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ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2679 By: Baker and West (Tammy) of
the House
and
Rader of the Senate
An Act relating to teacher certification; amending 70
O.S. 2021, Section 6-133, which relates to the
teacher certification pa thways pilot program;
modifying provider program requirements; updating
statutory citation; requiring provider to submit
certain annual report; modifying end date for pilot
program; 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 -133, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 6-133. 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
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on a pilot program bas is. 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 Educat ion to
participate in the pilot program shall offer a program that:
1. Provides evidenc e and history of fiscal solvency, capacity,
operation, and program effectiveness;
2. Provides evidence of nec essary 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 r ecords under applicable laws and regulations;
4. Has the instructional capacity or within an existing novice
teacher support program, the ability to obtain the instructional
capacity, or has established a partnership wi th an accredited higher
education institution to provide adequate instruction in accordance
with this subsection;
5. Offers an instructional ph ase 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 incre ase student achievement
and growth measured agains t state academic standards;
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7. Provides assessment, supervision , and evaluation of teacher
candidates to determine their specific needs throughout the program
and to support efforts to successfully complet e the program;
8. Provides intensive and ongoing p rofessional 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 prof essional
practice and continuous profe ssional growth; and
10. Provides a process to review a teacher candidate's final
competency of required ce rtification content standards that leads to
a potential candidate being recommended for teacher certification i n
accordance with subsection F of this section.
D. The State Board of Education shall ensur e 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 experien ce, educator evaluations, industry-
recognized certificatio ns, and other essentially equivalent
demonstrations.
E. If the State Board of Education deter mines 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
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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 certificati on, provided he
or she meets the certification requirement s set forth in Section 6-
187 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title in the area of
specialization for which certification is sought and is recommended
for certification by the approved prov ider.
G. The State Board of Education shall is sue 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 th e Oklahoma Statutes. The
person applying for the certificate shall be responsible for the
cost of the criminal history records record checks.
H. A provider shall submit a report to the State Departm ent of
Education after one (1) year of operation showing the percentag e of
teacher candidates who have completed the program and who have
successfully completed o r 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 evidence a report to the State Department of
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Education after the pilot year with evidence of outlining the
success of the program.
I. The State Board of Education may pr omulgate rules to
implement the provisions of this section.
J. The pilot program created in t his section shall end no later
than July 1, 2024 2026.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary 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 and after its passage and approval.
Passed the House of R epresentatives the 13th day of March, 2023.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2023.
Presiding Officer of the Senate