination in the native language of the teacher as provided for in
this subsection restrict ing the teacher to teaching only in a
foreign language immersion program.
F. The State Board of Educat ion, in consultation with the
Commission for Educa tional Quality and Accou ntability, 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 cand idate has an advanced degree in a subject
that is substantially comparable to the content assessed on a
subject area examination. The advanced degree sh all 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 Commis sion shall provide the Board with the
necessary information to determine compar ability.
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 ne eded. Provided, however,
prior to the issuance of an emergency certificate, th e district
shall document substantial efforts to employ a teacher who holds a
provisional or standard c ertificate. In the event a district is
unable to hire an individual meeti ng this criteria, the district
shall document efforts to employ an individual w ith a provisional or
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standard certificate in another curricular area with academic
preparation in the f ield of need. Only after these alternatives
have been exhausted shall the district be allowed to employ an
individual meeting minimum standards as estab lished 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 indi vidual who has been employed by a
school district board of education for at lea st two (2) years if the
following criteria are met:
a. the individual has been granted an emergency or
provisional certificate pursuant to paragraph 1 of
this subsection for two (2) years,
b. the individual has not successfully completed the
competency examinations required by this section,
c. the individual submits a portfolio of his or her work
to the State Board of Education, which shall include
evidence of progress toward sta ndard certification,
d. the employing school district board of education
agrees to renew the individual 's contract to teach for
the ensuing fiscal year, and
e. the superintendent of the employing school district
submits to the State Board of Education the reason the
emergency or provisional certificate should be renewed
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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 certific ate shall not be considered career teachers
and therefore not entitled to the p rotections of the Teacher Due
Process Act of 1990.
SECTION 3. This act shall become ef fective July 1, 2022.
SECTION 4. It being immediately nec essary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof thi s act shall take effect and
be in full force from an d after its passage and approval.
58-2-3008 EB 1/19/2022 3:46:03 PM