1. (a) Two-, three-, four-, and five-star master teacher qualifications. Required criteria include:

   1. (1) a current Oklahoma Professional Development Ladder (OPDL) certificate of Level 4 or higher;
   2. (2) completed training in Oklahoma's Early Learning Guidelines (ELG); however, new master teachersor probationary master teachers hired or assuming the responsibilities after certification are trained within 90-calendar days; and
   3. (3) employment on-site, full-time; however, out-of-school time master teachers are on-site at least 50 percent of weekly-operating hours.

2. (b) Master teacher ratio for two-, three-, four-, and five-star centers. There is a full-time master teacher for every:

   1. (1) 50 children of the licensed capacity for two-star centers;
   2. (2) 40 children of the licensed capacity for three-star centers;
   3. (3) 30 children of the licensed capacity for four-star centers; or
   4. (4) 20 children of the licensed capacity for five-star centers.

3. (c) Master teacher ratio for two-, three-, four-, and five-star programs licensed as out-of-school time programs and day camps. There is a full-time master teacher for every:

   1. (1) 60 children of the licensed capacity for two-star out-of-school time programs and day camps;
   2. (2) 50 children of the licensed capacity for three-star out-of-school time programs and day camps;
   3. (3) 40 children of the licensed capacity for four-star out-of-school time programs and day camps; or
   4. (4) 30 children of the licensed capacity for five-star out-of-school time programs and day camps.

4. (d) Additional master teacher requirements for two-, three-, four- and five-star centers. An individual is not counted as a master teacher, probationary master teacher, or primary caregiver in more than one program, unless the scheduled hours of employment in each program do not overlap at any given time.

   1. (1) When an individual replaces a master teacher and does not meet educational qualifications, refer to Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:110-1-8.3(g)(3).
   2. (2) When approved, a probationary master teacher also completes training in ELG in (a)(2) of this Section.
5. (e) Director as master teacher. The director may be counted as a master teacher when meeting master teacher qualifications in (a) of this Section, regardless of the program's licensed capacity.

6. (f) Master teacher responsibilities. Master teachers are responsible for:

   1. (1) direct care of children; and

   2. (2) supporting other teaching personnel and program management with:

      1. (A) planning and implementing lesson plans;
      2. (B) classroom arrangement;
      3. (C) planning and implementing family communication and engagement; and
      4. (D) providing program development and evaluation feedback.
7. (g) Director responsibilities. An individual is not counted as director in more than one program.

8. (h) Three-, four-, and five-star primary caregiver qualifications. Required criteria include:

   1. (1) a current OPDL certificate of Level 4 or higher;
   2. (2) completed training in ELG; however, new primary caregivers hired or assuming the responsibilities after certification are trained within 90-calendar days; and
   3. (3) employment on-site, full-time.
9. (i) Additional primary caregiver requirements for two-, three-, four-, and five-star homes. An individual is not counted as a primary caregiver, master teacher, or probationary master teacher in more than one program, unless the scheduled hours of employment in each program do not overlap at any given time.

Added at 29 Ok Reg 1229, eff 7-1-12

Amended at 33 Ok Reg 1683, eff 11-1-16

Amended at 35 Ok Reg 1732, eff 11-1-18

Amended at 36 Ok Reg 181, eff 12-17-18 (emergency)

Amended at 36 Ok Reg 1892, eff 9-16-19

Amended at 37 Ok Reg 1858, eff 11-1-20

Amended at 40 Ok Reg 1033, eff 9-15-23