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
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2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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3 SENATE BILL 703 By: Paxton
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to teachers; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
7 Section 6-154.1, which relates to renewal of standard
8 teaching certificates; updating statutory language;
8 allowing a micro-credential to fulfill certain
9 renewal requirements; directing the State Department
9 of Education, in certain collaboration, to identify
10 certain micro-credentials; providing for
10 authorization of certain micro-credential providers;
11 providing an effective date; and declaring an
11 emergency.
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14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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15 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-154.1, is
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16 amended to read as follows:
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17 Section 6-154.1. A. The State Board of Education shall
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18 promulgate rules by which a person who holds a valid Oklahoma
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19 Standard Teaching Certificate standard teaching certificate may
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20 satisfy requirements for renewal of the Standard Teaching
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21 Certificate standard teaching certificate by completing staff
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22 development programs, a micro-credential, conferences, and seminars
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23 in lieu of teaching experience or higher education credits required
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24 by the State Board of Education for certificate renewal. Only
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Req. No. 1449 Page 1
1 programs, micro-credentials, conferences, and seminars recognized
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2 for staff development credit by an Oklahoma a public school district
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3 in this state at the time the teacher attends the program,
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4 conference, or seminar or completes the micro-credential may be used
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5 to fulfill requirements under this section. The State Board of
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6 Education shall not require more staff development credit to be
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7 earned for certificate renewal than the Board requires teachers and
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8 administrators to earn pursuant to Section 6-158 of Title 70 of the
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9 Oklahoma Statutes.
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10 B. The State Department of Education, in collaboration with the
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11 Office of Educational Quality and Accountability, shall identify
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12 micro-credentials that may be used to fulfill the renewal
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13 requirements provided for in subsection A of this section. Micro-
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14 credentials identified pursuant to this subsection may be provided
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15 by institutions of higher education within The Oklahoma State System
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16 of Higher Education and providers and digital learning platforms
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17 approved by the Department.
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18 C. District School district boards of education may charge a
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19 reasonable fee for a holder of a valid Oklahoma Standard Teaching
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20 Certificate standard teaching certificate who is not employed as a
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21 teacher or administrator in an Oklahoma a public school in this
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22 state to attend district-sponsored staff development programs or
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23 seminars.
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24 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
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1 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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2 of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
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3 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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4 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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6 60-1-1449 EB 1/19/2025 5:41:41 AM
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Req. No. 1449 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.