ENGR. H. B. NO. 2418 Page 1 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2418 By: Fetgatter of the House
and
Frix of the Senate
An Act relating to teachers; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Section 6-122.3, as last amended by Section 162,
Chapter 452, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section
6-122.3), which relates to adjunct teachers; updating
references; authorizing State Board of Career and
Technology Education to promulgate certain rules;
requiring the State Department of Education to work
with the Department of Career and Technology
Education to implement rules; 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, as
last amended by Section 162, Chapter 45 2, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp.
2024, 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 meets the f ollowing criteria:
1. a. holds at least a baccalaureate degree from an
institution whose accreditation is recognized by the
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and has
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2418 Page 2 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
attained a retention grade point average of not less
than 2.50 on a 4.0 scale, o r
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 national or reg ional
accrediting agency which is recognized by the
Secretary of the Unite d 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 degree fr om 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 determined
by the State Board of Education or a vocational -
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2418 Page 3 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
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 n ot more than three (3)
years. The State Board of Education shall determin e 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 teach ing 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 o f
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
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2418 Page 4 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
employment as a teacher at an accredited public school dis trict 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 induct ee for the purposes
of Section 6-195 of this title.
B. An alternative pla cement 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 Commission for
Educational Quality and Accountability 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;
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2418 Page 5 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
2. Have on file with the director of teacher education at an
Oklahoma institution o f 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 gran t 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 comp arable 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 p rovide the Board with the
necessary information to determine comparability.
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2418 Page 6 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
F. Student teaching and a prestudent teaching field experience
shall not be required of alternative placement program participants
for standard certification.
G. 1. The State Board of Education and the State Board of
Career and Technology 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 cert ification. 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.
2. The State Department of Education shall work wit h the
Department of Career and Technology Education as necessary to
implement the rules promulgated by the State Board of Career and
Technology Education as authorized by paragraph 1 of this subsection
and applicable to adjunct teachers employed by the Dep artment of
Career and Technology Education including, but not limit ed to,
issuing any necessary credentials.
H. Each teacher education institution shall provide the
Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation Commission for
Educational Quality and Account ability an annual report of
information as specified by the Commission reg arding participation
in the alternative placement programs offered by the institution.
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2418 Page 7 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
I. The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation Commission
for Educational Quality and Acco untability 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 specializat ion including mathematics, science and a foreign
language. Each instituti on 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
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.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2418 Page 8 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
declared to exist, by reason whereof th is act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
Passed the House of Representatives the 25th day of March, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the _____ day of __________, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the Senate