Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
3 HOUSE BILL 2418 By: Fetgatter
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7 AS INTRODUCED
8 An Act relating to teachers; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Section 6-122.3, as last amended by Section 162,
9 Chapter 452, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section
6-122.3), which relates to adjunct teachers;
10 requiring adjunct teachers obtain initial State Board
of Education approval; requiring reapproval if
11 certain changes occur; requiring State Board of
Education to consider certain recommendations;
12 providing an effective date; and declaring an
emergency.
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17 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
18 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-
19 122.3, as last amended by Section 162, Chapter 452, O.S.L.
20 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 6-122.3), is amended to
21 read as follows:
22 Section 6-122.3. A. The State Board of Education shall
23 grant an alternative placement teaching certificate to a
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1 person who makes application to the Board and meets the
2 following criteria:
3 1. a. holds at least a baccalaureate degree from an
4 institution whose accreditation is recognized by the
5 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and has
6 attained a retention grade point average of not less
7 than 2.50 on a 4.0 scale, or
8 b. has successfully completed a terminal degree, such as
9 a doctorate of philosophy, a doctorate in education,
10 professional doctorates, a master of fine arts degree
11 or a master of library science degree, from an
12 institution accredited by a national or regional
13 accrediting agency which is recognized by the
14 Secretary of the United States Department of
15 Education. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
16 Education shall be consulted to verify other terminal
17 degrees, or
18 c. holds at least a baccalaureate degree from an
19 institution whose accreditation is recognized by the
20 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and has
21 qualified work experience in a field that corresponds
22 to an area of certification as determined by the State
23 Board of Education, and
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1 d. in addition to the requirements of subparagraphs a, b
2 and c of this paragraph, has demonstrated competency
3 or completed a major in a field that corresponds to an
4 area of specialization for an Elementary-Secondary
5 Certificate or a Secondary Certificate as determined
6 by the State Board of Education or a vocational-
7 technical certificate as recommended by the Oklahoma
8 Department of Career and Technology Education;
9 2. Declares the intention to earn standard certification by
10 means of an alternative placement program in not more than three (3)
11 years. The State Board of Education shall determine the subject
12 matter and the number of clock or semester hours required for the
13 professional education component for each person making application
14 for an alternative placement teaching certificate based on the
15 criteria of paragraph 1 of this subsection.
16 The State Board of Education shall establish a core minimum of
17 six (6) semester hours or ninety (90) clock hours and a maximum of
18 eighteen (18) semester hours or two hundred seventy (270) clock
19 hours for the professional education component.
20 The requirements set forth in this subsection shall exclude all
21 student teaching requirements pursuant to the provisions of
22 subsection E of this section;
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1 3. Has passed the subject area portion of the competency
2 examination required in Section 6-187 of this title in the area of
3 specialization for which certification is sought; and
4 4. Either presents a document from an accredited public school
5 district in this state offering employment in the area of
6 specialization for which certification is sought on condition that
7 the person enroll in an alternative placement program approved by
8 the State Board of Education or declares the intention to seek
9 employment as a teacher at an accredited public school district in
10 this state. The certificate granted pursuant to this subsection
11 shall be considered a "valid certificate of qualification" for the
12 purposes of Sections 6-107 and 6-108 of this title, and the holder
13 of the certificate shall be considered an inductee for the purposes
14 of Section 6-195 of this title.
15 B. An alternative placement teaching certificate shall be
16 renewed for not more than a maximum of three (3) years upon
17 presentation of a document from an accredited public school district
18 in this state offering renewed employment in the same area of
19 specialization and a document from a teacher education institution
20 verifying satisfactory progress in an appropriate alternative
21 placement program.
22 C. Persons enrolled in an alternative placement program shall:
23 1. Have never been denied admittance to a teacher education
24 program approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education,
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1 the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and by the
2 Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to offer teacher
3 education programs, nor have enrolled in and subsequently failed
4 courses necessary to successfully meet the minimum requirements of
5 the program, except those persons who hold a certificate;
6 2. Have on file with the director of teacher education at an
7 Oklahoma institution of higher education a plan for meeting standard
8 certification requirements within three (3) years; and
9 3. Participate in an induction program as required in Section
10 6-195 of this title and have the same duties and responsibilities as
11 other inductees.
12 D. The State Board of Education may grant an exception to the
13 requirements for certification and, upon demonstration by an
14 individual of specific competency in the subject area of
15 specialization, may grant a certificate to the individual. The
16 State Board may establish other requirements necessary to grant
17 exceptions.
18 E. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
19 Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, may grant an
20 exception to the requirement to complete a subject area examination
21 for initial certification in a field which does not require an
22 advanced degree pursuant to this section if the candidate has an
23 advanced degree in a subject that is substantially comparable to the
24 content assessed on a subject area examination. The degree shall be
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1 from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting
2 agency which is recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department
3 of Education. The Commission shall provide the Board with the
4 necessary information to determine comparability.
5 F. Student teaching and a prestudent teaching field experience
6 shall not be required of alternative placement program participants
7 for standard certification.
8 G. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules
9 authorizing adjunct teachers who shall be persons with distinguished
10 qualifications in their field. Adjunct teachers shall not be
11 required to meet standard certification. Once an adjunct teacher
12 has obtained initial State Board approval, the adjunct teacher shall
13 retain his or her approval as an adjunct teacher unless significant
14 changes in his or her qualifications or curriculum occur. If
15 significant changes occur, the adjunct teacher shall be required to
16 be reapproved by the State Board. The State Board shall take into
17 consideration the recommendation for approval or disapproval of the
18 adjunct teacher by the school districts and technology center school
19 districts the adjunct teacher will be serving. A person employed as
20 an adjunct teacher pursuant to this subsection who does not hold a
21 valid certificate to teach shall not be considered a teacher as
22 defined by Section 1-116 of this title.
23 H. Each teacher education institution shall provide the
24 Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation an annual report of
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1 information as specified by the Commission regarding participation
2 in the alternative placement programs offered by the institution.
3 I. The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall not
4 accredit, renew the accreditation of, or otherwise approve any
5 teacher education program of any institution of higher education in
6 this state that has not implemented alternative placement programs
7 in at least four areas of specialization including mathematics,
8 science and a foreign language. Each institution shall allow
9 individuals who meet the criteria of subsections A and C of this
10 section to be:
11 1. Admitted to an alternative placement program without further
12 qualification; and
13 2. Offered the opportunity to complete the requirements for
14 standard certification set forth in subsection A of this section
15 during the summer preceding and the summer following the first year
16 of teaching with an alternative placement teaching certificate. Any
17 person seeking standard certification through an alternative
18 placement program shall be permitted to take necessary courses
19 during regular semesters if offered.
20 J. The criteria specified in subsection I of this section can
21 be met through a cooperative arrangement entered into by two or more
22 institutions of higher education.
23 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
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1 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
2 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
3 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
4 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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6 60-1-11617 AQH 01/07/25
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Req. No. 11617 Page 8Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.