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
1
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
2
3 SENATE BILL 1594 By: Stanley
3
4
4
5
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
6
7 An Act relating to teachers; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
7 Section 6-189, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 92,
8 O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 6-189),
8 which relates to certification requirements for
9 superintendent and principal; adding requirement for
9 principal certification to include certain
10 professional education; updating statutory
10 references; updating statutory language; providing an
11 effective date; and declaring an emergency.
11
12
12
13
13
14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
14
15 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-189, as
15
16 amended by Section 1, Chapter 92, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025,
16
17 Section 6-189), is amended to read as follows:
17
18 Section 6-189. A. The certification system required by the
18
19 Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act as part of the new teacher
19
20 preparation system shall be competency-based. The competencies for
20
21 certification shall be integrated with competencies specified in
21
22 Section 6-185 of this title. By July 1, 1996, the State Board of
22
23 Education shall adopt general competencies for certification, and by
23
24 January 1, 1997, the Board shall have adopted full competencies and
24
Req. No. 2957 Page 1
1 implemented the certification system as required in this act the
1
2 Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act. No higher education courses or
2
3 credit hours may be specified by the State Board of Education in
3
4 rules for certification. Nothing in the certification rules adopted
4
5 by the Board shall prohibit the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
5
6 Education from adopting policies and procedures it deems appropriate
6
7 for coursework, grade point average, or credit hours for teacher
7
8 preparation at institutions in The Oklahoma State System of Higher
8
9 Education.
9
10 B. The certification requirements for a school principal not
10
11 alternatively certified under subsection D of this section shall
11
12 include not less than:
12
13 1. Completion of a standard master's degree;
13
14 2. Completion of a program in education administration approved
14
15 by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation Educational
15
16 Quality and Accountability with an emphasis on curriculum,
16
17 instruction, and building-level leadership skills. The requirement
17
18 in this paragraph shall not apply to any person who has completed a
18
19 master's degree program in education that included competencies that
19
20 are substantially equal to those listed in this paragraph and if the
20
21 degree was completed prior to July 1, 2005;
21
22 3. a. Any other professional education and requirements as
22
23 may be fixed by the State Board of Education.
23
24
24
Req. No. 2957 Page 2
1 b. The requirements of this paragraph shall include
1
2 professional education specific to the Individuals
2
3 with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and applicable
3
4 state laws related to the provision of special
4
5 education services which shall include at a minimum:
5
6 (1) federal and state laws and regulations related to
6
7 the provision of special education services,
7
8 (2) procedural safeguards and parental rights,
8
9 (3) child find obligations and evaluation
9
10 requirements,
10
11 (4) development, implementation, and monitoring of
11
12 individualized education programs (IEPs),
12
13 (5) discipline of students with disabilities, and
13
14 (6) due process hearings, complaint procedures, and
14
15 compliance obligations of public school districts
15
16 and administrators.
16
17 c. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules
17
18 providing for approval of professional education
18
19 providers and courses, documentation and reporting
19
20 requirements, and procedures for verifying completion
20
21 of the required professional education.
21
22 d. Professional education completed pursuant to this
22
23 paragraph may be used to satisfy professional
23
24
24
Req. No. 2957 Page 3
1 development or continuing education requirements for
1
2 certification renewal;
2
3 4. A passing score on the subject area competency examination
3
4 required in Section 6-187 of this title; and
4
5 5. A minimum of two (2) years of successful teaching experience
5
6 in public or private schools accredited by the State Board of
6
7 Education or by the proper accrediting authority of another state of
7
8 the United States.
8
9 C. The certification requirements for a superintendent of
9
10 schools not alternatively certified under subsection D of this
10
11 section shall include not less than:
11
12 1. Certification as a school principal or completion of the
12
13 certification requirements for a school principal as set forth in
13
14 subsection B of this section;
14
15 2. Completion of a program in education administration approved
15
16 by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation Educational
16
17 Quality and Accountability with an emphasis on district-level
17
18 leadership skills, and which shall include the following
18
19 competencies:
19
20 a. instructional leadership,
20
21 b. organizational leadership, including education
21
22 finance, education law, and risk management,
22
23 c. collaborative and community leadership, and
23
24 d. ethical leadership.
24
Req. No. 2957 Page 4
1 The requirement in this paragraph shall not apply to any person
1
2 who has completed an Oklahoma a Commission for Teacher Preparation
2
3 Educational Quality and Accountability approved Master's Degree in
3
4 Education Administration master's degree in education administration
4
5 or has completed a program in education that included competencies
5
6 that are substantially equal to those listed in this paragraph, and
6
7 if the degree or program was completed between the effective date of
7
8 this act and July 1, 2005;
8
9 3. Any other professional education and requirements as may be
9
10 fixed by the State Board of Education;
10
11 4. A passing score on the subject area competency examination
11
12 required in Section 6-187 of this title; and
12
13 5. A minimum of two (2) years of administrative experience in
13
14 public or private schools accredited by the State Board of Education
14
15 or by the proper accrediting authority of another state of the
15
16 United States.
16
17 D. 1. The standards for alternative certification for
17
18 superintendents of schools and principals shall include:
18
19 a. the completion of a standard master's degree,
19
20 b. two (2) years of relevant work experience in a
20
21 supervisory or administrative capacity,
21
22 c. a passing score on the subject area competency
22
23 examination required in Section 6-187 of this title,
23
24 and
24
Req. No. 2957 Page 5
1 d. filing with the director of teacher education at an
1
2 Oklahoma accredited institution of higher education a
2
3 plan for completing an alternative administrative
3
4 preparation program within three (3) years. Relevant
4
5 work experience and coursework may be considered and
5
6 applied to complete the plan.
6
7 2. An alternative certificate for superintendent of schools and
7
8 principals shall not exceed three (3) years and shall not be
8
9 renewable.
9
10 3. Upon successful completion of an alternative administrative
10
11 preparation program by a participant, the State Board of Education
11
12 shall issue a standard certificate for superintendent or principal,
12
13 as applicable, to the applicant.
13
14 4. Any person participating in an alternative certification
14
15 program for superintendent of schools and principals on the
15
16 effective date of this act July 1, 2005, shall be subject to the
16
17 program requirements in effect prior to the effective date of this
17
18 act July 1, 2005.
18
19 E. The certification requirements for a superintendent of a
19
20 technology center school district shall include not less than a
20
21 standard master's degree, any other professional education
21
22 requirements as may be fixed by the State Board of Education, and a
22
23 minimum of four (4) years teaching, supervisory, or administrative
23
24 experience, which may include teaching of full-time adult students,
24
Req. No. 2957 Page 6
1 in a technology center school district. A person meeting the
1
2 requirements set forth in subsection C of this section shall be
2
3 eligible for a certificate for superintendent of a technology center
3
4 school district.
4
5 F. The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall
5
6 promulgate rules for a certification system specifically for
6
7 teachers and instructors in the technology center school districts.
7
8 The system shall be competency-based. The competencies for
8
9 certification shall include industry-based skills, standards, and
9
10 certifications.
10
11 G. Certificates issued by the State Board of Education may be
11
12 revoked by the State Board of Education for willful violation of any
12
13 rule of the Board or of any federal or state law or other proper
13
14 cause but only after sufficient hearing has been given before the
14
15 Board.
15
16 H. Teaching in a Head Start program or programs shall be used
16
17 for renewal of a standard teaching certificate.
17
18 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
18
19 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
19
20 of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
20
21 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
21
22 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
22
23
23
24 60-2-2957 EB 1/13/2026 11:05:10 AM
24
Req. No. 2957 Page 7Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.