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ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 235 By: Pugh of the Senate
and
Kerbs of the House
[ teachers - Program - grant - application - report -
promulgation of rules - fund - codification -
effective date -
emergency ]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 698.4 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. As used in this section , “eligible school district ” means a
public school district or public school district foundation in this
state that has established a program to provide tuition or loan
repayment assistance to school district employees who pursue an
undergraduate degree from a teacher preparation program accredited
by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability leading
to a standard teaching certificate .
B. There is hereby created the Grow Your Own Educator Program
to provide matching fund grants to eligible schoo l districts. The
program shall be established and maintained by the Office of
Educational Quality and Accountability .
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C. An eligible school district seeking to participate in the
Grow Your Own Educator Program shall submit an application in the
manner and on a form prescribed by the Office of Educational Quality
and Accountability. The application shall include:
1. The amount of matching fund grants requested;
2. The position of the employee pursuing an undergraduate
degree from a teacher preparation p rogram; and
3. The subject area in which the employee is purs uing an
undergraduate degree from a teacher preparation program.
D. Matching fund grants shall be awarded on a first -come,
first-served basis. Grants sha ll be provided without any limitation
other than the amount of funds available in the Grow Your Own
Educator Revolving Fund created pursuant to Section 2 of this act
and the number of eligible school districts that apply.
E. By June 30, 2026, and each June 30 thereafter, an eligible
school district that receives a matching fund grant pursuant to this
section shall electronically submit a report to the Office of
Educational Quality and Accountability that includes :
1. A status update on the progress the em ployee receiving
tuition assistance is making in the teacher preparation program in
which he or she is enrolled; or
2. The employment status of the employee receiving loan
repayment assistance.
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F. By December 31, 2026, and each December 31 thereafter, the
Office of Educational Quality and Acc ountability shall
electronically submit a report to the Governor, the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives that includes:
1. The school district matching fund grant rec ipients;
2. The amount of matching fun d grants allocated to each
recipient;
3. The subject area in which the employee receiving tuition
assistance is pursuing an undergraduate degree, or the subject area
in which the employee receiving loan repayment assistance has
received an undergraduate d egree; and
4. The information submitted pursuant to subsection E of this
section.
G. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability
shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 698.5 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund
for the Commission for Education al Quality and Accountability to be
designated the “Grow Your Own Educator Revolving Fund”. The fund
shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations,
and shall consist of all monies received by the Commission for
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Educational Quality and Accountability from legislative
appropriations provided for the purpose of implementing the Grow
Your Own Educator Program created in Section 1 of this act. All
monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated
and may be budgeted and exp ended by the Commission for the purpose
provided for in this section. Expenditures from the fund shall be
made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims
filed as prescribed by law with the Director o f the Office of
Management and Enterpri se Services for approval and payment.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
Passed the Senate the 25th day of March, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________,
2025.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives