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 2893 By: Townley
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6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to education; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Section 6-127A, which relates to public school
8 paraprofessionals; exempting certain
paraprofessionals from certain educational
9 requirements; exempting certain teachers from certain
additional educational requirements; providing for
10 codification; providing an effective date; and
declaring an emergency.
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14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
15 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-127A, is
16 amended to read as follows:
17 Section 6-127A. A. The Oklahoma Legislature recognizes that
18 public school paraprofessionals play an important role in educating
19 school children and in assisting teachers. The Legislature further
20 recognizes the increasing role of public school paraprofessionals in
21 the school system in light of teacher shortages. To achieve the
22 goal of excellence for all persons who have an impact on student
23 learning, it is the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature that public
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1 school paraprofessionals be afforded career opportunities and
2 economic incentives through a career development program.
3 B. The State Board of Education shall adopt a program for the
4 career development of public school paraprofessionals. The purpose
5 of the program is to provide to public school paraprofessionals a
6 system of career development which is based upon education and
7 training advancement to encourage excellence among public school
8 paraprofessionals. Public school paraprofessionals who hold a
9 bachelor's degree in education or education studies shall be deemed
10 to have satisfied any rule that requires additional professional
11 education coursework from an institution of higher education under
12 the adopted program. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
13 require public school paraprofessionals to participate in the career
14 development program.
15 C. The board of education of a school district shall have
16 authority to extend an existing contract with a public school
17 paraprofessional that provides for the payment of compensation for
18 paraprofessional services rendered for the same time period during
19 which the paraprofessional is also assigned to the school district
20 for practice teaching as a student teacher.
21 D. For the purposes of this section, a public school
22 paraprofessional is an employee of a school district whose position
23 is either instructional in nature, or who delivers other direct
24 services to students and/or their parents. A public school
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1 paraprofessional serves in a position for which a teacher or another
2 professional has the ultimate responsibility for the design,
3 implementation, and evaluation of the individual educational
4 programs or related services and student performance.
5 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
6 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 6-213 of Title 70, unless there
7 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
8 Teachers who hold a bachelor's degree in education or education
9 studies shall be deemed to have satisfied any State Board of
10 Education rule that requires teachers to complete additional
11 professional education coursework from an institution of higher
12 education as a condition to obtain, renew, or satisfy any other
13 professional development requirement for an emergency certificate,
14 alternate placement teaching certificate, or standard certificate.
15 SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
16 SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
17 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
18 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
19 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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21 60-1-10531 AQH 12/31/24
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Req. No. 10531 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.