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 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
2
3 SENATE BILL 554 By: Pugh
3
4
4
5
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
6
7 An Act relating to teachers; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
7 Section 6-190, as last amended by Section 1, Chapter
8 122, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 6-190),
8 which relates to teacher certification; directing
9 stipends, rather than salary increases, be provided
9 to teachers provided with certain certificates;
10 prohibiting stipends from being included in certain
10 calculations; amending Section 2, Chapter 359, O.S.L.
11 2022, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 122, O.S.L.
11 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 6-190.2), which
12 relates to the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund;
12 modifying purpose of allocations; providing an
13 effective date; and declaring an emergency.
13
14
14
15
15
16 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
16
17 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-190, as
17
18 last amended by Section 1, Chapter 122, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp.
18
19 2024, Section 6-190), is amended to read as follows:
19
20 Section 6-190. A. The board of education of each school
20
21 district shall employ and contract in writing, as required in
21
22 Section 6-101 of this title, only with persons certified to teach by
22
23 the State Board of Education in accordance with the Oklahoma Teacher
23
24
24
Req. No. 251 Page 1
1 Preparation Act, except as otherwise provided for by Section 6-101
1
2 of this title and by other law.
2
3 B. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to any person
3
4 who:
4
5 1. Has successfully completed the teacher education program
5
6 required by the Commission for Educational Quality and
6
7 Accountability;
7
8 2. Has graduated from an accredited institution of higher
8
9 education that has approval or accreditation for teacher education;
9
10 3. Has met all other requirements as may be established by the
10
11 Board;
11
12 4. Has made the necessary application and paid the competency
12
13 examination fee in an amount and as prescribed by the Commission;
13
14 5. Has successfully completed the competency examination
14
15 required in Section 6-187 of this title; and
15
16 6. Beginning November 1, 2001, has on file with the Board a
16
17 current Oklahoma criminal history record from the Oklahoma State
17
18 Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history
18
19 record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma
19
20 Statutes. Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record, the
20
21 Board may issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective
21
22 until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history
22
23 record. The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible
23
24 for the cost of the criminal history records.
24
Req. No. 251 Page 2
1 C. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to any person
1
2 who:
2
3 1. Holds an out-of-state certificate and meets the requirements
3
4 set forth in subsection G of this section;
4
5 2. Holds certification from the National Board for Professional
5
6 Teaching Standards;
6
7 3. Holds an out-of-country certificate and meets the
7
8 requirements set forth in subsection F of this section; or
8
9 4. Has successfully completed a competency examination used in
9
10 the majority of other states or comparable customized exam and meets
10
11 the requirements set forth in subsection H of this section.
11
12 D. Beginning July 1, 2004, any person applying for initial
12
13 Oklahoma certification shall have on file with the Board a current
13
14 Oklahoma criminal history record from the Oklahoma State Bureau of
14
15 Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as
15
16 defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon
16
17 receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record, the Board may issue
17
18 a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt of
18
19 the national fingerprint-based criminal history record. The person
19
20 applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the
20
21 criminal history records.
21
22 E. Any person holding a valid certificate, issued prior to
22
23 January 1, 1997, shall be a certified teacher for purposes of the
23
24 Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, subject to any professional
24
Req. No. 251 Page 3
1 development requirements prescribed by the Oklahoma Teacher
1
2 Preparation Act or by the State Board of Education.
2
3 F. 1. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person
3
4 who holds a valid out-of-country certificate and meets any
4
5 requirements established by the Board. The certificate to teach
5
6 shall only be for those subject areas and grade levels most closely
6
7 aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out-
7
8 of-country certificate.
8
9 2. A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this
9
10 subsection shall not be required to take any competency examinations
10
11 in those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the
11
12 subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out-of-country
12
13 certificate.
13
14 3. A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this
14
15 subsection shall have on file with the Board a current Oklahoma
15
16 criminal history record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of
16
17 Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as
17
18 defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon
18
19 receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record check, the Board may
19
20 issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt
20
21 of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record check.
21
22 The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the
22
23 cost of the criminal history record checks.
23
24
24
Req. No. 251 Page 4
1 4. The Board shall promulgate rules establishing a process by
1
2 which out-of-country certificates will be reviewed and evaluated for
2
3 purposes of awarding a certificate to teach pursuant to this
3
4 subsection.
4
5 G. 1. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person
5
6 who holds a valid out-of-state certificate. The certificate to
6
7 teach shall only be for those subject areas and grade levels most
7
8 closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on
8
9 the out-of-state certificate.
9
10 2. A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this
10
11 subsection shall not be required to take any competency examinations
11
12 in those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the
12
13 subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out-of-state
13
14 certificate.
14
15 3. A person who meets the requirements of this subsection shall
15
16 have on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history
16
17 record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well
17
18 as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section
18
19 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon receipt of the
19
20 Oklahoma criminal history record check, the Board may issue a
20
21 temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt of the
21
22 national fingerprint-based criminal history record check. The
22
23 person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the cost
23
24 of the criminal history record checks.
24
Req. No. 251 Page 5
1 H. 1. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person
1
2 who has successfully completed a competency exam used in a majority
2
3 of the other states. The certificate to teach shall only be for
3
4 those subject areas and grade levels that correspond with a
4
5 certification area used in Oklahoma.
5
6 2. A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this
6
7 subsection shall have on file with the Board a current Oklahoma
7
8 criminal history record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of
8
9 Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as
9
10 defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon
10
11 receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record check, the Board may
11
12 issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt
12
13 of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record check.
13
14 The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the
14
15 cost of the criminal history record checks.
15
16 I. 1. The Board may establish new levels of teacher
16
17 certificates: advanced, lead, and master. Each level shall have a
17
18 salary increase requirement stipend paid with state dollars from the
18
19 lottery funds as provided in Section 713 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma
19
20 Statutes. The advanced certificate shall include a salary increase
20
21 stipend of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), the lead certificate
21
22 shall include a salary increase stipend of Five Thousand Dollars
22
23 ($5,000.00), and the master certificate shall include a salary
23
24 increase stipend of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00).
24
Req. No. 251 Page 6
1 2. A teacher who works in a school with an enrollment of forty
1
2 percent (40%) or more of students who are economically disadvantaged
2
3 as defined in Section 18-109.5 of this title or a school district
3
4 with an enrollment of fewer than one thousand students shall be paid
4
5 a one-time award in addition to the salary increases stipends
5
6 provided in paragraph 1 of this subsection:
6
7 a. One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) for an
7
8 advanced certificate,
8
9 b. Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) for a
9
10 lead certificate, and
10
11 c. Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for a master
11
12 certificate.
12
13 3. School districts may identify and designate the highest
13
14 quality teachers for advanced, lead, and master certificates.
14
15 Participating districts shall submit designation plans to the State
15
16 Department of Education for evaluation and approval. Districts
16
17 shall have local control and flexibility in determining how to
17
18 evaluate teachers and assign designations, but, at a minimum, the
18
19 designation system shall include a teacher observation, out-of-
19
20 classroom time, and a student performance component.
20
21 a. Teacher observation shall be based on the district's
21
22 selected Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness
22
23 Evaluation System (TLE) evaluation tool or an
23
24 alternate method of evaluation; provided, the method
24
Req. No. 251 Page 7
1 is evidenced-based. Alternate methods of evaluation
1
2 shall not replace the requirements of Section 6-101.16
2
3 of this title.
3
4 b. Each school district that elects to participate in
4
5 assigning advanced, lead, and master teacher
5
6 certificates shall include an out-of-classroom
6
7 component for its assigned teachers to allow for
7
8 professional growth opportunities while staying in the
8
9 classroom. How out-of-classroom time is allotted and
9
10 managed shall be determined by the school district and
10
11 submitted as part of its designation plan to the State
11
12 Department of Education for review and approval.
12
13 c. Student performance measures may be determined by the
13
14 district and may include, but shall not be limited to,
14
15 pre- and post-tests, summative or formative, and
15
16 portfolios. The school district application shall
16
17 show evidence of validity and reliability of the
17
18 measures.
18
19 Districts may use additional factors in determining which
19
20 teachers are eligible to receive a designation, such as student
20
21 surveys, teacher leadership responsibilities, teacher mentorship
21
22 responsibilities, family surveys, demonstration of district core
22
23 values, teacher peer surveys, and contributions to the broader
23
24 school community. No more than ten percent (10%) of each school
24
Req. No. 251 Page 8
1 district's teachers may be designated as an advanced, lead, or
1
2 master teacher in any given school year.
2
3 4. If a school district chooses to participate in this program,
3
4 the state shall provide the increased salary stipend amounts
4
5 indicated for advanced, lead, and master certificates in paragraph 1
5
6 of this subsection above the base pay.
6
7 5. School districts that designate teachers for advanced, lead,
7
8 and master certificates do not have to participate in annual TLE
8
9 evaluations for the designated teachers.
9
10 6. School districts may designate teachers for advanced, lead,
10
11 or master certificates two times per year, once prior to the
11
12 beginning of the school year, and once prior to the beginning of the
12
13 second semester. Teachers statewide who receive these designations
13
14 shall be placed in professional development cohorts and provided
14
15 additional training opportunities from the State Department of
15
16 Education.
16
17 7. After initial approval by the State Department of Education,
17
18 the Department shall review and validate each participating school
18
19 district's teacher evaluation system biennially.
19
20 8. The State Department of Education shall annually report the
20
21 school districts participating in the program, the number of
21
22 advanced, lead, and master certificates awarded, and the total
22
23 amount in state funding that was distributed to teachers from the
23
24
24
Req. No. 251 Page 9
1 Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund created in Section 6-190.2 of
1
2 this title.
2
3 9. The selection criteria; designation of advanced, lead, or
3
4 master teachers; and any associated salary increases stipend amounts
4
5 shall not be subject to collective bargaining.
5
6 10. Stipends provided pursuant to this subsection shall not be
6
7 included in the calculation of the teacher's salary for purposes of
7
8 meeting the district or statutory minimum salary schedule or for
8
9 purposes of calculating Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma
9
10 contributions or benefits.
10
11 J. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement
11
12 a renewal schedule and associated fees for advanced, lead, and
12
13 master teaching certificates. The rules shall allow a teacher that
13
14 no longer meets the requirements of an advanced, lead, or master
14
15 teaching certificate to make application for the standard teaching
15
16 certificate.
16
17 K. The terms of the contracts issued to those holding advanced,
17
18 lead, and master teaching certificates shall include the following:
18
19 1. Advanced: an additional five (5) days to be used to
19
20 strengthen instructional leadership. A person with an advanced
20
21 teaching certificate shall receive an annual salary increase stipend
21
22 of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) or the district's daily rate
22
23 of pay, whichever is higher, in addition to the salary for which the
23
24 teacher qualifies pursuant to Section 18-114.15 of this title. This
24
Req. No. 251 Page 10
1 increase stipend shall be funded by state dollars from the lottery
1
2 funds as provided in Section 713 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma
2
3 Statutes and shall be paid as regular annual compensation directly
3
4 to teachers through school districts;
4
5 2. Lead: an additional ten (10) days to be used to strengthen
5
6 instructional leadership. A person with a lead teaching certificate
6
7 shall receive an annual salary increase stipend of Five Thousand
7
8 Dollars ($5,000.00) or the district's daily rate of pay, whichever
8
9 is higher, in addition to the salary for which the teacher qualifies
9
10 pursuant to Section 18-114.15 of this title. This increase stipend
10
11 shall be funded by state dollars from the lottery funds as provided
11
12 in Section 713 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma Statutes and shall be
12
13 paid as regular annual compensation directly to teachers through
13
14 school districts; and
14
15 3. Master: an additional fifteen (15) days to be used to
15
16 strengthen leadership. A person with a master teaching certificate
16
17 shall receive an annual salary increase stipend of Ten Thousand
17
18 Dollars ($10,000.00) or the district's daily rate of pay, whichever
18
19 is higher, in addition to the salary for which the teacher qualifies
19
20 pursuant to Section 18-114.15 of this title. This increase stipend
20
21 shall be funded by state dollars from the lottery funds as provided
21
22 in Section 713 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma Statutes and shall be
22
23 paid as regular annual compensation directly to teachers through
23
24 school districts.
24
Req. No. 251 Page 11
1 If a person with an advanced, lead, or master teaching
1
2 certificate changes school districts during the life of the
2
3 certificate, the terms of the contracts required in this subsection
3
4 shall be subject to approval by the new employing school district.
4
5 L. Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, the Department shall
5
6 make the teaching certificates provided for in this section
6
7 available for any person who has received a recommendation from his
7
8 or her school district and who meets the eligibility criteria as
8
9 outlined in each school district's teacher evaluation system
9
10 provided for in subsection I of this section.
10
11 M. The funding necessary for the administration of this section
11
12 shall be provided from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund
12
13 created in Section 6-190.2 of this title. If funding for the
13
14 administration of the teaching certificates listed in subsection I
14
15 is not available, the Department shall not be required to fulfill
15
16 the requirements listed in subsections I, K, and L of this section.
16
17 N. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules to
17
18 implement the provisions of Section 6-180 et seq. of this title.
18
19 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY Section 2, Chapter 359, O.S.L.
19
20 2022, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 122, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S.
20
21 Supp. 2024, Section 6-190.2), is amended to read as follows:
21
22 Section 6-190.2. A. There is hereby created in the State
22
23 Treasury a revolving fund for the State Department of Education to
23
24 be designated the "Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund". The
24
Req. No. 251 Page 12
1 revolving fund shall be a continuing fund, without legislative
1
2 appropriation, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall be
2
3 under the control and management of the State Department of
3
4 Education. Expenditures from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund
4
5 shall be budgeted and expended as provided for in subsection B of
5
6 this section.
6
7 B. The State Department of Education shall utilize the funds
7
8 for the program outlined in Section 6-190 of this title. Funding
8
9 shall be allocated to school districts to provide the increased
9
10 salary stipend amounts indicated for advanced, lead, and master
10
11 certificates as provided for in subsection I of Section 6-190 of
11
12 this title on a first-come, first-served basis until the cash is
12
13 exhausted for the school year.
13
14 SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
14
15 SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
15
16 of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
16
17 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
17
18 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
18
19
19
20 60-1-251 EB 1/19/2025 5:38:38 AM
20
21
21
22
22
23
23
24
24
Req. No. 251 Page 13Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.